Updating Libraries for New Technology and Reading Areas

Rachel Shankles, LMSLakeside High School

Hot Springs, AR

Updating Technologyin the Library

• Change from TV set to mounted MM Projector and pull down mounted screen OR get a flat panel TV mounted to use like a projector

• Get a document camera to replace your opaque projector

• Get a Poster Machine to better advertise your programming events

New 52” Flat Panel TV mounted(Jacks into laptop, cable or DVD/VCR)

DOCUMENT CAMERA

Interwrite School Pad

Memory Card Reader

Slip Printers by Brother or Citizen work just like at the stores

Label Maker for computer

Presenter- USB based- $35-$50

Other New Technology Updates

• Slip Printer to print out receipts to patrons at the checkout counter

• PDA with laser capabilities to do inventory and circulation on the run when the network is down

• Memory Card Reader to read all types of memory cards from all the different cameras and phones in your building

PDA with laser bar code reader

Also in Technology• Stand-alone portable Label maker by Brother

to label your inventory easily and label computers by ID

• Computer label maker by Smart Label to print correspondence labels and spine labels (for quick repairs) straight from your computer and quickly

• Digital movie cameras like Flips not the VHS-C tapes

• Digital cameras that use memory cards with a printer that reads the memory cards is best

UpdateTechnology to help Staff

• Get an Interwrite Pad to check out

• Buy a Presenter and keep batteries for it so teachers can borrow it and do slide shows while walking around the room

• Make sure you have two or three laptops and mmprojectors on carts to check out to classrooms

• Change from desktop cpus to laptops

Why are we all being asked to update our libraries?

It is part of the Lit Lab phenomenon and part of Next Step extending literacy

initiatives into the upper grades.

Elementary libraries have always had reading areas---in the classrooms!

THE LIBRARY IS THE CENTER FOR LITERACY AND WE ARE IN A BIG LITERACY PUSH IN ARKANSAS

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Suggestions to Update the Collection

• #1 WEED all the yellow paged, raggedy books fiction and nonfiction. Students do not want to see or touch them

• We are to get them into the library and ‘hook’ them on reading so get a variety of new fiction and nonfiction titles to display

• Put as many books face out as possible in every conceivable area and order display racks

• Find some easy to write grants for new titles

Pointers• A couch leads to PDA’s (public displays of

attention); so have in your line of sight or go with chairs only; they fight to get there first too

• Easy chairs are great for sleeping; have rules that say you must be productive to stay in reading areas

• Chairs that are too light weight will get moved; purchase heavy ones like from the Prison

• Lamps look pretty but get knocked over• Bean bag chairs aren’t always made for high

school football players but some have found or made great ones and had them monogrammed with school logos

• Change displays regularly/often

Ideas• Order Prison made furniture which is very

sturdy and has 10 year warranty

• Ask banks/businesses/doctors offices for old waiting room furniture and recover

• Find some staff willing to give away an old loveseat or sofa and recover; some have inherited furniture from relatives

• Brodart and The Library Store and Demco and Virco all have library furniture and display cases

Update Everything• I was told to make my library more appealing

and inviting with comfortable seating for pleasure reading. It had stayed the same for 30 years. It looked too much like a stuffy old fashioned library.

• Now the library is ‘the place to be,’ the library is ‘cool,’ the library is ‘modern,’ the library has ‘tons of new books even graphic novels and laptops’

• You can’t be used as a sub if you always have programming or collaborations going on

Updating Ideas• Paint murals on windows• Get wood colored blinds• Get a flat panel TV to mount on the wall• Order a new checkout counter locally made• Order some booths like a soda shop• Use displays of all types and sizes • Advertise your library on posters, websites,

newsletters, etc.• Get your “Want” list ready and give the POs to

your principal before you leave in June and explain what it is you want to accomplish

Some of my Displays

My Main Reading AreaCoca Cola Printed Fabric covers these items.

Reading bench, wood blinds, and laptops also update the library

Display Ideas

What do you do with Book Bags?

Laptops• We have a cart of 30 laptops

and they do take up less space but have drawbacks

• We bought a small mouse for each one but the kids still hit the page up/down buttons with their wrists

• We have to put them up and get them out each day for security reasons

• Either way they are much better and more modern than the huge old Win 98 stations we did have on peninsulas of tables

Photos of Reading Areas

• Some are still very formal

• Some look very expensive

• All took a lot of time and effort in planning and getting it put together

• Some are huge libraries and some are very small like mine

NPCC Library – overstuffed chairs in a row down one side –by Mary Farris-White

Van Buren – Renee Baldwin

Arkadelphia HS (Paul Sivils) and Mansfield (Melissa Lybyer)

Micki Johnston at Clarksville Jr.High

Vicki Brown at Green Forest

Great Idea and Contest to Paint Windows at Highland HS

by Sarah Renard

Augusta High – Sandra Jones

Sheridan- Stacy Stockton - formal

Wynne High School Prison Made Furniture

Booneville High- Karen Halford– Poof chairs w/logo & Rocking Chairs

For Younger Kids – Linda Reed says add color like Lake Hamilton

Intermediate (2-3)

Lonoke H.S.– Elise Hobson

Elise got furniture donated to set up a reading area.

NLRHS West – Macy Purtle-donations recovered and made the old card catalog into a coffee table

Vilonia Middle School – Terina Adkins -This is the students’ favorite reading area. This is also one of the cheapest. The

couches were about $200 each from Target. The lamps were on clearance at about $20.00 each and the end tables were about $20.00 (really they are foot stools). The artwork was

donated by a teacher.

Vilonia -This area is another favorite. Students can read or play

games. The tables and stools came from School Specialty.

Vilonia – Using the benches that are so versatile; pair them up with tables; or put them against the

wall or in shapes.

For kids who like to be off on their own, these chairs and table were bought from School Specialty.

Vilonia-This coffee table and ottoman set was donated by Arkansas Mattress Outlet in Conway. The ottomans open up to store other games. I think it was around $400.

John Arnold at Waldron High School’s New Library

Bentonville HS grades 9-12has a new e-library just for online databases, ebooks, and eraders,

audio books and podcasts

Bentonville eLibrary Deborah Reynolds

Discussion

• What cool things are you doing to update technology or make a reading area?

• How are you funding the expense?

• Where should you look for donations of furniture?

• What do we need to avoid?

• Other ideas?

My Contact Info

Rachel_Shankles@LS1.dsc.k12.ar.us

Lakeside High in Hot Springs 501-262-1530

Home 501-624-7138 shankles@cablelynx.com