Signs of a welcoming library
Signs of a Welcoming Library
Doug Johnson
Head for the Edge, Library Media Connection, March/April 2010
As students enter the Left Overshoe School Library, they always pass this sign posted boldly by the entrance:
Doug Johnson
Head for the Edge, Library Media Connection, March/April 2010
As students enter the Left Overshoe School Library, they always pass this sign posted boldly by the entrance:
As students enter the Right Overshoe School Library, they always pass this sign, posted boldly by the entrance:
Increasingly information, entertainment and assistance comes to the end-user digitally instead of the end user having to go to the information, entertainment and assistance traditionally found in libraries in analog formats.
Why would anyone go to your library at all if it is not a genuinely welcoming place?
Why would anyone go to your library at all if it is not a genuinely welcoming place?
Doug Johnson
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Reader Comments (10)
I love the idea of the "Right Overshoe School Library". I think that it should be the norm for school libraries. But I wonder how does one transition from the "Left " to the "Right" so to speak? How does one get administration and co-librarians to buy into this idea when there are established practices that have been in place for decades?
Hi there,
Library cultures that are formed over years if not decades are not changed overnight, so you question is a good one.
My basic advice is to make sure you have a library advisory committee with teachers, parents and students who can help you formulate rules and set policies for library use. See:
http://dougjohnson.squarespace.com/dougwri/advisory-advice.html
One first step you might take is to keep your current rules, but frame them in more positive ways.
Good luck and let me know if this has helped,
Doug
Doug this is an off topic question for an important post, but...where did you find chalkboard template to embed?
Hi Deb,
Hate to disappoint you, but these images are scans of how the column appeared in LMC magazine. It was the publisher's graphic artists that did this good work.
Sorry,
Doug
Teachers are always asked to word their classroom rules in a positive statement rather than a negative one. Example : "No eating in class" is changed to "Finish your food outside before coming to class", etc.
So I think this applies to the library so we should all word our rules the same way.
Good point, Alejandra.
Doug
School library is a unique think that helps the school students in a very positive way. In these type of fairs the books that are available is very helpful for the students and helps them to gather idea about one topic from many references. Also in these function students used to show many inventive ideas that known as the invention of science also helps the students to show their ideas to the society. In all these views I think school book fair is a necessary event for every school.
Always ask yourself "are the rules for the benefit of the staff or the students?"
And whatever you do "does it impact on student learning?"
Thank you for this. I'm heading into a high school library this year that doesn't have the best reputation for being student friendly. I've been asked to change that. This helps give me some ideas, thank you!!
Hi Jennifer,
Great question - exactly what we should always ask. Thanks for commenting.
Doug
Hi Kari,
You are very welcome. Good luck in your new job!
Doug