Overall vision for the Library Resource Centre

Written Sept. 2006

It is my purpose here to gather the various "library" items into four categories: technology, program and collection and setup. Technology is computer equipment; program is the activities that teachers and students will undertake towards learning; collection refers to the hard-copy assets of the library such as the books, CDs, pictures and whatever else is deemed necessary; setup is the arrangement of the room including furniture, shelving, decor and taking into consideration its user-friendliness.

Technology

The goal is to have 8 computer workstations, internet capable, 1 catalogue computer and 1 circulation computer. Our network upgrade will provide the capacity to do this. We already have the computers, because four workstations were moved from the computer lab, leaving the number there at 30. A listening centre should be established to support books on tape, CD books and music listening. A projection unit is already in our possession. However, as other teachers make more use of this unit, we will need a second one which would mostly remain in the library.

Program

Teacher Involvement and support-

One of the ways that our schedule will support teachers is by creating regular library support periods for each middle school class, and by having regular visits by the primary-junior classes. The middle school teachers will be teaming up with me to decide which part of their program I will deliver. The library can be a great place for literature circles to meet, for students to learn multi-media creation and presentation skills, and to do research.

Teachers will also be encouraged to be involved in promoting reading and literature in new ways, using book talks and perhaps even by using a weblog to publish student book reviews. This use of technology would be a significant area of growth for our staff and would bring the benefit of creating on-line material that parents and relatives can enjoy, increasing our home and school contact.

Adult Volunteers-

Two adult volunteers should be invited to work about a half-day per week. These volunteers could help out with many ongoing tasks pertaining to the library collection, and they may also help out in story time with the younger classes. Some adults may enjoy doing book talks as well.

Students-

A regular schedule of library helpers will be created. I'd like to have students from some junior classes and most middle school grades on this schedule. Two circulation helpers will also be chosen from each class to do checkout and checkin for their class when visiting the library.