Best Laid Plans

 Well, my best laid plans did not pan out. I am behind on my reading, which is why we padded deadlines. So far I have read one book for my project which I will go ahead and summarize and reflect on a bit here. I read Planning School Library media center facilities for New Hampshire and Vermont by Snider and Schubert. (1989).

This short booklet outlines basic recommendations for size and accommodations of small-ish school libraries. The authors open their booklet by highlighting the importance of considering "educational goals and objectives and programs" (1). I had been thinking that I would take this kind of approach in my own paper, but the difference is that this book didn't really cover how to actually go about that. The structure was more based on the spaces (functions) needed in physical space, the furnishings, and giving sample floor plans.

One of the major questions I have is how can we be sure that architect will gain a clear vision for what the space should look like based on the goals of the program. Do educational goals influence space? How do they influence space? I am interested in exploring how school librarians can be savvy enough to let the architects know what needs to be done. 

Next Steps:

• Make a list of all the books I need to read (along with due dates for ILL books)
• Establish an order of topics to address in the reading
• READ

Books and more books!

Today I picked up most of the books I will be using for the project at the library. I know I still have several outstanding Interlibrary Loan requests, but most of the books are now in my room, just waiting to be read. The last few weeks of summer, which I had hoped would be restful are looking almost fuller than the past couple months put together. Here are my next steps:

• Setting aside 12-14 hours/week for reading between now and August 19th.
• Summarizing and paraphrasing my sources and extracting what seem to be key points.
• Leaving time for reading for myself.
• Buying groceries for this week! 

Yes, even super crazy researchers must eat.

CAS Research Proposal

This marks the beginning of my Certificate of Advanced Study research process. Over the course of the next five months, I will be researching and writing a 40-page paper about school library spaces. For the next month and a half, I will be posting reflections on the reading I am doing and attempting to make sense of all the information. In September/October I will begin writing, with the goal of submitting my draft for editing to my adviser in mid-November. Here is my research proposal, and it will serve as my guiding statement throughout the project.

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C.A.S. Project Proposal

Synopsis:
    For my CAS project, I propose assessing the kinds of renovations and improvements librarians can make to their existing school libraries. To better understand the existing spaces, I would like to conduct a literature review to explore the educational and library philosophies and goals that influenced the construction and design of school libraries over the past 20-30 years.

From there, I would like to look at current information literacy ideas that influence school library construction in the twenty-first century. I will examine current literature on the subject as well AASL’s Standards for the 21st-Century Learner and ISLMA’s Linking for Learning to link educational goals with design principles. In particular, I would consider how educational standards influence how we use school library spaces. I hope to gather additional information from school librarians who have renovated spaces recently to see what they have done. Through my research, I would like to make recommendations on how school librarians can improve their existing spaces through renovation, remodeling, or rearranging. These recommendations will illustrate how librarians can change their existing school libraries to fit new educational models so that school libraries can continue to be relevant, dynamic, ever-evolving spaces in the twenty-first century.

More and more school librarians are finding themselves in the middle of renovation or building projects. It is essential for them to be prepared to propose plans for flexible, dynamic spaces so that they are not looked over when the time comes to allot funding. I would like to propose multiple components of successful school library spaces: a flexible, learner-focused space not ruled by tools (i.e. books or technology), but ruled by student learning; designing a space that allows multiple functions at once, such as computer instruction, reading, and student research; and welcoming decor that is easily changed to suite the ever-changing personality and interests of today’s youth. Moreover, as funding in schools becomes scarce, it is essential for librarians to show how they are an integral part of student learning. By having an intentional space that supports inquiry-based student learning, school librarians will better be able to defend and thrive in their positions.

Several questions will guide my research and recommendations: What educational and design philosophies guided school library design in the past 30 years? How can past design successes and failures inform our current school library spaces? What are the key recommendations I can make for school librarians looking to renovate existing library spaces or re-appropriate other school spaces for 21st-century learning?

I plan to write a 40 page research paper over the course of the Fall 2011 semester and defend my project in late November or early December. Furthermore, I hope to present my findings at a future ISLMA poster session or workshop and pursue other presentation venues as appropriate.

Preliminary Bibliography:

Baule, S. M.. (2007) Facilities planning for school library to technology centers. Worthington, OH : Linworth. Print.

Erikson, R., Markuson, C. B. (2007) Designing a school library media center for the future. Chicago : American Library Association. Print.

Everhart, N.. (1998) Evaluating the school library media center :analysis techniques and research practices. Englewood, CO : Libraries Unlimited. Print.

Hart, Thomas L. (2006) The school library media facilities planner. New York : Neal-Schuman. Print.

Planning the school library: planning service backed by 60 years experience (1944). New York :, Remington Rand. Print.

Prostano, E. T., Prostano, J. S. (1999) The school library media center. Englewood, CO : Libraries Unlimited. Print.

Roth, M. (2011) Library architecture + design. Salenstein, Germany : Braun. Print.

Siddiqi, A. I.. (2010) The l!brary book : design collaborations in the public schools New York : Princeton Architectural Press. Print.

Tallaksen R. E. (2005). A Place to Learn or a Place for Leisure? Students' Use of the School

Library in Norway. School Libraries Worldwide, 11(1), 1-16. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Taylor, J.. (2006). Information literacy and the school library media center. Westport, CT : Libraries Unlimited. Print.