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> >This should be the third HIT on this subject. > >We have a relatively new library and I am helping a friend preview >plans for her new library. I have learned that architects do not >know that children are messy and they should not plan to use >white tables. > > My second idea involves having the shelves on wheels. >I have six big shelves in the middle of my room that house our >fiction section. We put wheels on the shelves last year ( you can >purchase shelves with wheels already attached) and it has been the >best thing I have ever done. So many times our room is used for >situations that need a flexible or different set up. We are now able >to accomodate these situations much more easily. This was the best >thing!!!!! If I were going to do 1 thing this would be it. > >Also, be sure to check the placements of TV's, screens and computer >stations for the layout of the room. We just discovered the >architect put a tv in the middle of the bookshelves and no one would >be able to use this equipment. > >I hope this helps! > >I just designed a new elementary library but I think it would apply in >any school: Draw a layout that allows you to see all parts of the >library during you normal day. Off sets and nooks sound charming, but, >at least in Kentucky, we are legally responsible for the students in our >'rooms' and it's critical that you be able to see what everyone is >doing. I also have a separate reference room which will house a small >group of researchers who won't be distracted by activity in the main >room. > >My other recommendation is a story area which allows the librarian to >see the rest of the library and turns the students away from the >activity. I have a circular area far to the right of the circulation >desk with stepped seating sections in a sort of broken horseshoe >configuration. I sit at the 'back' of it, the students are on my right >and left, and the walkway in between them allows me to still supervise >the rest of the library. > >Your notes you have been sharing are very interesting. Since my sister, a >media assistant in an elementary school, just moved into her new library, I >had to add a note. She has a nice, large counter area to sit at and work. >There is plenty of leg room under there--especially since her two drawer >filing cabinet is about 1 inch too tall to fit under the counter where she >wants it!! She did get some very wide drawers for posters, etc., and loves >those. >I've met with architects to help plan an elementary library. They seem to >have no concept of "sections" of the library, such as easy books, fiction, >nonfiction, etc. They think you just need shelves lined up in the middle of >the floor. They also had no idea that we wanted to teach small groups and >classes in the media center. Aesthetics are important to them, not >functionality! > >One thing that I like that was done when our LMC was built was to angle the >freestanding, nonfiction shelves toward the checkout desk so that it is much >easier to see when students are in the stacks, either to help them or to stop >that "rare" bit of horsing around, without leaving the checkout desk--just >another example of librarian multitasking! >We also have 2 walls (those w/o windows) lined with shelves for fiction. >Good luck! > >We have a remodeled high school library, which is not exactly like your >situation, but I can give some general info. > >In our case, using remodeled space means that there are columns in the >library where the old walls were. The columns hold up the second floor. I >would advise you to avoid this kind of situation if at all possible. It >dictated where walls in the new space had to be placed in some cases and it >interferes with optimum furniture and shelf placement and with sight lines in >the new space. > >I can't see any reason to prefer remodeled space over new space if other >things are equal. > > >Debra Ann Morrow >Library Media Specialist >Harris-Lake Park School >105 Ave. A West >P.O. Box 8 >Lake Park,IA 51347 >MWF 712-832-3616 >TTH 712-349-2340 >FAX 712-832-3640 >dmorrow@harris-lp.k12.ia.us > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=