Our Path to a New School Library

Feature in Gazette

2007-09-10T20:24:00.000Z

Back for a new school year, and on my return it was pleasing to find that we've had a short article about the library published in the CILIP Gazette which was a very welcome find.

In the Press

2007-07-19T19:47:00.000Z

A couple of pictures and articles appeared in the press today, like the one below from the Suffolk Free Press. Also there is a good article that the Evening Star published.

Anglia TV

2007-07-18T17:51:00.000Z

There was a short feature about the re-opening broadcast on local TV this evening.

Thank you's....

2007-07-17T17:59:00.001Z

This is the time when everyone who has been connected with the project has their moment of praise. Apologies for anyone I have neglected to mention, but this has not been intentional...

Credit is given to the following companies who's professionalism and expertise made this project a joy to undertake:

Demco Interiors - Library design, furniture, counter and shelving
Alan C Keeble - All building works
Pitt & Abbott - All electrical works, lighting, networking and cabling issues
Wood & Race - All decorating
Lionel Hatch Flooring - All carpeting
Van Cols Photography - Graphic End Panels
Sign Dynamics - Other Signage
Threshers
IKEA

To the following individuals and groups I'd like to mention a special thank you:

Jackie - For keeping me on track and allowing me not to spend too much over the budget!
Cathy - For your faith in me and allowing me to get the project started and seeing it through to completion
Pauline - For your patience, ideas, advice and support
Lionel - For all your extra work that you've put into the project - I REALLY appreciate it
Liz & Paul @ SLS - For your guidance with the planning and continued support during the project
Janet - For your help with packing the library up (and unpacking it) and to Tony for the excellent lunches and for the transport!
Moya & Jane - The colours really work - the long meetings were worth it!
The English Department - For your support and patience especially at times while in the temporary library which I know hasn't been always easy!
Stella & Judy - For all your work on the Courtyard - It looks wonderful
Student Library Monitors - For all your help looking at the plans and suggesting improvements and for moving the stock
John - The champagne was a wonderful gesture - it went down a storm!
Mike & Deborah, Colin & Julie, Craig & Sarah, Eileen, Neil M, James, Rita & Anthony and my other friends and family - For putting up with me continually rambling on to you about "Library Refurbishment" for many months. You were always too kind and polite to say, "Craig, we've heard enough - start talking about something else!" when may be you really should have.

Success!

2007-07-17T17:31:00.001Z

This afternoon was filled with success. Our re-opening went outstandingly well, mainly due to the students - the library monitors and school council who helped everything to run so smoothly, from ushering guests to and from the library, to pouring and serving refreshments and demonstrating the listening post.

It was wonderful to celebrate the opening of the new library and to see the hard work being seen by all. This is really only the start of the journey of this new library... But that is for another blog that can't really be completed in the 35 or so posts added here.

Our guest speaker, Francis Wheen, really made the afternoon and was entertaining but made serious points about the value of having a school library.

These events really marks the end of this blog, and we have now made our path to a new school library, it is now the way in which this path is guided and which way it turns in the future will be the real measure of success for our students and staff. After I have had some time to reflect, I'll do an evaluation of the project has a whole and add it here.

Here are several photos taken this afternoon... I think they speak for themselves

Grand Re-opening Tomorrow

2007-07-16T17:13:00.000Z

It didn't come as a surprise but today has been very hectic in preparing for the re-opening tomorrow afternoon. I've spent today putting up some displays (with the help of my volunteer) clearing out the library office and having a general tidy up to make the library look at least reasonably attractive! My PC has nearly been restored - I've written nearly. as I can access the library automation software, but there is a problem with the network link so I'm without e-mail and internet access, but I'm told this will be rectified tomorrow morning. The afternoon was spent taking the blue boxes that had housed the fiction so well in when we were over in the temporary library, back down to the public library ready for collection later in the week. Demco came in and finished off the jobs that needed doing and finally we now have some wooden furniture for the courtyard. Another couple of things cleared off the list.

Phew. Early night tonight. Hopefully masses of photographs to add tomorrow.

Fiction Stock in - Careers Material much improved!

2007-07-13T16:04:00.001Z

I can't believe it has been over a week since I last updated this blog. Time flies. I won't say "when you're having fun" as yesterday must have been one of the most stressful days of this project (so far!) but enough said about that.

