Re: Displays (long-ish)

[Barbara Braxton <barbara@AUSTARMETRO.COM.AU>]

Hi Rosie
You are among many who have asked similar questions so I am sending this
response to the lists too.

I believe that displays/ promotion are one of the key elements of my role as
a primary t/l because it means I can help hook the kids right from
kindergarten.  No matter what the quality of what you have on your shelves,
if the books just sit there then they are useless.  Therefore, I put a lot
of my at-school time into creating these (because it is not something I can
do anywhere else) so that the library is an attractive place that the
children want to visit ..and, if perchance, they pick up a book that catches
their eye, that is a bonus.
They are learning about the purpose and value of libraries in their lives,
even if they are not quite ready to exploit their potential.

This is the first and only library I have worked in (I only graduated in
t/lship in 2000) so I cannot compare loan statistics but this year we
circulated about 19 000 items for a school of 420.  How that compares to
other schools I don't know.

It also helps promote the role of the library in the school to both staff
and parents - so much so that my job has just been upgraded to a full-time
position. (but that's another issue)

Display ideas come from a number of sources, and are often a response to
what the children are reading.  Thus with Harry Potter having sparked such
an interest in fantasy, I have created the Fancy-a-Fantasy corner where all
the series of this genre are together.  Makes it easy for kids to find them
(and for us to shelve) and helps overcome the fear about "how will I find
what I want?"  That has been up all year and will continue until the
interest wanes.  I change it now and again, adding little knick-knacks but
the kids continue to remain fascinated.

Other displays come from a seasonal theme, a desire to get kids to explore a
different genre or topic, or even an item.  For instance Spring into Summer
grew because I saw some fancy plastic plates in a bargain store that glued
together would make excellent flowers!  The ghost display grew from the
interest in the skeleton I had hung for a display about the body.  And I
change them whenever I get a new idea or the interest is waning or the books
don't move anymore or I get bored and want to look at something else.
(Yesterday, I listened to two boys having some real quality discussions
about the PowerPoint presentation they were working on and it was all about
font sizes, colours, animations, not being too busy and so forth - and they
were two of the rascals who had been sent to the library to work!)

Next year, when I initiate our Student Librarians program, there is a
requirement in each level for the student to create a display so that will
be interesting to see all their new ideas. Certainly, I have noticed that
there is a big improvement in how the senior students present their work and
they often ask me for ideas for layout, colours and so forth and I am
assuming that is because of the role model I present.

I love to have things hanging - apart from not having all that ceiling space
going to waste, it also brings the ceiling 'down' so that the dimensions of
the building are not so overwhelming to a kinder kid. I use fine fishing
line to suspend things, and while you have to consider the security doofers,
there really should be no reason why things are swinging at night to set
them off.  Unless there are secret parties happening among the toys that I
am not invited to :>}

I hope that answers all the questions - if not, please get in touch again.

Kia ora
Barbara

Barbara Braxton
Teacher Librarian
Palmerston District Primary School
PALMERSTON ACT 2913
AUSTRALIA

T. 02 6205 7241
F. 02 6205 7242
E. barbara@austarmetro.com.au
W. http://www.palmdps.act.edu.au

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