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My district is in the mid-stages of planning a new K-5 year round school and I am trying to insure that the LMC is workable and versatile and to avoid pitfalls as much as possible. I have searched the archives a bit and not found much directly related to my question. The current plan is that the library and computer lab are adjacent with a door between the two. Lab will accomodate only about 17 workstations as the plans are now drawn. There is a proposal to eliminate the wall, opening lab up to the library to allow them to put in another bank of computers. This would encroach on library space, taking away shelving, student seating and instructional space, but would result in a large area which could be flexibly used. One variation of this would add another wall, net result being reducing library space overall by about 1/3 and more than doubling the lab space...this would be a fairly permanent arrangement with little flexibility. We may look into an accordion door type of plan but haven't really pursued that as yet. I expect that staffing will be a full time paraprofessional in the library, a part time paraprofessional in the lab, either or both could have little or no training to speak of. There will be a tech support person available but not on site. As District Librarian, I will be involved but not there full time, or anything even close to full time. Teachers will expect to have regular library time, with stories and check out, and will have varying expectations for the lab and for flexible access to both areas for research and projects. My questions are for those of you who have lived with similar situations, where the lab area is essentially open to and an integral part of the library area. 1. Do you find this, overall, a workable arrangement? What about noise? What about conflicting uses...such as when a class is doing research while another class is hearing a story? Are you able to schedule so conflicts like this don't develop? 2. Would the library aide end up being the computer aide as well? 3. What about throwing out all preconceived ideas of library vs. computer space and coming up with some radical new melding of the two? I realize this has probably been done countless times...I just need some direction to find it. 4. What would you advise to be on the lookout for, good, bad, whatever? Any advice, suggestions or warnings you can offer will be gratefully accepted. I fear I am going to have to be the sole voice for maintaining much of a library in this school and need as much support as I can muster. Mary Helen Fischer, District Librarian Buckeye Union School District P. O. Box 547 Shingle Springs CA 95682 (530) 676-0164, ext. 236 mfischer@busd.edcoe.k12.ca.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 See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors: http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=