Library Walk Through Reflection

Developing library services: school libraries supporting learning- primary

Week 3: Developing services that support your school’s priorities

Activity: School library walk-through checklist

Take paper and pen with you to jot down a few points as you go. You might also want to take a camera.

Starting at the main entrance gate of the school, look for signposting for the different parts of the school: ·     Is the library included? ·     How easy is it to find?	No signs for the library. It is in the heart of the school though.
Is the library signposted: ·      From the entrance used by students (either externally or in the main building, depending on your school's layout)? ·      From the main entrance used by staff and visitors?	No sign posts at all.
Stop outside the library main entrance: ·      What messages does its appearance suggest? ·      How welcoming and enticing does it look to students? ·      How well does the library visually reflect the different cultures and ethnicities in your school?	Not very well at all. You can’t even really tell it is a library from outside it. We must get a sign made. Including some more culture in the library would be a good idea.
As you walk inside the library are there any visual clues that show you: ·      The library provides a variety of leisure reading options (e.g. magazines, graphic novels, series fiction, browsing books, eBooks)? ·      Help is available?	We have boxes of certain popular books – Geronimo Stilton, Choose your own Adventure, Daisy Meadows, Graphic Novels, Roald Dahl, Horrible Histories. We have a listening station that could be better promoted. We don’t have any magazines. Could look into, but not sure how many are appropriate for school age chn. We have a big library desk and librarians who wear leis if help is needed.
How much face-out display is there around your library? Not just in the actual 'displays', but around the shelves?	Top shelves for both fiction and picture books. We don’t have displays for non-fiction. We have sophisticated picture books on display, new books, and just general books. Also a listening station for books with CD’s.
Is there somewhere comfortable to relax and enjoy reading?	We have 2 couches and 2 window seats which children enjoy. Julie has made lots of big cushions. There are 4 tables for working at, and 6 high desks. I would love to add some bean bags and a few more cushions.
Does the library promote and share online what students are reading; e.g. social media and book sharing sites like Goodreads	No we don’t.
Any other comments that have come up in conversations within your group?	We could spice up our walls a bit more. One wall is blank and there is still art up from last year that needs to be replaced.