Library Walk-About Checklist

Area in Library Media Center Lighting and electrical outlets o Bright and cheerful o Outlets safe and plentiful Comments on Strengths or Weaknesses + Very brightly lit Colorful kites hang from the ceiling and walls Adequate number of outlets; laptop use uncommon for classroom areas Classroom areas ha!e adequate outlets for powerstrip use + Clearly marked signage in school colors $ %iction bookshel!es in two areas& close to each other& but not ob!ious 'akes a moment of thinking to go from authors ( to ) + A+A compliant aisles "hel!es neatly arranged,not crammed Looks orderly and appealing Atlases and dictionaries located at the front of the bookshel!es -ncludes almanacs& encyclopedias also Always one staff member on duty to help students locate.reach books on high shel!es )o stools.stepladders a!ailable for student use %iction shel!es all waist*high )on*fiction higher& but ma/ority along walls for ease of staff sight*lines + Adequate lighting %luorescent 0heelchair accessible tables $ 0ooden chairs for table seating )o reading*specific area

"ignage o #laced in ob!ious areas o Bookshel!es marked logically o Computers and printers identified with proper information

Bookshel!es o Accessible to all students o "hel!es contain some empty space*books are not crammed o Atlases and dictionaries accessible o #laced so that wheelchairs can mo!e through

"eating for pleasure reading o Comfortable seats a!ailable o Adequate lighting o 0heelchairs can mo!e through

-nstructional area + o "eating accommodations for at least entire +epending on use& library can house up to four class classes 2two areas with tables& two enclosed o Chairs and tables arranged so students can rooms3 see o!erhead display O!erhead screen can be set up for teacher use o Large tables for collaborati!e groups Areas for both large*si4ed and small*si4ed o Adequate room for wheelchairs table usage Classes can sign up for either area o 1lectrical outlets for laptops Computer areas set up in pods and in short rows 0heelchair accessible #owerstrips can be pro!ided when needed -f using the laptop mini*lab& powerstrips included in set up "tory time and presentation o "tep*style seating or cushions o 0alled*off separate from instructional area + 'here are two rooms for teacher use that are enclosed $ media room and conference*style room that can be set up in !arious ways + )o separate reading room or area for pleasure reading Computer tables o (onitors !isible o Cable placement secure o 1lectrical outlets are within fire code o Chairs placement not o!ercrowded o #aper a!ailable for note*taking o #rinters a!ailable o 0heelchair accessible + "ecure cable placement %ire code certified 5igh and low stations for students to work 2standing possible3 #rinter a!ailable throughout& including color 2for a fee3 0heelchair accessible 2low stations3 $ (onitors not always !isible in pod stations 2media room3 "tudents sometimes inad!ertently kick 2media room3powerstrip located under computers and accidentally power off desktop computers "emi*crowded rows& though only two people per row against the wall 2media room3 )o paper a!ailable 2media room3 0heelchair accessible areas )ot e!erywhere 2media room3

Circulation desk o Large and clearly recogni4able o Computer and printer for library staff6s use o #hone for library staff o Book return area o Comfortable chair o 7ncluttered and clearly marked o "hel!ing for temporary storage

5781 circulation desk Book return is immediately facing front door #hone for library staff at front Comfortable staff chairs for assistant and "L(" to work out front Circ desk at height that can be used sitting or standing #aper cutter& die cut& stapler& a!ailable for easy student use 'emporary storage shel!ing and cabinets rae plentiful )o computer.printer for staff use

$ Areas that students don6t traffic near much are cluttered 2does not impact student use.beha!ior3 +9cor o -n!iting and well*maintained o Book displays& etc arranged in appealing design o Clock !isible to students o 'idy and uncluttered + Looks !ery clean& both in tidiness and appearance,uncluttered common areas Bright and ob!ious signage $ Only clock !isible behind circulation desk (inimal book displays + )eatly arranged titles on shel!es %eatured books on top $ (anga section on standing racks& unorgani4ed
Note: Due to time constraints, not sure how often book displays are changed. No witness to any.

Book displays o Books attracti!ely displayed on tables& tops of shel!es& or bins o +isplays change frequently

Office and work space o 0indows ha!e !iew of library o Adequate shel!ing o Ad/acent to work space with counter o "upply cabinets o Locking doors

+ Office windows can see the library 2front3 as well as workroom 2back3 (inimal office space well utili4ed and organi4ed Adequate supply cabinets and shel!ing for small space Locking doors $ )ot ad/acent to counter

Audio*!isual storage room o Organi4ed by +ewey o +ecimal "ystem or other o "hel!es accessible o +ust*free and neatly arranged

+ Locked glass doors accessible to staff !ia "L(" )eatly arranged for staff to peruse through doors
Note: We never opened this during my time in the library. Not sure how organized.

Adapted from: The rincipal!s "uide to a owerful #ibrary $edia rogram, by (arla 0 (c8hee and Barbara A ;ansen Linworth #ublishing& <==>