LIBRARY FACILITIES PLAN

SERENA RAMIREZ

WELCOME TO THE LIBRARY AT P.S. X! THIS ISSUE:

The library facility at P.S. X is fairly new. It serves the purpose of a OVERVIEW
library, a classroom, and a meeting space. It has plenty of oak

bookcases both tall and short, with matching rectangular group DESCRIPTION
tables and chairs. There is a computer station with 3 desktops and PAGE 01
a printer as well as a Promethean board for teaching and
presenting. There is a reading nook with tiered seating and LIBRARY SCHEDULING
cushioned chairs. There is a bright blue rug where students can sit PAGE 02
to listen to a story or cuddle up with a good book. The library
provides students with a xerox copy machine when needing a
LIBRARY MAP
black and white or color copy when they are working on a project.
PAGE 03
The library is also home to a 3D printer and the Makerspace books.
The library is also equipped with an alarm system that goes off
when a barcode is not checked out beside the amazing “u” shaped LIBRARY RECOMENDATIONS
librarian check-out system. PAGE 04

STAFF & EXTERNAL

RECOMENDATIONS
PAGE 06

ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS, AND

UPDATES
PAGE 07

FACILITIES PLAN PAGE 01

 “I HAVE
Currently, the library is on a fixed schedule. Kindergarten, 1st,
and second grade are assigned a library period as a coverage

ALWAYS
each week. This provides book exchange for the early
childhood grades. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades participate in

IMAGINED
open access book exchange through assigned weekly slots.
With this fixed schedule, students are exchanging books (at

THAT
most) once a week. One librarian is managing the check-in,
check-out process. The librarian is also responsible for shelf

PARADISE
organization. The librarian keeps track of the school collection
and orders books yearly with the allocated budget to

WILL BE A
incorproate new books to support the school community.

KIND OF
LIBRARY.”
JORGE LUIS BORGES

The library hosts two annual book fairs. for the school
community and serves as a meeting place for professional
development and various meetings.

WE ARE ALWAYS A WORK IN

PROGRESS
The P.S.X school community is very fortunate because the
library was part of the school's expansion renovation in 2015.
This facility is current with up-to-date furniture and technology.
The library is home to many STEM tools but students do not
have access to the tools.

FACILITIES PLAN PAGE 02

The diagram above is a map of the library. The library is organized for book exchange and
learning (which meets the needs of current usage).
As you can see in the diagram the collaborative tables and the large rug is direct in front of
the Promethean board.
Students are only in the reading nook area when they are browsing for fairytales and
nonfiction animal books.

The library is a well-loved space within the school community. The students are excited
about their weekly visit but some modifications to the library center would enhance the
current utilization of this learning space and possibly allow students to visit the library more
often.

HOW DO YOU MAKE SOMETHING BETTER

THAT IS ALREADY GREAT?
In the next few pages, I will be providing recommendations to build on the current library
plan.

FACILITIES PLAN PAGE 03

Recommendation 1: Rearrange Furniture
By rearranging the furniture, students can have opportunities for different learning stations as
well as comfortable reading spaces. Since the librarian is currently the only adult in the room,
furniture must be arranged so the librarian can be able to survey the space effectively.

Recommendation 2: STEAM/Makerspace Station

The library is home to amazing student technology. By implementing a technology nook
students can work on Makespace crafts, create on the 3D printer, and use the desktops for
STEAM learning.
Recommendation 3: Self-Checkout
By incorporating a self-checkout station the upper-grade classes would be able to participate
in book exchange more frequently.

Recommendation 4: Book Displays

Provide a book display beside the door focusing on themes for the month or new books the library
received.

FACILITIES PLAN PAGE 04

Recommendation 5: Interactive Schoolwide Poll
School-wide polls and activities to promote literacy and the
school-wide community.
Recommendation 6: Listening & Recording
Station
Students who are second language learners or would like to
listen to an audiobook at this station. This station should
have a radio with a cd player, an iPad, earphones and a
device with a camera. This space should also be a space
where students can record using Flipgrid, reverb or create
podcasts.
Recommendation 7: Tech Chromebook/IPad Cart
The library should have 5-10 Ipads and Chromebooks to support inquiry-based learning, robotics, and
STEAM.

Recommendation 8: Flexible Seating

Students would benefit from additional comfortable flexible seating during their library experience. Maybe a
few scoop chairs, floor seat desks, seat cushions, a small couch will provide seating that can be stored and not
take up too much space.

Recommendation 9: Wall Space

The library has beautiful large yellow walls. By adding murals or familiar high interest characters on
the walls, the library would be friendlier and more inviting. Possibly even adding bulletin boards for
announcements or messages to the students would be an additional asset to the library.

Recommendation 10: A/R Augmented Reality Virtual Trips

Students would benefit from an area of the library to use AR tools to go on virtual trips. Through
this technology, they will be able

FACILITIES PLAN PAGE 05

 STAFF RECOMENDATION:
Recommendation 11: Library School Aide or Para
To support the management of the library, additional support would help the library run more
efficiently. With a school aide or paraprofessional support for 2-3 periods a day the librarian will be
able to support the school community better. The extra support can support organizing the
collection as well as support check out to provide students with additional opportunities for book
accessibility.
OUTSIDE LIBRARY RECOMENDATION:
Recommendation 12: LEGO Wall
Outside the library, there are large empty wall spaces. A Lego Wall would be a great addition for
school collaborative themed projects.

Recommendation 13: Bulletin Board

The school community would benefit from a bulletin board on the outside of the library to display
student research or reading themed information.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
I have provided 13 recommendations that would
impact various areas of the budget. These
recommendations are not meant to be a quick
fix. Some of these recommendations are more
costly than others so it would be best to take
these suggestions and create mini-projects.

Overall the library should be a special space in

the school building to support the various
learners in both their curiosities and within their
studies.
I hope these recomendations are helpful.

FACILITIES PLAN PAGE 06