Over the last couple of days I have been slowly moving back from the temporary library and with it has brought all of the fiction stock. Again, my excellent volunteer Janet, came into school to give me a hand - We decided to shelve all of the fiction first (after I 'encouraged' some Year 8 students to bring over the crates! Never heard such a fuss - several of them had to sit down after carrying over a box!), then add the new stock and taking out the duplicate copies if they were tatty (99% were!). I then did a thorough edit of the fiction stock and quite honestly, I am now proud of this section - there's obviously some development needed put it looks good. I am keeping the stained and torn Horowitzs, Wilsons and Shans as these are the most popular authors, but in the library office - so should a very eager reader want to borrow one, and it is on loan they can at least have that.
Joy from Connexions has been busy sorting out the Careers section and done some sterling work today. I can feel that this section of the library is now "on the up" and look forward to developing this area in the future.

The plan for Monday is to be spent tidying up, the Courtyard furniture is also due to be delivered and installed. Demco are due back to sort out a few minor problems, so hopefully on the Tuesday re-launch everything will be perfect. Rewrite - everything WILL be perfect!

Finishing Off and preparing for the grand launch

2007-07-04T15:28:00.000Z

I've been spending the last few days really tying up lots of small jobs, which have been not particularly interesting. The non-fiction has been re-stocked, Demco are coming back on July 16th (nail biting as this is the day before the official re-launch) to put a few things right, such as replacing the kidney shaped table that arrived scratched and correcting the shelving which was imperfect. The Courtyard is seriously taking shape now with many plants appearing thanks to the hard work from the science department. I've got to sort out the tables and benches and the signage for the shelving over the next few days. I had a very fruitful meeting this afternoon that will hopefully land us with some more funding for stock, from an external source and have hopefully made an arrangement to acquire some more fiction stock too.

The re-stocking of the fiction stock will happen now towards the end of next week. One of the science staff has kindly promised to "loan" me her Year 10 class to move all the books over from the temporary library to the new one, which will really help me.

Re-stocking!

2007-06-29T15:34:00.001Z

Great news... The PCs were installed yesterday and today my (excellent) volunteer and I started restocking the non-fiction stock. I was glad that the calculations had been successful and we had ample space. The sequencing does seem logical, well to me anyway - trust me I'm a Librarian!

The next task will be putting the fiction into order and shelving this, but for various reasons (too trivial to go into detail here) won't happen until the week after next.

It's starting to look good though, isn't it?

Installation complete. No commentary really necessary!

2007-06-27T16:58:00.001Z

Installation Almost Complete

2007-06-26T17:25:00.001Z

A lot of progress has been made today - all of the shelving has been built and bolted together and the computer desking has also been added. There have been problems with the listening post - this refuses to open to allow us to put CDs in! The pin boards arrived which were the wrong size - but quickly rectified by sending a courier with the replacements. I was amazed at the speed these arrived. The finishing touches will be added tomorrow, such as building the book returns trolley and some wall mounted shelving... and hopefully we'll find a solution to the non-opening listening post.

The whole library is looking really good. I'm so pleased that it is progressing so well.... and the colours do work after all that uncertainty (and sleepless nights) earlier in the year.

Shelving & Furniture Beginning to be Installed... The Library is starting to look like one!

2007-06-25T15:38:00.001Z

This day has been been waiting to happen for a long time. After 9 or so months I am finally seeing the plans being put into practice. The furniture and shelving was delivered this morning, and throughout the day it has been assembled and put into place. It should all be finished tomorrow afternoon.

Our trusted Electricians are back adding an extra network port, cabling and sockets for the library counter.

Shelving is beginning to take shape

Trust these characters to barge in right in the middle of the installation just to test out the "pebbles"!!!. I'll forgive them this time, but if I find any coffee stains anywhere I'll know who to blame!

Flooring

2007-06-18T08:25:00.000Z

Over the weekend the floor was screeded (much to my surprise) and the second coat was added this morning. The carpet has also been laid today. After that its just the case of waiting until next Monday when all of the shelving and furniture arrives... I'm starting to get very excited!

