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The balance between a high school research library and a warm inviting place
can be happen.  No we don't have to be a bookstore and Susan's
comments hit the point - what is the goal of your library program?  It's a
classroom where students read, learn and use their information literacy
skills.  I'm
lucky I took over from a colleague who made the best of a bad situation.
 The
building is old and maintenance was delayed for  10 years because the previous
administration was going to level the building.  So Harry brought in six old
couches and two rocking chairs.  The couches have been patched again and
again, but they are very comfortable.  The combination of an old
building and
old furniture makes for a warm inviting place.  Year after year students
return to this library to let us know that of all the school libraries they
have worked in this was the best because the staff enjoys having them in the
library and they have both tables and couches to sit in depending on the type
of work they are conducting.  I thank Harry for leaving me a warm,
comfortable library to work in.

Peter G. Mohn
Library Media Specialist
Snohomish Freshman Campus
Snohomish, WA

Susan Weiss wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I've been listening to the points and counterpoints and finally have to
> comment.
>
> Many of Trelease's points are well taken.  A school library should be an
> attractive place to be and we should make it as attractive as possible.
> The goals of a bookstore and a school library are different, though.
>
> The School library is there to encourage students to read and to teach
> information literacy.  It is a classroom.  It is not a business that
> welcomes anyone who appears to have some money to spend.  There are
> staff and budget constraints in a school library.  Bookstores don't
> teach and don't have supervisory responsibilities for minors.
>
> Do you welcome students who are cutting classes, loudly lounging or coming
> in four times a day trying to play computer games?   I would rather have
> 300 students a day who come to the library for real information needs than
> 600 who come for the wrong reasons.  Shopping malls don't welcome
> teenagers for the same reason.
>
> I do have students who curl up in a window nook and read, who come into
> the library to use our computers and books for school work and who work at
> a reasonable noise level.
>
> I would love to have the staff and budget of a bookstore! Let's compare
> apples and apples.
>
> Sue Weiss
> Ballard HS Librarian
> Seattle, WA
> w - new (206) 252-1121
> sweiss@cks.ssd.k12.wa.us
> http://www.seattleschools.org/schools/ballard/index.html
>
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