New Media Center.....New Challenges
Top 3 Things To Do First
Getting the title "Media Specialist" is the easiest part of being one. Once you enter the library media center you need to make some important decisions.
1.One school had a set of risers, so my classes entered and stopped at a cardboard cutout of Lily from Kevin Henkes book (Lily and her Purple Plastic Purse). It was easy to teach them to "line up at Lily". When they left, they lined up at a bookcase with a Clifford poster.
2. Another school had an oval purple carpet and they would go straight to the carpet to sit. As they left, they lined up along a wall by the exit door.
If your schedule is tight, you need to think about what to do when a teacher is late picking up her students. What will you do with them? Most of my media centers have been large enough to have a separate set of tables for them to sit at until they were picked up.
These three steps are VITAL! If you can master these three hurdles, the flow and organization of your space will make it so much easier to function throughout the year!
Next step.....Getting into your collection and shelving!
Step 1 - Traffic Patterns
Take a look at the layout of your media center. To begin, look at where your circulation desk is and your exit(s) are. You need a clear traffic pattern in and out of the media center. This will alleviate a ton of headaches and confusion throughout the school year. If you have another "classroom" like a lab, reading coach office, or a teacher workroom traffic patterns are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
You want a clear entrance pattern and exit pattern for classes and individual checkout (if you have this). Think about where/how you want your class to come in and what they should do first. If you have any special "markers or identifiers" where the children can easily remember what to do. Consistent patterns and repetition are crucial to a smooth flowing media center.
Examples:
2. Another school had an oval purple carpet and they would go straight to the carpet to sit. As they left, they lined up along a wall by the exit door.
If your schedule is tight, you need to think about what to do when a teacher is late picking up her students. What will you do with them? Most of my media centers have been large enough to have a separate set of tables for them to sit at until they were picked up.
Step 2 - Reading time setting
In your mind you have envisioned what your class time will be like. Examine your technology. What do you have? A document camera (Elmo), SMART board or Promethean board, Projector, microphone, check in and out computers, Chrome books/I Pads are all possibilities which could be available for you.
Do you want a more modern setting? Using technology like an Elmo to show the pictures to the children as you read so they can all see the pictures easily.
Do you want a classic setting? Sitting in a special chair with kiddos sitting around you on the floor as you read a story?
If you know you will have classes with special needs children, you may want to arrange the reading area into a U shape or semi-circle to give them boundaries. (see purple carpet picture above)This makes it easier for them to learn when and where they can go during your library time.
Think about how children will be sitting (just like in a classroom). Can they see from all angles during the lesson? Do you have enough chairs and tables to meet your needs?
Step 3 - Order or Chaos
Once you have traffic patterns and furniture arranged, then you need to access the "stuff" in your media center. Empty all drawers, shelves, closets, piles and really discern one of three things:
Is this something...
I DEFINITELY NEED, COULD COME IN HANDY, or NOPE NOT IN THIS LIBRARY.
Make sure the items you decide to keep all have a specific place (and even better...a specific purpose). If you are not sure if something is needed (technology items like cords, remotes or old reading series books) ask before getting rid of it. Always give others opportunity to go through what you are not keeping. The saying "One man's junk...." does hold true in education, however, if it is in really bad shape, THROW IT OUT!
The more clutter you get rid of before the year begins, the less disorganized you will feel when the year gets rolling. If the drawers, shelves, cabinets are all organized, you, your clerk and volunteers will easily find materials needed quickly. Organizing your space will also allow you to know what supplies you need to order right away and a "wish" list for things you would like to have throughout the year.
These three steps are VITAL! If you can master these three hurdles, the flow and organization of your space will make it so much easier to function throughout the year!
Next step.....Getting into your collection and shelving!
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