A Blank Canvas

2007-06-15T18:04:00.000Z

I have returned from my trip to France with Yr 8, which can be described - as enjoyable, exhausting but fullfilling. Luckily we all came back with all 43 students but I had the addition of several bottles of wine and a stinking cold.... But enough of my problems! The good news is that I came back to a completely blank canvas in the library. The decorators have worked hard this week and the walls, woodwork, ceiling and metal pillars have now been painted. This is excellent news as the floor will be screeded next week and the carpet arrived too... We're all on track for when the furniture arrives on 25 June.

Didn't think much was going to happen today!

2007-06-07T14:23:00.000Z

Not a lot went on in the library this morning, and actually I wasn't expecting anything to happen for the rest of this week as the electricians are due back in a couple of weeks to finish off and install network ports for the library counter and the carpet fitter is due in next week. I just happened to pop into the library this afternoon and to my surprise both an electrician (Adam) and carpetfitter (Lionel) were in. The carpet is being pulled up leaving behind what I'm told is a non-toxic dust and the network and electricity sockets will also be finished.

Building work complete!

2007-06-06T10:28:00.000Z

Forget all those stereotypical views of builders that you may have. This builder has delivered not just on time, but ahead of schedule We're now able to get on with removing the carpet, the decorators are due in next week, then the new carpet is being laid and after that the library furniture is being installed.

I'm afraid this Librarian is jetting off abroad again. This time it is officially abroad - I'm going to France with 43 Year 8 students (and 4 other members of staff I may add) on Monday and hopefully when I get back on Friday the walls will have transformed to a cream colour and the doors changed from black to blue.

Le French Connection!

2007-06-05T11:06:00.000Z

On returning from the Isle of Wight (or as one of my friends commented "going abroad") we seem to have developed a French theme here in the library. I have a sneaky suspicion, our builder Mr Keeble does actually enjoy having his photo taken. Here he is again by the recently re-sited heating pipes that were moved yesterday evening. Otherwise the majority of the building work is now complete - the plastering has been finished, pipes boxed in and the door has been given an undercoat.

Someone is proud of his cement work...

Measuring up for the cabling ready for the network ports...

Finishing off with adding new electricity sockets for the new PCs ...

Building Work (Day 5) - Lights are also being fitted now!

2007-05-31T13:05:00.001Z

Lionel (who does an exceptional amount of work for us in school in his own time) has started digging out an area for where a ramp will be situated shortly for access to the Courtyard.

Most of the lights have now been replaced and the network ports have begun to be added...

There's even time for a coffee break today! Thanks to Pauline, who has highly developed catering skills!

There's good news that the two heating pipes found on Saturday can be removed, so the area will be completely open.

Watch out for an update on Tuesday, as this Librarian deserves a holiday and will be back next week...

Electricians are in (Building - Day 4)

2007-05-30T11:41:00.001Z

Today the lights have been removed and that's why there are wires just randomly hanging from the ceiling...

And as a special treat
for the person who has been leaving comments
about the builder's braces...
Here you go, here they are again in their full glory, right by the newly fitted door that leads to the Courtyard.

Steady Progress Being Made (Building - Day 3)

2007-05-29T12:45:00.001Z

The next "big" thing on the building list is on it's way to being completed. The library has two central pillars (one that is structural and the other is a mains pipe; both of which cannot be removed or easily re-sited). The problem is that they are not parallel with each other, which is not just impractical but also unsightly. The builder is currently adding a stud-wall structure around both of them and this will then be used to attach a newspaper stand.

Some other good news; the electricians are in and are going to start work earlier than scheduled and will shortly start replacing lights and adding network ports, as the building work is well ahead of schedule.

The picture below isn't library related in the least, but a lovely sight to see on my walk home. Makes me feel lucky to be living in rural Suffolk.

Yesterday we lost walls - today we've gained one (Building - Day 2)

2007-05-27T13:41:00.000Z

The pace of the building works continues to impress, as a wall has been added to replace an interconnecting door that went to a classroom - which had no soundproofing whatsoever!

Mr & Mrs Hatch, Master Hatch & Mr Keeble need to take some time out to relax on Bank Holiday Monday after their heroic efforts over the last couple of days... I'll bring you in some more biscuits on Tuesday!

The Walls Have Tumbled Down (Building - Day 1)

2007-05-26T16:03:00.001Z

Popped in to see the progress at lunchtime (with it being a Saturday) and the builders have made a tremendous start - The wall, door and interconnecting door has been removed and we almost have a doorway to the Courtyard. One point of concern is that a couple of heating pipes have been discovered in one of the walls - currently its being investigated if these can be removed.

