Reflection
School libraries have an obligation to ensure they provide equitable and efficient access to their community which includes students, faculty, and staff,.(SLM 502 Intro) I created a floor plan that supported flexible, open access for library services. The artifact is used to envision what the media center could look like if media specialists were actually consulted before the county built the school. The intended outcome was to consider how to set up the library so that it is accessible to all. The library media center includes five areas based on the roles and responsibilities of the library media specialist (teacher, instructional partner, information specialist, and program administrator). Our center should include the following areas: study & research area, informal reading area, instructional area, production & group area, and the administrative area. Since our center was recently renovated in 2007, we have all the areas required.
The strength of the redesigning the floor plan allowed me to see that the current library design is not perfect. The positioning of the shelves provide hiding places for students and separates the computers from the instructional area. The weakness is that most of what they placed in the library is stationary and cannot be moved without significant cost. I can make small changes to the floor plan. Our supervisor has asked media specialists to make room for a makerspace. Makerspaces, sometimes also referred to as fablabs are creative, DIY spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. In libraries they often have 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies and tools, and more. In order to do that I changed the location of the magazines shelves and the double-sided reference shelf. One side will be used as a reference section and the other side will hold the bins for the makerspace activities.
Creating a floor plan helped me to realize that the school library is for the students and we need to make sure that everything is accessible for all students. The media center has been described as the heart of the school. The media center should be the place where students discover their favorite books, learn new technology skills, and work collaboratively to solve world problems. The space needs to accommodate the 21st century learning that should be happening on a daily basis.
The strength of the redesigning the floor plan allowed me to see that the current library design is not perfect. The positioning of the shelves provide hiding places for students and separates the computers from the instructional area. The weakness is that most of what they placed in the library is stationary and cannot be moved without significant cost. I can make small changes to the floor plan. Our supervisor has asked media specialists to make room for a makerspace. Makerspaces, sometimes also referred to as fablabs are creative, DIY spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. In libraries they often have 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies and tools, and more. In order to do that I changed the location of the magazines shelves and the double-sided reference shelf. One side will be used as a reference section and the other side will hold the bins for the makerspace activities.
Creating a floor plan helped me to realize that the school library is for the students and we need to make sure that everything is accessible for all students. The media center has been described as the heart of the school. The media center should be the place where students discover their favorite books, learn new technology skills, and work collaboratively to solve world problems. The space needs to accommodate the 21st century learning that should be happening on a daily basis.
This website was designed by Gina Deal. Comments can sent to [email protected].This page was last updated May 2015.
The images on these pages were photographed by Gina Deal unless otherwise cited. Word clouds created at wordle.net or tagxedo.com.
The images on these pages were photographed by Gina Deal unless otherwise cited. Word clouds created at wordle.net or tagxedo.com.