Maybe my "if only" strays from what our role as school librarians should be, but if
I had the money and resources, one of the first things I would do in our library
would be to completely redecorate and redesign. Our library is extremely
unattractive, with secondhand mismatched furniture, very little non-computer
seating, and white cinder-block walls. It's a private, all-girls high school.
Most of them are from upper class families and quite discriminating in their
tastes. I know for sure that a nicer-looking facility would bring more students
in, simply for the "atmosphere." The addition of two couches two years ago did
wonders for attendance and circulation. If I was able to make it a warm, inviting
place, I know students would be more eager to come. Plus, I truly believe that if
we give students ugly, secondhand furniture, they will treat it as such. However,
if we show them that they value them and provide them with comfortable, nicer
furnishing, they will treat it accordingly.
Once I had their attention, I'd start in with all the other things such as more
databases (we have only one), and definitely a bigger fiction collection. I'd also
hire myself a clerk and have wifi installed.
Lisa Gonzalez
Librarian
Notre Dame High School
Salinas, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Shonda Brisco
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 6:37 PM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: TARGET: If Only....
I'm creating a list of "What I Could Do For Our School Library....If I
Only Had The Time / Help / Budget" and wanted your input. We've all
had those days when you stop for a moment and reflect...."You know, if
I had.... then I could do SO much more!" Many times it is dismissed
as a, "Well, I can't work miracles!" But I have started to wonder
what WOULD you be able to do for your school, the curriculum, the
library, student achievement if you ONLY had....(the time, more help,
and adequate budget)?
Would you: *Collaborate with teachers (more time needed)
*Catalog more materials (more help needed)
*Teach students how to seach online databases
(more budget funding needed)
*Share more booktalks (more time / budget needed)
*Plan more author visits (more budget needed)
What COULD you do? What area would that fall (time, help, budget)?
Are there other limiters (beside time, help, budget)? Are people
(administrators, teachers) also limiters to your success? If so, add
this to your list of what you could do...and what limits your ability
to achieve those goals.
I'll post a HIT if others are also wishing and wondering what miracles
we could accomplish if only.....
Thanks!
~Shonda
--
Shonda Brisco, MLIS
District Librarian
Peaster ISD
Weatherford, TX 76086
Currently reading: "Easy" by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann"
Digital Bookends wiki / blog:
http://digitalbookends.pbwiki.com
http://shonda.edublogs.org/
sbrisco@gmail.com
Resources for Texas School Librarians:
http://txschoollibrarians.ning.com/
http://txschoollibrarians.wikispaces.com/
"Digital Resources" columnist
School Library Journal
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