school library

  The library is the space I have seen change the most in the past 30 years. Gone are the days of tall, dark library shelving stuffed with volumes of books, study carrels, heavy wood tables and chairs. Instead, the library is a space embracing technology, a center hub of explorative learning within the school,

  Do you ever feel like your school library could be doing more? Are you tired of spending hours tracking down individual books, then reshelving them when the patrons ended up choosing a different book? If so, it might be time to invest in some school library software. Software designed for school libraries can automate

  By Joe S. Agati Designing a library for students is no simple task. Whether you’re just updating furniture or doing a full redesign, here are five questions that will help you clarify the direction for your unique space. Who are you designing your space for? Students, yes. But let’s go deeper than that. What

  By Mariana Lavezzo Library design has evolved from the traditional centralized model, serving as a destination for quiet learning activities and reading, to a media resource center with more of a coffee house vibe. Many libraries are taking out outdated computer labs and replacing them with makerspaces of varying scales for digital creations, tinkering

  By Jolie Conahan Students that read for pleasure are much more likely to do well academically. What is it, though, that motivates students to pick up a new book and read it for pleasure? Take a journey in your student’s shoes. What do they see when they enter the library, and does that view

  Evolutions in technology and pedagogy have created a demand for new types of learning spaces. Educators are finding that students work and learn best in environments that are fun, engaging, and collaborative. For this reason, school libraries are beginning to change and evolve to include more flexible seating options. How School Libraries Are Changing

  Libraries have changed dramatically. No longer are they exclusively furnished with tall, static bookshelves. In many schools, this space has morphed into a multi-media center where students research, discover and explore their ideas. Media centers are the hub of the school. These are now flexible spaces that accommodate technology, teaching and versatile student or

  Seating is a crucial part of every library. From people stopping by to check email, students spending a whole day studying, or patrons swinging by to read a book, the list of needs is long. And, it’s important to have the best seating options available to support the people using your space. Here is

  There are many choices out there when it comes to choosing and designing the right bookcases that should be used for a school’s library. Talking to experts can help with making the right choices for a school’s library bookcases. What should you consider? Take a look. The Height of Your Bookcases The height of

1. Engaging Students in Learning Useful features commonly found in ebooks can engage readers more thoroughly than traditional books. Readers can highlight, draw, annotate, write journals, and cite sources using ebook features. Reluctant and struggling readers benefit the most from ebooks that involve the senses. ebooks can give students a full reading experience by emerging

When contemplating the design of each of the learning spaces within a school, the touchstone for every decision should be the end users of each space – the students. Students, teachers, and administrators utilize the facility throughout the day, but the students typically have the widest range of body sizes and shapes, the least amount

By Rebecca Killam Schools can benefit from LED lighting in more places than you may think. Using LED technology can not only cut electricity costs, it can also help improve student learning and campus safety. Shown to improve mood, reduce eye strain, and reduces absenteeism, LED lighting has a direct impact on students, teachers, and

By Lauren Gilchrist It’s time to turn the page on the library as we know it. Here are some tips for turning your school library into the heart and soul of your technology initiatives. Envision It What kind of character do you want your library to have? The patterns of behavior and interactions within the

By Julie Wenckowski Recently I worked with a school district that had a mixture of newer and older buildings. While the new buildings are constructed for the 21st Century learner, the older buildings’ “traditional” structure fell short. Administrators challenged the faculty and staff to think outside the box and transform the older buildings to meet

By Diana Rendina When I first arrived at my school, the library was in pretty dismal shape. It was dark, dingy, cluttered and pretty much the opposite of student-friendly. Over the course of five years, I gradually changed things up and redesigned our learning space into one that is flexible, collaborative, and fun. Here are

Across the country, in April, communities celebrated School Library Month, which was themed “Because School Libraries Empower Students.” The 2017 theme couldn’t be more apt. Today, school librarians not only partner with educators to design curricula and teach students to protect their privacy, they also actively engage students in critical thinking and use new technology