Candice Harris

MEDT 6461
Floor Plan

Previous Floor Plan

Renovated Floor Plan

This is a middle school that serves approximately 250 students in

grades six through eight and 20 staff members. Currently, there is no media
specialist on staff. The media center was in complete disarray at the
beginning of the school year. However, the SST coordinator rearranged the
media center. Although the set up is better, there is room for more
improvement. Currently, the media center is not conducive to learning.
Needs Analysis
The media center is a blank canvas of sorts. The administration does
not have a vested interest in the media center. However, I have the
opportunity to make it a welcoming environment for students, teachers, and
administrators. According to Woolls, Weeks, and Coatney (2014), The library
must be a place where students and teachers want to come (p. 145). The
space is fairly small, but with some creativity and solid planning I can create
a masterpiece.
The space is very much limited this school year because of renovations
occurring on the upper level of the school. Consequently, the rooms that are
attached to the media center that could be used as teacher workrooms,
makerspaces, quiet study areas, etc. are used as special education
offices/small group classrooms. Also, the desktop macs are haphazardly
placed in the middle of the media center because the age of the school gave
rise to an issue of limited electrical outlets. There is no circulation desk.
According to Woolls, Weeks, and Coatney (2014), The tendency is to place
the librarian in a place where students can easily see them and approach

them quickly (p. 146). Without a circulation desk in a central location, this is
impossible. The sight lines are poor. Also the configuration of the desktop
macs makes it impossible to monitor students all at once. The bookshelves
are along the wall, which opens some space in the middle of the media
center. However, the way that the bookshelves are set up does not save
much space or improve the functionality of the space. Until the top floor is
completely renovated, I have to work with the limited space that is available.
Ultimately, there are not any good elements in the media center.
There is a library full of books that no one uses, except me. Although I
teach social studies, my background as a reading teacher and my future
plans to become a SLMS prompt me to grab a free class set of books and
have students read during down time. Otherwise, the media center is not
conducive to learning. Teachers are not able to bring in classes, usually. I
have my students to bring their own devices to conduct research, since the
dean of instruction is using the computers to test students. Honestly, it
seems that he tests students just about every week. Teachers only find
themselves in the media center when there is a staff meeting. There are no
resources for teachers or anything else that would be inviting to teachers.
Again, the media center is blank slate that I can redesign as I see fit.
Media Center Changes
The following is a description of the changes that I made.

I moved the computers near the windows. The windows are tinted, so
there will not be a glare on the screens. The computers will be

arranged in rows facing in the same direction to improve sightlines.

This will allow for better monitoring on student activity on the

computers.
I added a circulation desk to the middle of the media center. By doing
this, I will have a sort of a birds eye view of the entire media center.
Also, it will increase the visibility of the SLMS, so student and teachers

can easily access them.

The bookshelves were moved against the wall to open more space in

the middle of the media center.

The periodicals were placed on a rack near the circulation desk
because the rack wont take up much space. Also, it allows for close

monitoring of the periodicals.

I added a reading nook that is warm and inviting. It consists of chairs, a
rug, and some foliage. This will create a more warm and inviting

atmosphere and encourage students to read more.

I added a student work area with tables and chairs. Students can come
in to work on assignments, read books, or study. This makes the media

center more useful and inviting.

I added a showcase to highlight books that I am promoting and student
work. Recommending books will increase student interest. Also,
displaying student work will draw students in to the library to see their

work.
I added a small makerspace room and teacher resource area. The
maker space area can double as a quiet study area or a small group

testing area. This multi use room should attract everyone.

I moved two special education teachers into the biggest office to share
and moved the dean of instruction to a new office. Otherwise, I left

everyone elses office in tact because no one knows when renovations

will be complete.
Finally, I added a few small indoor trees to serve as a separator for
various areas. For example, there is one to separate the computer area
from the reference shelves.

References
Woolls, B., Woolls, A.C., & Coatney, S. (2014). The school library manager (5th
ed.).
Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.