Going for a trip... (Quite literally)

2007-05-23T20:39:00.000Z

Spent part of the day adding more non-fiction stock to the system (Total figure for the relaunch of new stock stands at 771). Sorted out and "lost" lots of tatty picture books and horror novels (some were more than horror in just their reading content - and you wouldn't even want to touch with rubber gloves and a mask, as they were potentially a H&S issue!) and in the process tripped over the crutches of one of my library monitors, and went flying half way across the room... Luckily only sustained a minor carpet burn on my right knee.

The library is now becoming less inundated with junk; the counter has now been removed, I've got rid of most of the art books and so the building work is scheduled to start bright and early on Saturday morning...

Academic Mentoring Day = Catch up Day

2007-05-22T11:07:00.001Z

Today is "Academic Mentoring Day" which is when the students are off timetable and they meet, with their parents, with form tutors to discuss target setting for the forthcoming year. From my point of view it has been a great day to catch up with many of the things I haven't been able to do recently. I've managed to do some work on my Librarian's Chartership, which unfortunately hasn't been very high on my priority list for the last couple of months, but hope to have lots more evidence that I can use for my portfolio once the library re-opens and eventually can add "MCLIP" after my name!. One of the nastier jobs has also been attempted - revamping the library policy. The last one, as far as I know, was written in circa 1986 so not surprisingly needed substantial updating. Luckily I had produced a library policy a couple of years ago whilst in my last job, and with a bit of updating and adding points pertinent to the school I think it looks good. Just passed it onto my line manager for approval and hopefully it can be implemented soon.

Don't Work with Children, Animals or.... Computers

2007-05-18T17:20:00.000Z

Needless to say really, but the IT technicality wasn't resolved yesterday morning but was eventually sorted out at lunchtime today, so having had around six classes in to visit, and a few other curious souls who had found the library by chance, I had to do a manual issue so the returns are piled up on the floor, as I couldn't discharge anything. One thing I hadn't thought about was storage space when items were returned. However, the good news is that the Skeleton Library has now doubled in size, due to a very helpful teacher who told me I could open up the connecting doors as the next room wasn't used as the Year 11s had now left, so I now have a small bank of computers and several desks so can accommodate a whole class with relative comfort.

Another thing that didn't happen yesterday was the delivery of the skip to collect the steel which once resembled shelving. This was resolved, by I imagine a blunt phone call from the site manager, and the material was removed today. Most of the vacant furniture has now been collected from the library, so apart from the art books, where I'm still sourcing boxes for, and a few other oddities the library is becoming clear ready for when the building work begins at half-term

A book rep popped in this afternoon, and we had a good natter - I ended up overspending, like I always do, as I do get carried away with the Aladin's treasure trove of books - But have created a wish list order, should we have enough money this financial year to put in another non-fiction order.

Moving Day

2007-05-16T15:44:00.000Z

How peaceful and relaxing it was for the last 15 minutes of the day to sit back and look at where I'll be working for the next 6 weeks in the temporary library, or as I've affectionately called it the "Skeleton Library Service". Moving today was extremely handy as it tied in with the Year 11s leaving, and there were surplus bodies floating around looking for jobs (oh, what an appropriate pun!) so they were quickly commandeered and ended up taking all of the fiction stock over. The skeleton library consists of the current magazines, newspapers, a few comfy chairs, all of the fiction stock, the reference stock and a desk for quiet study - that's it, apart from a special friend on the left of the picture who has yet to be named! The only real worry I have at the moment is that I can't access the Library Management System, due to a technicality that I'm told will hopefully be resolved by tomorrow morning. The concern is that I've got a class scheduled in for the first period so potentially won't be able to issue anything....

I had a couple of comments from students who were passing through, about the library: the first was that they thought the NEW library was better than the old one (I don't think they've quite understood the concept of a temporary library) and the other said they preferred the books in crates than on shelves.... Someone out there please remind me exactly why we're doing this project ?!

Note - Having thought about calling the library a "Skeleton Service", there's actually a bit of meat in there, so perhaps I'll call it the "Anorexic Library Service".... Perhaps not. Any appropriate suggestions please add them to the comments section!

