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Waupaca High School

Proposed IMC Reconfiguration

Prepared by Heidi Nowicki

Justification and Plan

The Waupaca High School Instructional Media offers a beautiful facility that overlooks the student commons.
The window library fronts offer light, airiness and a connection with the entire school building. Though the
materials have worn well, the design is hampered by several factors.

First of all, the intent of the space has evolved in the past twelve years. When the architect first integrated the
perspective of previous the library media specialist, the goal of the space was for a quiet center to do homework
and researchit very much embraced the paradigm of the silent library. As kids become more wired and 21
st

Century Learning calls for more collaborative skills, the goal of the space moves from structured repository of
information to gathering space for students to interact with technology, information and peers. According to the
Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), library needs and spaces should be revisited every 5 years
to ensure that young adult needs are being met.

The environment signals the objective of education as surely as the stated goals. Sage-on-the-stage education is
evolving to more project-centered, collaborative, and flexible learning. Offering students a place that allows
them to work in groups or individually or simply decompress and think is important in the modern school
library media center. Moreover, creating a community center that allows multipurpose use is also crucial.
With the appropriate furniture and layout, students can use the space for club gatherings, movie parties, and
class presentations; staff and administration can more easily use it for meetings and public presentations in a
space more intimate than the Performing Arts Center.

A couple of the goals of the proposed design modifications include:
Offering a range of clearly defined spaces within the IMC to allow for optimal use, serving
instructional, reader advocacy, and technology-rich needs now and in the future.
Flexible use areas
Creating a welcoming atmosphere by adding student-friendly furniture, pops of color, and taking
advantage of the wide-open vista of the IMC.
Adding better overall functionality to the media center

HHN NOTE:
This would be a two-
sided handout
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Proposed Media Center Cost, Summarized