Professional+Practice+-+Learning+Environment

=2.1 Learning Environment=

= Excellent Teacher Librarians. . . = **    2.1.1      ****//  Create and nurture an information-rich learning environment which supports the needs of the school community  //** **  2.1.2    ****// Provide access to information resources through efficient, effective and professional-managed systems //** **  2.1.3    ****// Foster an environment where learners are encouraged and empowered to read, view listen and respond for understanding and enjoyment //** The creation of a library environment that is information rich, has efficient, effective and well managed systems and provides a dynamic supported platform is the aim of every teacher librarian. While I still have many ideas and plans to implement, particularly with the incorporation of ICT’s and am always on the lookout for new ideas to implement, I believe that we have the beginnings of a great library. The unit ‘Designing Learning Spaces’ allowed me the opportunity to dream a little and while I was heavily involved in the layout of the current library which opened in 2001, I am in the process of submitting a proposal to revamp the library. The Computer lab, which has up to the end of this year, also been timetabled as a classroom for several periods a week, will be freed up for 2009, which will then allow me the opportunity to spread the computers out throughout the library and develop a recreational senior fiction area. The planned extension of the library in 2010, to include two more teaching spaces will also allow for more versatility within the main library. On the mezzanine floor, the current multimedia room is being converted into a 'virtual' classroom so that we can link with classes worldwide. This room will have separate broadband access from the rest of the school, allowing for a high speed connection. The library will also be going wireless next year and there will be more notebooks available. This will increase the freedom of space within the library.
 * 2.1.4    ****//  Appreciate the dynamic nature of ICTS and their role in education  //**

The Designing Learning Spaces unit provided me the opportunity to visit a variety of new libraries that I had previously not visited and provided me with many options that I could use to rearrange the face of my library. Naturally, finance is always a key factor in curbing the 'dreaming', but by the end of 2009, I plan to have changed the layout of the library with the needs and 'quirks' of the students in mind. I am particularily interested in the State Library of Queensland's 'notebook' spaces and hope to adapt the style of the 'floor hugging' furniture for our new space. What has enabled a wider variety of options to be considered is the probablility that the library will be wireless in 2009, therefore eliminating the necessity for network cables to be laid. The Cyberlearning unit inspired me and at the same time created a monster. The Library website has been extremely successful, has revitalised the library and has certainly broadened the impact that the library has had within the College. Using the library's 'delicious' site instead of the traditional pathfinders is proving very successful. While the students are not currently adding many sites themselves, this will be rectified next year when the 'delicious' button will be included in the 'imaging' of the machines througout the school. We subscribe to several electronic databases that are well patronised particularly by senior students and students are also encouraged to belong the the local public library so that extra databases can be accessed. Our library catalogue is on line and accessible through the library website.

We attempt to keep the environment of the library relatively dynamic. Displays change on a regualr basis and we have a variety of promotions that we use to entice students. The success of 'Love in the Library' - a week long celebration of Valentine's Day is a prime example. It is early in the year and is usually the first 'fun' activity that is organised for the year. We alter this program on a yearly basis so that it is different every year. I usually introduce it via a powerpoint at assembly, with no introduction and no comment at the end. It stands alone in his quirkyness much to the delight of the students. For one week we have guys making valentine cards in their lunch times (all materials and suggestions free), we have sonnets being written, and quizzes being completed. The week culminates in a lunch time concert.