Having had the experience of actually spending time in a physical school library setting last week served as a natural transition to our readings this week, which focused on library/media center spaces.
More than anything, the readings this week seemed to emphasize adaptability. Like a school librarian, the physical library space should be many things and fulfill several roles all at once. As technology evolves and educational trends come and go, the library needs to be an up-to-date center for learning and instruction. While the readings point to several strategies for keeping things flexible, it seems impossible to remain open to all the new school library trends. How can cash-strapped schools create libraries that are technologically functional now but also flexible enough to accommodate whatever new suggestions the latest educational research supports? Similarly, how do librarians decide between buying the newest things now or waiting until a better version comes along?
Some suggestions/tips that I found novel and/or interesting:
- While a large library space filled with natural light seems like a terrific idea, when it comes time to show that PowerPoint presentation on the projector, all that light might get in the way.
- There is a dedicated eReader for K-12 education!
- Plan physical spaces to be large and open so that the library will be less vulnerable to threats of physical downsizing in the future.
- Build collaborative spaces that support curriculum efforts.
It was also interesting to see how many of the pragmatic ideas for building great school libraries also serve as ways of making the library an indispensable part of the school itself. On another note, while most of the ideas presented in the readings are ideal, there seems to be a lack of information presented for libraries that already exist but need to (cheaply) modify their spaces.
Finally, while I certainly value the technology-driven, information-literate approach to the school library and I would never dispute the value in online learning and collaborative workspaces, I think that schools should be careful to maintain some of the "traditional" library landscape as well. There is a lot to be said for being able to visit a library that is full of wonderful print books. If students view the library as a welcoming and entertaining space where they can find things that interest them, it seems natural that they would also feel encouraged to make use of this space for their learning needs. What is special about the library is that it is not like a classroom--in fact, it's not like any other room in the school. It has chairs and tables and computers and bulletin boards and lots of books! But if libraries become more like a "learning commons" with a focus on computers and other technologies, students may come to view the space as more like the rest of the school, thereby eliminating some of the "special"-ness.
While I don't know if I would immediately categorize any of this week's readings as "exciting," they certainly provide a lot of food for thought while offering some practical advice.
I like your point about libraries keeping their "special-ness." I hadn't really thought of it that way, as libraries being so unique to their schools. Not only is collaborative space provided like in classrooms, but there are lots of books there too, unlike classrooms. I think that is a very good point.
ReplyDeleteI also like bullet point #3 - plan spaces to be open and large to prepare for the possible threat of downsizing. I imagine that most schools are not going to want to spend more money on an unnecessarily larger library, so this may be difficult to do, but it is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteMmmm...good point about needing information for libraries that need to cheaply alter their spaces. There must be something out there that would talk about that, right?
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