Updating Libraries
for New Technology and
Reading Areas
Rachel Shankles, LMS
Lakeside High School
Hot Springs, AR
Updating Technology
in the Library
• Change from TV set to mounted MM
Projector and pull down mounted screen
OR get a flat panel TV mounted to use like
a projector
• Get a document camera to replace your
opaque projector
• Get a Poster Machine to better advertise
your programming events
New 52” Flat Panel TV mounted
(Jacks into laptop, cable or DVD/VCR)
Interwrite School Pad
DOCUMENT CAMERA
Memory Card Reader
Slip Printers by Brother or Citizen
work just like at the stores
Label Maker for computer
Presenter- USB based- $35-$50
Other New Technology Updates
• Slip Printer to print out receipts to patrons
at the checkout counter
• PDA with laser capabilities to do inventory
and circulation on the run when the
network is down
• Memory Card Reader to read all types of
memory cards from all the different
cameras and phones in your building
PDA with laser bar code reader
Also in Technology
• Stand-alone portable Label maker by Brother
to label your inventory easily and label
computers by ID
• Computer label maker by Smart Label to print
correspondence labels and spine labels (for
quick repairs) straight from your computer and
quickly
• Digital movie cameras that use the mini DVD
disc or the big DVD disc not the VHS-C tapes
• Digital cameras that use memory cards with a
printer that reads the memory cards is best
UpdateTechnology to help Staff
• Get an Interwrite Pad to check out
• Buy a Presenter and keep batteries for it
so teachers can borrow it and do slide
shows while walking around the room
• Make sure you have two or three laptops
and mmprojectors on carts to check out to
classrooms
• Change from desktop cpus to laptops
Why are we all being asked
to update our libraries?
It is part of the Lit Lab phenomenon and
part of Next Step extending literacy
initiatives into the upper grades.
Elementary libraries have always had
reading areas---in the classrooms!
Suggestions to Update the
Collection
• #1 WEED all the yellow paged, raggedy books
fiction and nonfiction. Students do not want to
see or touch them
• We are to get them into the library and ‘hook’
them on reading so get a variety of new titles
fiction and nonfiction to display
• Put as many books face out as possible in every
conceivable area and order displays
• Find some easy to write grants for new titles
Pointers
• A couch leads to PDA’s (public displays of
attention); so have in your line of sight or go with
chairs only; they fight to get there first too
• Easy chairs are great for sleeping; have rules that
say you must be productive to stay in reading
areas
• Chairs that are too light weight will get moved;
purchase heavy ones like from the Prison
• Lamps look pretty but get knocked over
• Bean bag chairs aren’t always made for high
school football players but some have found or
made great ones and had them monogrammed
with school logos
• Change displays regularly/often
Ideas
• Order Prison made furniture which is very
sturdy and has 10 year warranty
• Ask banks/businesses/doctors offices for
old waiting room furniture and recover
• Find some staff willing to give away an old
loveseat or sofa and recover; some have
inherited furniture from dead relatives
• Brodart and The Library Store and Demco
and Virco all have library furniture and
display cases
Update Everything
• I was told to make my library more
appealing and inviting. It had stayed the
same for 30 years. It looked too much like
a stuffy old library.
• Now the library is ‘the place to be,’ the
library is ‘cool,’ the library is ‘modern,’ the
library has ‘tons of new books even
graphic novels and laptops’
Updating Ideas
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Paint murals on windows
Get wood colored blinds
Get a flat panel TV to mount on the wall
Order a new checkout counter
Order some booths like a soda shop
Use displays of all types and sizes
Advertise your library on posters, websites,
newsletters, etc.
• Get your “Want” list ready and give the Pos to
your principal before you leave in June and
explain what it is you want to accomplish
Some of my Displays
My Main Reading Area
Coca Cola Printed Fabric
covers these items.
Reading bench, wood blinds, and
laptops also update the library
Display Ideas
What do you do with Book Bags?
Laptops
• We have a cart of 30
laptops and they do take
up less space but have
drawbacks
• We bought a small mouse
for each one but the kids
still hit the page up/down
buttons with their wrists
• We have to put them up
and get them out each day
for security reasons
• Either way they are much
better and more modern
than the huge old Win 98
stations we did have on
peninsulas of tables
Photos of Reading Areas
• Some are still very formal
• Some look very expensive
• All took a lot of time and effort in planning
and getting it put together
• Some are huge libraries and some are
very small like mine
NPCC Library – overstuffed chairs in a
row down one side –
by Mary Farris-White
Van Buren – Renee Baldwin
Arkadelphia HS (Paul Sivils) and
Mansfield (Melissa Lybyer)
Micki Johnston at
Clarksville Jr.High
Vicki Brown at Green Forest
Great Idea and Contest to Paint
Windows at Highland HS
by Sarah Renard
Augusta High – Sandra Jones
Sheridan- Stacy Stockton - formal
Wynne High School
GeorgeAnn Draper
Prison Made Furniture
Booneville High- Karen Halford–
Poof chairs w/logo & Rocking Chairs
For Younger Kids – Linda Reed
says add color like Lake Hamilton
Intermediate (2-3)
Lonoke H.S.– Elise Hobson
Elise got
furniture
donated
to set up
a reading
area.
NLRHS West – Macy Purtledonations recovered and made the
old card catalog into a coffee table
Vilonia Middle School – Terina Adkins -This is the students’
favorite reading area. This is also one of the cheapest. The
couches were about $200 each from Target. The lamps were
on clearance at about $20.00 each and the end tables were
about $20.00 (really they are foot stools). The artwork was
donated by a teacher.
Vilonia -This area is another
favorite. Students can read or play
games. The tables and stools
came from School Specialty.
Vilonia – Using the benches that are so versatile;
pair them up with tables; or put them against the
wall or in shapes.
Vilonia-This coffee table
and ottoman set was
donated by Arkansas
Mattress Outlet in
Conway. The ottomans
open up to store other
games. I think it was
around $400.
For kids who like
to be off on their
own, these chairs
and table were
bought from
School Specialty.
John Arnold at
Waldron High School’s New Library
Bentonville HS grades 9-12
has a new e-library just for online
databases, ebooks, and eraders,
audio books and podcasts
Bentonville eLibrary
Deborah Reynolds
Discussion
• What cool things are you doing to update
technology or make a reading area?
• How are you funding the expense?
• Where should you look for donations of
furniture?
• What do we need to avoid?
• Other ideas?
My Contact Info
Rachel_Shankles@LS1.dsc.k12.ar.us
Lakeside High in Hot Springs 501-262-1530
Home 501-624-7138 shankles@cablelynx.com