Fulfilling Day?

2007-05-15T13:44:00.001Z

Today has been largely been spent removing staples from walls so they are in a reasonable state for the decorators. Simple and as boring as that. The picture below is the state of things at the end of day 2....

Celebrate before the event!

2007-05-14T16:04:00.000Z

Take some advice from me, before you start on a big project like managing the refurbishment of a library make sure you have some quality fun a couple of days before so you're still on a high for the Monday morning (though hopefully not too hungover). I had a fantastic time at a party hosted by two fabulous friends of mine: The theme was "Eurovision" and everyone had to go in fancy dress - The invitation read "... Work your special magic to represent the European Nation of your choice, and please make it as outrageous as you like", so I did. The more observant readers may recall me mentioning the party in an earlier post, and I hadn't decided on what costume to wear. Finally decided to go as France, though the picture may be too shocking to include in a blog as gentle and innocent as this, but will e-mail anyone a picture who's interested in a Librarian looking very silly and who also ended up being a dead ringer for the Ukrainian entrant in this year's contest... (Counteracts the usual image, doesn't it, such as the one above? And no, I'm not moonlighting for Pickfords removals but want photographic evidence that I can pack books as well as shelve them!)

Anyway, I have digressed. After the festivities of the weekend I was back at work this morning in jeans and a t-shirt and we have seriously made progress with dismantling the old library. I've had my worthy volunteer in to help too - we have closed completely for 3 days, so there won't be any library service in school at all, which is a rarity - but acceptable considering the work that has to be carried out. Today we have managed to...

Pack the fiction stock into crates ready for the skeleton library service
Packed up the non-fiction stock into boxes - all numbered so it is easier when it comes to the unpacking
Started removing all the posters and paper from the walls, though we have discovered hundreds of old staples embedded into the walls - it's handy when you have a team of student library monitors, as they can't really mess up this task... Though I did have to watch the amount of plaster coming off the walls... Oops!

The site manager and caretaker have done a sterling job dismantling most of the shelving, and we are really ahead of ourselves now... I didn't think they'd be available until later in the week. I'm hoping the worst is over with now and over the next few days everything will be cleared ready for stage 2 of the project, and that's when the builders come in. On Wednesday I'll start to set up the skeleton service and on Thursday it should be open for business offering a basic service of fiction stock and reference titles being available. Unlike for most of last week, that I found to be extremely stressful and fraught, today has been fine and has gone very smoothly - The main reason is that this day has been organised for a while and last week I ended up trying to tie up all the loose ends of other small projects, and of course run the library at the same time.

A Room with a View?

2007-05-09T15:35:00.000Z

So where do I start? There's been so much happening during the last couple of days, that this blog was the last thing on my mind yesterday, hence no entry was produced. I don't think I particularly benefited from the bank holiday either!

Yesterday morning was spent collecting packing boxes for the non-fiction stock, from a local high school who also had their library refurbished recently. It was useful to see what had been achieved there, as the same company has our contract (I'm going to plug them as they've been so helpful and have (so far!) had endless patience with me, anyone who can cope with the plans being revised seven times deserves promoting: Demco Interiors). The packing boxes are now taking up a considerable amount of space in the library ready to be filled. I'm not actually sure if more has happened in the Courtyard or not as I can't actually see out of the windows, but I have heard noises...
On returning to the school we had a site meeting about what is going to happen over the next few weeks, which was beneficial - My experience is quickly telling me to keep a pot of hot coffee brewing, as it can be useful! Due to the caretaker's other commitments nothing will be done until next Thursday, which means I now will have the freedom of three clear days to get everything tidied and packed up, and the walls cleared ready for the existing shelving to be removed and dumped (good news is that we're getting a free skip hire and may get something in return for the steel shelving!). I have "employed" a worthy volunteer to help me with the boxing up, and will receive some clerical support from the school office which will be very handy. This is one of the advantages of working in a high school, as there are people around who can help as opposed to a primary school where you usually end up doing some major tasks yourself as there isn't anyone to ask.

After the meeting, 4 boxes of new books arrived, kindly escorted by my Advisory Librarian from the Schools' Library Service, who could see at first hand I was slightly stressed, which was calmed significantly after an encouraging and frank chat.

