S.T.E.M. REMODELING PROJECT

S.T.E.M. REMODELING PROJECT

This area will become the Cyber Lab for students with blended schedules.

Our high school runs a 2-year S.T.E.M. program. Students apply in their sophomore year, and if they are accepted, participate in seminars throughout their junior year. During their senior year, they are enrolled in an actual S.T.E.M. class. As part of their class, they are responsible for the planning and implementing of a project that benefits some aspect of the school district.
This is the first year that such a project was implemented. I applied last year to be the beneficiary of their program, and they selected my application in part because the library is a space that is used by the entire school.
The plan for the library is as follows...
1) A space for the Cyber Lab students. The library is home to students who are enrolled part-time in cyber courses. They go to some of their classes, and they come to the library for classes that they take online.

This area will eventually be a makerspace.

2) A more contained instructional space. Now that our students each have a Chromebook, the need for desktops has decreased. My instructional space is being reduced. I can still accommodate the same number of students, but less space is needed since they no longer need desktops. The extra are will be changed to...
3) Collaborative Space: This are will have a project, mobile white board, and tables covered with a white-board surface so that dry erase markers can be used.
4) A Makerspace: This area use to house the cyber students and a few desktops. For now, it will have approximately 6 desktops that will be better quality and more extensive applications such as C.A.D. and other advanced programs. Eventually, I would like to make this are more like the makerspaces I see in other libraries.
5) An updated reading area: My cozy reading spaces will receive an upgrade. Furniture will be rearranged and new furniture, plants, lamps, and area rugs will be donated by local retailers.
The planning phase is finally over, and the maintenance crew has been in the library all week. I will post "after" photos as soon as everything is finished!

Posted by: Nicky

Featured Author Display: Sarah Dessen (March 2013)

 

 Featured Author Display: Sarah Dessen (March 2013)

This slat wall is a display in the area of the library where my study hall students usually reside.  A few months ago, I used it to create a Featured Author Display for John Green.  I rather like this idea, so I think I will feature a different author every month (or at least try to change it each month!).  Because a lot of my Sarah Dessen books were checked out, I made one side of the display "If you Like Sarah Dessen, Try..."  Thanks to all my fellow librarians on the yalsa list-serv for helping me brainstorm some ideas for this side!

Teen Read Week Display, October 2012

The full display

TEEN READ WEEK, OCTOBER 2012

This display was created in the high school library for YALSA's Teen Read Week.  To celebrate the event, a Chinese auction was held.  Every time a student checked out a book, he or she received a ticket to enter to win one of our baskets.  Students had the option to try for several different baskets.  Most of the prizes included books (mostly ARCs).  Some had autographed copies of books.  The library had recently begun circulating DVDs, so we included a DVD basket as well.

The Jonathan Maberry basket was a huge hit!  

Teen Read Week poster and several prize bags

YA Book Cover Table

I'm in love with Mod Podge, so when we were looking for ways to add some flair to the reading space for our devoted "library kids," we decided to take an old table and transform it into a YA Lit. table.  First, we printed out covers from some recent and best-loved YA books.  We printed a variety of sizes.  We then brushed Mod Podge (which works like glue) onto the back of each one, placing the "covers" randomly on the table.  We put the largest covers down first and the smallest ones last.  Once all the covers were down, with very little actual table top showing through, we brushed Mod Podge over the entire table top.  We did 3 coats of Mod Podge, waiting 30 minutes between each coat.  Afterwards, we sprayed the entire thing with Mod Podge brand clear acrylic sealer.  I suggest doing that step outside... the smell is rather over-whelming.  Voila!  We were done!  Here are some pics of the process...

The original ugly orange table

The "glued" images

The first layer of Mod Podge

Mod Podge rocks!!

Yay, we're done!

We can't wait to do more!