A changing face

We've been busy over here in the Pondoerosa Library for quite a few reasons! First off, I had to say goodbye to the best LMS in the land, Sandy Hawkins, in December. She is sailing off to a well deserved retirement after being in the Ponderosa Library for 30 years! Sandy taught me so much about what a library should be for students, and I definitely would not have grown into the TL I am today without her guidance. She has been an AMAZING sounding board to all my crazy wacky ideas, and she's been great as I've switched things up from the way that she's used to. I hope you have an amazing retirement, Sandy. It is well well well well deserved!  

While Sandy is missed by many, we have a new face greeting everyone, and she has been awesome so far, Elizabeth Carlson. Elizabeth has jumped on board quickly and has amazing instincts. I'm super excited to continue to build the library program with her!

So we literally have another face at the front of our library, but we have quite the library facelift going on as well right now! First of all, the nonfiction shift is DONE! The very last book was placed just yesterday, and I'm so glad the shift is finally finished. Was it worth an entire year of sweat, dust, heavy lifting, confusion, stickers stickers stickers, and more? In a word: yes. I have already seen the benefits of my nonfiction switch as I work with students. 

Today as I work with students on their junior projects, I am able to guide them to a general section where they will find their topic and let them guide themselves from there. For example, we are working on the junior projects on global issues right now. The topics range from environmental issues to woman's rights to bioethics to college athletes, etc. Therefore, the print resources they might want or need are scattered throughout the library. However, I have been able to guide them to a general section and let them explore it on their own. Looking in just 1 or 2 sections of books is much less intimidating than shelves and shelves of books! 

Beyond just this research project, I have found helping students find what they need is much easier than before the shift. Having students approach you and say, "Where are your psychology books?" or "Where are your animal books?" and being able to point directly to a section is priceless. "Oh! There they are!" Slowly I am educating our students about our nonfiction collection. I look forward to next year expanding that knowledge even more as I incorporate it into my library lessons. 

In addition to this, I have had many smaller projects going on in the library as I begin to clean, shift, move, and try to transform the physical space. First, I'm excited to slowly see my bookshelves in the back disappear! This is where much of my nonfiction was stored before I made my shift. It was an excellent place for both books and students to hide! You can see in this image that two of the four bookshelves are gone now from the back. It's so much more open and spacious now! So here's the eventual plan for back here. . . . .

The green tops of these bookshelves are being moved on top of these lower shelves in the library. (See below)  The books on these lower shelves (reference) will then be moved to another section. 

The two tables within this "T" will then be moved to the back where those two bookshelves still standing currently are. Finally, the counter space that is then created will then have stools placed around it and become alternate seating for students at a counter level. I think it will be nice to have some alternative seating like this in the library. 

It will also be nice to move these reference books in these lower shelves because they aren't used a lot, but they are OFTEN messed with by the students sitting at those tables who this it's hysterical to stack them or put them in backpacks to unknowing students. . . . . . .

The next facelift in store for the library are the front library shelves going into the front computer lab. . . .these shelves once held all of our Dictionary of Literary Biography and Contemporary Literary Criticism reference books. You know, the stuff that is ALL online now and available in one of our library databases. So they are going away into storage (because I don't have the heart to weed them quite yet!) and new and exciting things that won't collect dust are going in their place! 

Some of the criticism reference books going into storage!

The empty shelves! Exciting display stuff is in store!

So I wanted to create a simple display area on these shelves. I already have a large main display area right front and center in the library, and I have a hard time keeping up sometimes with that one! This one I wanted to keep simple but effective. However, I wanted to make sure it was still flexible in order to be changed when I'd like. 

I was inspired by the following image I found on Pinterest.

First, one of my New Year's Resolutions was to learn how to hand letter better. I think of these small chalkboards as a perfect opportunity to better my hand lettering! Small but simple. 

Right now, I think I will have two that will stay pretty much always as "Mrs. Zimny Recommends. . . ." and "Hot Topics." I'll use my recommendation section to do exactly that, perhaps with some shelf talkers. I'll use the Hot Topics section to rotate books that have to do with current news topics. Right now that could be anything from illegal immigration to race relations to mental health. Just a way to keep the library lively and start conversations. 

So how exactly will I accomplish these little blackboards? Well, I had to do a little McGyver engineering, but I think I figured out a way! I stole some shelves we are going to get rid of from the bookcases in the back, adhered them onto some tall bookends using strong foam tape, and will cover these shelves in blackboard contact paper I bought on Amazon. This way I could still lay it down flat (hanging over the edge a little) on a table to do the design, but it will stand securely when placed on the shelf. 

The back of the shelf, adhered to the tall bookends.

What it will look like on the shelf. Imagine that its a blackboard!

I'm excited for when I return from CSLA and my blackboard contact paper is in! Then I will be able to show you all the end product. 

I hope to see some of you at CSLA! I'm looking forward to a BEAUTIFUL venue and lots of inspiration to return home with. Also, I'm looking forward to running a couple of sessions. . . .One on Thursday on BreakoutEDU, paired with my partner in crime in the district, Amy Linden. The other on Saturday, "20 Small Things You Can Do Monday Morning!" 

​Until then!