From the desk of Christine Caruso Memo to an Architect:

Even though College Gardens Elementary School and its media center are only five years old, we have decided to make some changes to the facility in order to accommodate future needs of the school and community population. The library itself is approximately 1450 square feet and it is located centrally within the school, making it easily accessible for everyone. The space is mostly rectangular with a few small alcove areas. It is a large facility with lots of open space. The CGES school population is currently 830 students and 65 staff members. Community members rarely use the library except for special events or PTA needs. Recently, however, there has been discussion of moving the Chinese Immersion program to a new school, which would alleviate the overwhelming growth of attendance that CGES has experienced within the last two years. Regardless, we feel that specific changes should be made to the overall space to enhance the facility to better prepare for the future. We hope these suggestions will benefit both staff and students, as well as increase usage by the community.

This drawing represents the current CGES Media Center

SHELVING UNITS: Current situation: *Based on Current Collection data, over 27,000 books have been checked out this school year alone, prompting the need for more materials and shelving to accommodate them *Fictional shelving units are too tall for most elementary school children to access (6ft) *Overcrowding of nonfiction books *Poor signage in nonfiction *Shelving units are angled, which makes viewing displayed books difficult *Narrow shelves by circulation desk

Solution: Lowering the shelves to 5 feet with the top shelves being used to display books

Keep shelving this section moveable (not nailed down) because they can easily be pushed to accommodate large groups in the media center for meetings or author visits. Adding another long shelving unit to the nonfiction section in order to help with the expansion of our collection Better signage (pictures/labels) of the nonfiction books and fiction series in order to increase selection of less popular genres or topics. Shelves near the circulation desk and instructional areas should be widened for book check in, holds, project displays, and workspace.

SEATING: Current situation: 8 round tables with 4 seats each (6 in instructional area and 2 unused tables by the book section)= 32 seats total No individual seats Empty hall space beside Biography section near exit

Potential solution: All 8 tables should be moved to the main instructional area Each table can accommodate up to 5 chairs = 40 seats Movable shelving units can allow for seating of larger groups Adding cushy chairs to the fiction section for quiet reading (shelves can be angled for viewing of these chairs) Adding three study carols to the empty space for studying, tutoring or make up work (paraeducators often work one on one with students in the media center) INSTRUCTIONAL AREAS: Present state: Two instructional areas (story time by the Everybody section & larger instructional area by the promethean board) Story time section can accommodate up to 30 students Instructional section can seat 32 students Due to the separate areas, two classes can be taught simultaneously

Ideas for improvement:

Expand the story time by pushing out the shelving on one side to accommodate larger classes (up to 35 students) and provide opportunities for assessment or hands on activities such as use of digital tools or basic pencil/paper/clipboard work. Adding a larger, moveable white board and screen to this space. Over time, we could use this white board/screen area for potential additions of newer technology. Adding more tables to the main instructional section to allow for more seating for whole group and small group activities. For differentiation and creative purposes, students could break into smaller clusters among the tables for group or partner work. When coteaching, the teachers could simply split up the table groups to assist students with research, seat work, book selection, which allows for multiple assessment opportunities. Unique possibilities for these spaces include skype teaching, team-teaching, student to student mentoring etc.

TECHNOLOGY: As Technology continues to change, so must our library. In order to progress with the times and our community needs, we must consider opportunities to expand our use of technology. Information literacy is an essential skill in the digital age. T Current Situation: promethean board, a screen with projector, one computer station with six computers, one instructional computer and one computer for checking out books. an adjacent computer lab with thirty-two computers. Additionally there are two class sets of laptops on moveable carts.

In order to accommodate 21st century learners, our library should consider: Adding another computer station with six computers (giving us twelve) in case the lab is occupied. This will allow for equitable access for everyone, since more students, staff and community members could independently utilize online databases as well as access to the Destiny catalog. Relocating the instructional computer closer to the promethean board Adding an extra Destiny catalog computer near the story time area for staff or students to use quickly without waiting to log onto the computer. Expanding the digital collection to include playaways, kindles or other e-books, i-Pads and whatever else may com

STORAGE AND RESOURCES:

Present information: A 50 ft. long X 18 ft. wide storage closet behind the large instructional area used for housing unwanted and or old materials An Office space (large enough for three staff members, although only two use the space) Another 15 ft. long and 12 ft. wide closet beside the office.

Solution: Rearrange and or clean out the large storage closet and use for media center materials only Change the smaller closet into a teacher work space for planning, and holding space for professional materials Keep the office space as is to accommodate three media center staff members

We hope that these suggested changes promote postive growth within the school and its community for the future.

Proposed Map of new CGES media center of the future

Everybody books Fiction section

Computer station

Story time Instructional area

Nonfiction section
Computer station

Bulletin & display

White board & screen

computer catalog station

Digital collection

Media staff office

Teacher workroom & professional library

Instructional area with promethean board, white board, instructional computer, and rules/procedures display

Key:

Storage closet for media center materials

Study carols Tables Non-fiction section plush seating

Everybody Section

extra shelving for display/work/books

Fiction Section

circulation desk