🙌🎊 CelebratingTerm 2

As we reflect on the recently concluded term, we are thrilled to highlight some library statistics that showcase the tremendous success and impact of the high school library. The term has seen growth, exploration, and community-building within the library space.

Between class visits and advisory offerings, student engagement with the collection has increased, and the diverse collection continues to inspire curiosity and learning.

📖🔍 Dynamic Shelving Makes Its Debut in the Library

With the change of the semester right around the corner, it's time to unveil a transformative change in the library, too--a change that promises to elevate students' reading experience! 📚✨ Say hello to NEW shelf organization, thoughtfully curated to showcase favorite authors and popular book series. This dynamic shelving is influenced by Kelsey Bogan from the Don't Shush Me: Adventures of a High School Librarian blog and her work in her own library.

The image above shows what the historical fiction and supernatural bookcases looked like before dynamic shelving--👀 take a look at the image below to see how it's been transformed!

Imagine strolling through our shelves, where every turn reveals a newly organized collection of books. From the timeless classics to the latest releases, the revamped organization ensures students can effortlessly find the authors they love and seamlessly dive into captivating book series. Between the genre categorization and the chunking and displays of dynamic shelving, there's no more hunting for that elusive title or wondering where a preferred series is hiding. The user-friendly layout is designed to make students' literary exploration easier, allowing them to spend less time searching and more time lost in the pages of a great book.

The thriller genre featuring dynamic shelving.

Ready to embark on a new literary adventure? Visit the library to take a look at the new organization! Your next reading journey awaits!

Graphic Design Class Collaboration

With the return to school came the return of collaboration opportunities. The graphic design class visited the library to delve into the world of YA literature and book covers. On this creative journey students can see where literature meets art and discover insights into the design elements that make these book covers not just visually appealing, but also significant in representing the essence of the stories they tell.

In collaboration with the art teacher, students first discussed the visual elements of YA book covers – from color schemes and typography to imagery and content. This interdisciplinary approach reinforced students' appreciation for the symbiotic relationship between literature and art. By understanding how design choices reflect the story within, students gained valuable insights into the creative process behind crafting these covers.

To bring theory into practice, students then had time among the bookcases to browse the collection to find examples of book covers that appealed to them. Guided by the art teacher, student will later share their findings about effective YA book covers based on their library browsing. This not only allows them to apply the design principles they've learned but also fosters a deeper connection with the books they choose to reimagine.

🙌 Term 1 Library Statistics

With the first term behind us, there is much to celebrate in the library!

Term 1 statistics show a lot of reading and library use--it's great to see so many checked out books and library visits!

Top Ten Books

It's that time of year when we look back at the most checked-out books from the entire school year! Here they are!

What a great representation of students' interests and reading habits! New releases and old favorites? Yep! A variety of genres and formats, along with both fiction and nonfiction titles? Sure! Stand alones and series books? Yes! Screen adaptations? Of course! A celebration of readers and reading, for sure!

Students Take the Lead

In the last two months, several students have offered to lead different advisory sessions on topics they're interested in or excited to share with others. Usually once a week, different students have stepped forward to showcase their interests or teach something to their peers.

Topics have included subjects like unusual animal facts and different varieties of frogs, the longest words--we even practiced saying them together!--favorite television shows, women leaders and pioneers, and creating online content. Students sign up to sit in on the sessions, and at the end of their peers' presentations, there have been great questions, interesting connections shared, and appreciative applause. What a great way to celebrate kids' interests and passions in an inviting environment! 

3D Printer News!

After nearly a year of conversations about how a 3D printer might be a worthy addition to the library, we now have a 3D printer!

While it looks great set up on the counter, it didn't always look like this! "Some assembly required," as the saying goes. . . and sometimes that meant putting pieces together, then taking them apart to put them together in the correct way! 

We're using a PC that our technology department had on hand, and we're working to connect the printer and computer. While it's frustrating to not be able to immediately print right away, the problem solving and trouble shooting continues.

So how do we expect to use the printer? Teachers will be invited to use it with their students in classes--the art teacher has already expressed an interest--and students will primarily use it during advisory time. Using the 3D printer will be part of each month's advisory offerings, with students using existing templates from Thingiverse or modifying templates to best fit their needs. Hopefully we can run a print or two before the end of the school year to promote the equipment with students, and in beginning in late August, students will have the opportunity to see the printer run and sign up for advisory sessions to learn more about using the software and creating.