I have been thinking about the comment of how organizing a library is like organizing a kitchen that my classmates have been discussing online(LIBE465 lesson 4, cataloguing introduction). It has really resonnated with me. I am in a new to me library space and am planning its reorganization the way I planned my kitchen reno. I am thinking about the traffic flow, how to minimize steps between the carpet and the books for the primary students. How to minimize my steps between helping students find books and checking them out (between fridge, stove, counter and table) How to orient the bookcases so I can see students and books... like how to see what I have in my pantry by how I organize the shelves. How to locate the items that are used every day and those that are just used on special occasions; how to stock the shelves in the library, where to put bins and displays.
I am excited that I have signed up to a library design session at the upcoming TL conference in Port Coquitlam to get more reflection and other viewpoints on this process before I re-organize. I want to redesign to include a "Learning Commons" (Koechlin, C. et al Building a Learning Commons, a guide for school administrators and learning leadership teams) type of space. For me this focuses on renovating my kitchen/library to reflect how the space will be used socially. Will I be entertaining in my kitchen? Having my children work on homework? Doing batch baking/canning with family and friends? Where will everyone sit to eat? So in the library how do I accomodate large learning groups, small groups, groups that will be talking and discussing and quiet spaces to read and reflect, places for supplies for projects and maybe even a bit messy ones with glue and felts.
I am also thinking of a bookstore as part of my job and how to display books so students will choose them (http://redhairedlibrarian.com/2006/04/06/library-borrows-bookstore-display-ideas/). This could be related to my kitchen reno as where do I locate my plant pots, flowers, art and wine glass display. Where is the breakfast cereal so the little hands can choose and get it themselves. I want to encourage students to find not just books they are familiar with but also to promote new authors and genres of books. So I am thinking about what should be binned and what should be put out on display to encourage students to locate books? As I noted in my course comment many of the French books have been organized or "binned" by publisher rather than author while the English books have been organized by author. I am thinking that by changing the system, students will discover other books... so do I switch the English to publisher and the French to author? Can I do this without totally frustrating my clerk and her ability to shelve quickly? I have already had her change from displaying titles that students know to books they are less familiar with but have great covers. This has definately increased "sales". Will my students still be able to find the cereal they want while discovering other brands? I am also going to have to think more about using Dewey organization after reading the blog by Van merter (http://vanmeterlibraryvoice.blogspot.ca/2012/08/we-spiced-up-shelvesand-ditched-dewey.html.
Just like my kitchen reno I will improve how the library helps the students find books and has usable space, but there will still be adjustments as I see how the students and teachers use the "new" spaces I will create.
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