MEDT 6461 Facilities Project Current Layout

Wall of Bookshelves

storage
High top
café tables
for reading Armchairs for
or studying reading

Computer storage
stations

Tables and chairs

for studying
bookshelves

Circulation desk

Work
magazines space/storage
office Kitchenette/storage
 About this Library
Jordan Vocational High School’s Library was built in the early 1960s and has seen few

renovations from its original version. The library supports a high school of 740 students in

grades 9-12 plus an additional wing of Autistic students numbering around 30. Although the

current plan tries to accommodate some more modern ideas by incorporating spacing for

comfortable reading and small group work, it could use renovating to use more of its large

storage spaces for maker spaces. The library is in need of technology additions and upgrades as

well as a better use of available space.

The library is large, but not centrally located on the campus for the majority of the

students. The library sits on the edge of the campus, near the cafeteria, as part of the autism

wing. Because students do not have to pass this area on a daily basis, the library could be easily

forgotten if it does not increase appeal to the average student.

What Works in Current Plan

 The circulation desk is centrally located and adequate for viewing the entire library. Good

sight lines are essential, and the circulation desk is providing proper sight lines.

 Comfortable seating is available in one area of the library and is a favorite spot for

students trying to read individually.

 A projector and pull-down screen are already in place in the main part of the library to

allow for presentations for staff if necessary.

 The shelving is quite sturdy and attractive. Shelving encompasses the outer edge of the

library and should be maintained.

 Office space for library staff is sufficient and provides good site lines of the library.
 The four storage rooms have large windows looking into the library which would make

ideal collaboration spaces instead of storage rooms.

Needs Analysis

 There are currently four large rooms within the library that are dedicated to storage. Most

of the year there are not many items being stored in these storage rooms as the school has

many empty classrooms and plenty of storage. Renovating two of these four rooms into

maker spaces or collaboration areas would be a better use of space.

 Technology in the library needs to be increased and upgraded. Currently there are only

six computers set up at three tables for student use including the online catalogue.

 The middle of the library consists of a large area of wasted space with empty long tables

and chairs placed there with no clear reason given for how students could use this area.

 Because of the renovation and inclusion of the autism wing, a section of the library needs

to be dedicated to lower level books to allow appropriate use of the library by students

housed in this wing.

 Small group collaboration and work spaces need to be added to the library. Currently

there is a section of small café tables for individual reading or very small groups to

collaborate, but because high school does not use the library in whole class groups, there

needs to be multiple small group spaces to accommodate student needs.

Goals of New Facility

Goal #1: Areas for small group collaboration (makerspaces)

The library desperately needs more areas for small group collaboration.

Goal #2: Technology

The library currently only has six desktop computers available for student use and needs

more computers and other technology added and/or upgraded.

Goal #3 Space Dedication

The middle of the library includes wasted space where students are not sure what they

could use the space for. This space, although flexible, needs to be dedicated to a specific

purpose for increased student use.

Goal #4 Lower Level Book Collection

A section of the library needs to be set up to be more usable by the Autistic students,

whose population is increasing at the school.

Justification

The new plan provides for the above-mentioned goals and keeps in mind the

needs analysis. Two of the four storage areas have been cleared out and made into small

group collaboration spaces or makerspaces. Wools (2018) suggest that “a separate work

space or production area for the teachers and students may be part of the library space

because this area allows for discussions.” (p.119) Because both rooms are attached to the

library through a wall of windows, allowing the librarian the opportunity for supervision,

they make great separate spaces to increase discussion and production of new ideas for

students. I have added a projector and screen in each of the rooms for students wishing to

work on electronic projects. Also included in the rooms would be craft supplies for

projects that require a more hands-on approach. One room would also be used to hold

yearbook club meetings and materials before or after school.

The addition of these projectors and screens overlaps into goal #2: technology. In

addition to the projectors and screens, I would eliminate the old desktops in the library
and replace them with a Chromebook cart housing 30 new Chromebooks which can be

checked out for student use. The library is already using wireless internet, so students

would be able to use the Chromebooks at any of the work stations in the library. Klein

(2016) suggest adding charging stations in the library to help excite students, so I have

included small charging stations in each workstation.

A third goal for the library was better use of space. Bergman (2017) says, “It’s

imperative that school librarians embrace their role as information and instructional

technology leaders creating a space to support and encourage students to explore,

investigate, question, and build new knowledge.” To this idea I have tried to make the

spaces in the library more appealing to the students. They are divided for comfort of the

individual and the small group.

The final goal for the library is to increase its effectiveness for the autistic

students at the high school. To address this I have taken a currently rarely used section of

the library and created a lower level book section complete with rug and comfortable

seating for scheduled story time.

This new revision of the library will help to create students who will

communicate effectively and practice critical thinking skills thus upholding the mission

of Jordan Vocational High School’s library media program.

 Renovated Layout

Wall of Bookshelves

Small group
collaboration
and Yearbook
Club space
Armchairs
for reading

High top
café tables
makerspace
Chromebook Cart

Computer
stations

bookshelves

Circulation desk

Tables and chairs

for studying

Work
space/storage
office Kitchenette/storage
Lower level area
 References
Berman, Doreen. (2017) "Libraries, Cybraries, Learning Commons, Makerspaces, and More!”
School Library Connection. ABC-CLIO.
Klein, Miriam. (2016). 3 Secrets to making your library the place to be. Retrieved from
https://www.commonsense.org/education/blog/3-secrets-to-making-your-school-library-
the-place-to-be
Woolls, B., Weeks, A. C., & Coatney, S. (2018). The School Library Manager (6th ed.). Santa
Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.