Library Online

The Library at The Dixie Grammar School belongs to the whole school community …

… we are beginning the exciting task of planning a new re-furbished Library and we need your help. So …

 Dom Dada, wok, -bast-, tantek and Stefan

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: development, Library, staff, students, surveys

Well, I have now been at the school for seven weeks, so I think that it is time to look at what has been achieved so far - sorry, this is a long post but I have livened it up with a few fun images:

(1) Establish a baseline for future assessment:

• Inventory all furniture and equipment - done
• Stock-take and count all resources - done
• Take statistics from the Library Management System to assess past borrowing - done
• Work out previous patterns of use - done
• Photograph library - done
• Write assessment report for Senior Management - done

(2) Learn how to use the Enclipse 2 Library Management System for:

• Updating and enrolling students and staff - done
• Cataloguing - on-going
• Creating reports - on-going
• Searching for resources - on-going

(3) Start to get-to-know the school community and systems:

• Attend staff meetings, special events and assemblies - on-going
• Talk to staff and students both formally and informally - on-going
• Begin to recruit and train Student Library helpers - on-going
• Deliver a presentation to the whole school in assembly - after October Half Term

(4) Library management and administration:

• Begin to write a Library Procedures Manual to set out all library administrative systems - on-going
• Begin to compile a Library Handbook to gather evidence of the Library and Librarian’s impact on teaching and learning in the school - on-going
• Plan a series of monitoring reports for the Senior Management and Governors - on-going

(5) Library resources:

• Weed, re-catalogue, clean, mend and label Fiction stock - done
• Weed, re-catalogue, clean, mend and label Non-Fiction stock - on-going
• Begin to purchase new stock items after consultation with staff and students - on-going
• Put up new signage and guiding - on-going

(6) Library use:

• Re-organise physical layout of tables etc - done
• Open at lunchtimes and after school - on-going
• Publicise Reading Champions group and begin meetings - done

Image made using Wordle

(7) Library development:

• Attend relevant planning meetings - on-going
• Begin to create a wish-list for the development - on-going
• Plan a series of visits to other suitable school libraries - on-going
• Open discussions with suitable library furnishing companies - done
• Consult with school staff - on-going
• Start the consultation process with students - after October Half Term

(8) Use of ICT and developing technologies:

• Create the Library Online website - done
• Continue to develop the site to be a support for teaching and learning in the school - on-going

(9) Enjoy my new job:

 

Definitely!

Many thanks are due to my school librarian colleagues, particularly those on SLN who have given me so much support, ideas and good cheer during these first few weeks in a new post.

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If you like the rather strange photographic effects, try your own photos on this site:
Dumpr

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: administration, assessment, development, ICT, Librarian, libraries, Library_Online, management, monitoring, resources, staff, students

We had our first meeting today and we talked about plans for the group and the activities that we are going to enjoy.

The Reading Champions now have their own page on this site - have a look…

Reading Champions Page

Why not come along to our next meeting - Wednesday 12th November - 1.15-1.55

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: reading, Reading_CHampions, reading_group

This week, I am having a few issues with this site! Images will not upload properly - so this post will have to be text only until I have managed to find the solution.

Visiting other school libraries

I have been asking around for suitable libraries to visit in order to gather as many ideas as possible. Last week, I began to compile a “wish list” so that I could clarify my thinking about the new library. I have now contacted a range of colleagues and have some visits in the pipeline.

Library design

There are a lot of library designers and furniture suppliers out there and I have been in touch with quite a few to ask if they can send pictures of their designs. I am planning a display for the Library that we can use during Open Morning and also to inspire the students and staff.

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: design, development, libraries, Open_Morning

As we work on improving the condition of the present stock, I have now called an Amnesty to try to get back some of the missing items and long-term overdues. This is so that the catalogue will be accurate - then we can begin to build up more resources. We live in hope!

I am now thinking about how we can engage students and staff in the development of the new Library. A range of survey ideas are being looked at together with a presentation to the whole school in Assembly.

Plans are also afoot for a Reading Champions group - next week, during National Children’s Book Week, I will send out a poster to all tutor groups asking keen readers to come to the Library for a meeting.

Perhaps not this one, though!

foxypar4

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: development, Library, reading, reading_group, surveys

I am continuing to work on re-cataloguing the stock, as before - this will probably take me some months. So I will not repeat the same list of activities every week, but post when I have finished!

Lots of ideas are buzzing around my head as I sort out the existing stock and these will become apparent over the next few weeks (the names of these may change):

• Reading Group - I would like to have a group which could meet regularly to discuss their favourite reads. Hopefully, they could also act as “Reading Champions” to the rest of the school and feed back suggestions for the stock.
• Library Supporters Group - made up of students to contribute ideas into the full Library Development Group.
• Publicising this website and also other activities going on related to the Library to the students - perhaps through an assembly.

In addition to the stock work and the above musings, I am continuing with the following things:

• Designing and printing new guiding and signage.
• Working on displays - particularly with Open Morning in mind.
• Getting to know staff and pupils.
• Developing the Library Online Website.

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: development, Library, reading, reading_group, students

The stock-take was completed last week and an Initial Assessment Report on the Library was sent to the Headmaster and my Line Manager, Mr Haddon. This will enable us to have a baseline against which to measure the future development of the Library.

This week, I am continuing with the following things:

• Assessing and weeding all stock
• Cleaning, repairing and re-cataloguing remaining stock
• Designing and printing new guiding and signage
• Beginning to plan displays - particularly with Open Morning in mind
• Getting to know staff and pupils
• Developing the Library Online Website

The Library is now open at lunchtimes as well as after school for all pupils - see previous post. A small collection of magazines has been started. I am also planning how to involve the pupils as Library Helpers - note not Librarians!

Now, I also have to think about how to promote the services of the Library and especially this website - more on that soon!

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: cataloguing, development, displays, guiding, Library_Helpers, Open_Morning, pupils, resources, signage, staff, stock-taking, weeding

From Monday 15th September the Library will be open for pupils at lunchtime from:

1.00-1.55

You are very welcome to use the Library for:

• Homework
• Reading
• Borrowing and returning books

Please remember that access is through the Library door and NOT through Room 8!

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: access, homework, lunchtimes, news, opening_times

You can now search our library catalogue. Look at the left-hand column and type into the search box. You will then get a listing of our books.

This is powered by a site called LibraryThing, an online service to help people catalogue their books easily. Because everyone catalogues together, LibraryThing also connects people with the same books, comes up with suggestions for what to read next, and so forth. Over the coming weeks, we will look at how we can use this interesting site with reading groups in the Library.

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: catalogue, LibraryThing, school_library2.0, Web2.0

These are the main things that are happening in the Library this week:

• Stock-take all resources - finished at end of week
• Begin to assess and weed all stock
• Clean, repair and re-catalogue stock
• Continue to get to know staff and pupils
• Write an Initial Assessment Report to establish a baseline against which to measure future developments - finished at end of week

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: assessment, baseline, cataloguing, processing, pupils, staff, statistics, stock-taking