Millis Middle/High School, Patsy Divver, School Librarian
With a little creativity, wise spending, and organization, YOUR library can be brand NEW! The Millis Middle/High school library definitely needed a change. When I started here in 2002, I updated the books but they hadn't been updated since. The 8’ high shelves were out of place and we hadn't changed tables for about ten years. The 30 year old rug had seen better days and the library was just not as inviting as it had the potential to be. Other than a new cafe table, the space needed some work.
With a little creativity, wise spending, and organization, YOUR library can be brand NEW! The Millis Middle/High school library definitely needed a change. When I started here in 2002, I updated the books but they hadn't been updated since. The 8’ high shelves were out of place and we hadn't changed tables for about ten years. The 30 year old rug had seen better days and the library was just not as inviting as it had the potential to be. Other than a new cafe table, the space needed some work.
| How to start: My first step was reaching out to people who knew what to do and how to do it: Christi Farrar, a consultant at Massachusetts Library System, came and helped with a number of recommendations. This is one of the many FREE services they offer! One of her suggestions was to check out the amazing presentation by Allison Connelly on the Stoneham School Library for the MSLA Northeast Area regional meeting. It was helpful for me to get outside professional advice. As many of you know, the role of “singleton” in the library also means your decisions are ‘fair game’ for opinion and criticism! |  |
Next: Have a plan! Two major factors helped me move this plan along. For one thing, our new elementary school was being completed and now would include grade five. So my weeding began with the books that were primarily fifth grade level, especially the biographies (which they use for a Wax Museum project). The second part: there already had been an approved warrant to replace the 30+ year old rug. It was scheduled to be installed over the summer and
THAT meant...EVERYTHING out of the library! Books, shelves, desks, computers — they were ALL needed to
be moved.
THAT meant...EVERYTHING out of the library! Books, shelves, desks, computers — they were ALL needed to
be moved.
We all know you don’t want to pack and unpack old, outdated materials, so... weeding project #2 - update that Collection analysis and start pulling! Wake-up call for me: a copyright date of 2000 is NOT new! Twenty years have passed! The focus on science, technology, finance, rights, education, mental health... the list was endless. Between moving materials to the elementary school and weeding outdated items we shrunk the library collection by about 25%.
(Side-note: we used “More Than Words”, which is a “nonprofit social enterprise that empowers youth” and also accepts used books. Our school has used them over the past several years, and it’s worked fairly well. They do ‘ask’ for a donation towards gas money and the profits go to help the youth. I just ran into issues about pick-up and am still seeking “the best” outlet for books.)
(Side-note: we used “More Than Words”, which is a “nonprofit social enterprise that empowers youth” and also accepts used books. Our school has used them over the past several years, and it’s worked fairly well. They do ‘ask’ for a donation towards gas money and the profits go to help the youth. I just ran into issues about pick-up and am still seeking “the best” outlet for books.)
How did this weeding affect library arrangement? Well, initially we had eight of these 8’ by 18’ shelf units. I eliminated two (they were re-purposed to go upstairs for shelving), and ‘shrunk’ the remaining six. Although they couldn’t be shortened in height, they could be condensed. So we now have four 15’ shelves (for the nonfiction) and two 9’ shelves (for the series and some fiction.) All these shelves are on angles, allowing better light and visibility. In addition, we have space for two tables in the back of the library, where students can have quieter reading or collaboration. There’s an extra power strip to accommodate plug-ins for devices, too.
Four shorter shelving units that used to hold the reference are now high-top desks/display units. From the community, we received eight high-top chairs and two stools as seating for them. Our reference was interfiled when possible, with a number of sets and oversized books relocated to the bookshelves under the windows. (That space had never been utilized.) We were able to get a second cafe table from remaining grant funds and have requested more grant monies for interchangeable tables. I am repurposing the old card catalog to hold mindfulness and STEM materials, and we’ve just been given a cart of Chromebooks as well as the classroom set of VR goggles. More items are being planned by the Technology department and we’ll be adding them as they become available.
We added a ‘cozy’ table/lamp for the area which had housed an oversized, bulky conference table. This is the section where we hope to get flex-seating tables, if the grant goes through. Our biographies, on the back shelves, were relocated when the collection shrunk by 50%. (The fifth grade does the Wax Museum at the elementary school now.)
We added a ‘cozy’ table/lamp for the area which had housed an oversized, bulky conference table. This is the section where we hope to get flex-seating tables, if the grant goes through. Our biographies, on the back shelves, were relocated when the collection shrunk by 50%. (The fifth grade does the Wax Museum at the elementary school now.)
The “professional resources” - never utilized - were relocated upstairs to the faculty room for easy access. Two cushioned chairs with outlets and USB ports had been our first ‘cool’ accessory last year, and we are hoping to add more of them, as well.
What’s ahead of us? Well, we’ve gained attention and appreciation from the staff and the students, so things are being addressed school-wide, which is adding to our improved library look. New lighting was installed throughout the library and school. There's also plans to upgrade the audio system and replace the older, not-user-friendly Smartboard with a drop-down screen and Apple TV. Monies were appropriated for replacing some of the weeded materials and additional seating will be on our next year’s budget wish list.
Some ongoing issues are budget-based: the choice of adding new materials, books, ebooks and other digital resources. Programming and curriculum changes are the main focus of how our collection expands. As we are a combined middle and high school, some of our activities are determined by the use of the library for study halls, virtual classes, and fixed middle school classes. The issue of ‘food or no food’ is still a hot topic, especially with the cafe tables. The relaxed atmosphere and the addition of the chess/checkers table tends to make for a more loosely disciplined library.. Fortunately, the library seating now includes tables outside the library doors and in the hallway. This allows students to eat and drink but again but it’s not a silent space at all.
Some points to consider when approaching a remodeling project are: start with simple, easy plans. Weeding is always a good beginning step, since we all need to do this and it’s often ‘put aside’ until another, better time. Asking for donations of usable chairs, tables, seating, or lighting can be a good change without large monetary expenditures. Checking with teachers and students on their ideas for library needs will give support to your requests to your administrators. Also, when something does look great - a bulletin board, a program in progress, anything acquired from a grant - shout about it! Put it on social media, webpages, email lists... show how the library is “lookin’ good!!!” With some creativity and legwork, your library can begin its transformation.
Some ongoing issues are budget-based: the choice of adding new materials, books, ebooks and other digital resources. Programming and curriculum changes are the main focus of how our collection expands. As we are a combined middle and high school, some of our activities are determined by the use of the library for study halls, virtual classes, and fixed middle school classes. The issue of ‘food or no food’ is still a hot topic, especially with the cafe tables. The relaxed atmosphere and the addition of the chess/checkers table tends to make for a more loosely disciplined library.. Fortunately, the library seating now includes tables outside the library doors and in the hallway. This allows students to eat and drink but again but it’s not a silent space at all.
Some points to consider when approaching a remodeling project are: start with simple, easy plans. Weeding is always a good beginning step, since we all need to do this and it’s often ‘put aside’ until another, better time. Asking for donations of usable chairs, tables, seating, or lighting can be a good change without large monetary expenditures. Checking with teachers and students on their ideas for library needs will give support to your requests to your administrators. Also, when something does look great - a bulletin board, a program in progress, anything acquired from a grant - shout about it! Put it on social media, webpages, email lists... show how the library is “lookin’ good!!!” With some creativity and legwork, your library can begin its transformation.
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