Today I had a fruitful day adding the new books to the system, which I find quite relaxing and fulfilling that we're doing something to improve the quality of the stock. The current total I'm holding back is 621.

I'm still working on finding homes for what will very soon be vacant furniture and thought I'd found a home for the large double cupboard, but it didn't work out as I expected, as it wasn't easily transportable! However, another solution has been found! I was pretty resourceful earlier (some would say cheeky I suppose, but I am a Librarian and "resources" should be my thing!) and made a phone call and asked the people who were going to collect the cupboard if they could pick up a number of boxes from the local library so I can store fiction stock in for the skeleton library, which will open next Thursday, and indeed they did.

Memories of Mr Drybones

2007-05-04T18:16:00.001Z

The last two days have been spent tying up some loose ends:

1. Plastic book covers arrived - Got all the remaining fiction processed and boxed up. Another thing off the "pending" list.

2. Samples arrived for blinds - Got the colour confirmed ("Custard" much to the Business Manager's horror!)

3. Schools Library Service Phoned- My Peters Book order has arrived (excellent service as I placed my order a week ago!) and SLS are providing us with boxes to house the fiction stock in for the temporary library

4. Held the first Carnegie shadowing meeting - The students were full of enthusiasm and genuinely interested in the books

5. Paints confirmed - we're going for cream, yellow and electra (which the students seem to like the name of. For those uninitiated with the BS colour chart it's light blue)

6. Full size human skeleton borrowed from Science Department - This is for the "skeleton" library service I will be running for six weeks. I'm sure this will bring back memories of my last job where I had 5 wonderful years running a library in a primary school, as we had a resident skeleton called Mr Drybones... I'd arrive at work and he'd be in various positions in the library, just like the one below:

Take a Break, Have a Normal Conversation

2007-05-02T17:12:00.000Z

With all this planning and preparation, it has been pleasant to be back to some normality today. I hosted a meeting for a couple of friends/colleagues to discuss the way forward with a library website that we are responsible for (www.cilipeoe.org.uk). How refreshing it was to also talk about normal everyday things and to exchange further ideas and give inspiration for the future about our respective libraries and roles. At least now I'll go in fresh tomorrow ready to tackle the Carnegie shadowing with my Year 9 group...

The Plan is Coming Together

2007-05-01T15:46:00.000Z

I've managed to get a fair bit sorted out today, so the plan is coming together. The groundsmen were hard at work when I arrived at 8am and had finished everything by 10.30am, which was right on schedule - so the Courtyard is ready to have the trellis, plants and table, chairs and bench added (we've decided on aluminium due to it being more robust than wood - I have fears of a pupil carving their name - or the name of this week's particular love interest - into the wood).

When I started thinking about how the library should look, which was around 6 months ago, and what direction we should be going in, with a a few colleagues I made a few visits to other libraries in the area that had recently been refurbished. We concluded what we observed was good practice and functional. We then visited Felixstowe Public Library and I was totally blown away from the impact, which my colleagues also felt - and decided we really needed our library to have the "wow" factor and to be slightly different from the school libraries we visited (this was part of my brief to the library design companies - only one of them actually listened. Guess which one got the contract?). One of the highlights of the visit to Felixstowe LIbrary was the graphic signage - which instantly inspires and we now feel that this will be the "icing on the cake" for our library, showing motivated students reading and enjoying books. And as such, we're having three graphic end panels for the shelving. Today the photographer came in and took various shots that will be enlarged and mounted when the new shelving is in place.

I have done my best to make sure the photos won't date: the pupils are in the new school uniform, that hopefully won't change for another twenty years, and they are reading books where the covers aren't seen or they're books that have something on which would not date such as books with visual chemical reactions on the front cover. We're a Science Specialist School after all!

It has also been confirmed where the skeleton library service will be (which will consist of: a PC, printer, fiction stock, a few reference titles, couple of chairs and table and me!) and where the non-fiction stock will be stored - a secure classroom. We're also acquiring packing boxes for the non-fiction from a very kind school who have also had a new library (tip - always network with fellow librarians and it will pay dividends. Believe me on that one) so I have arranged to collect these next week.

The benches will be removed at the end of the week and I removed the potential hanging cord aka the washing line this afternoon!

See the "before" picture here.

Wishlist

2007-04-30T14:14:00.000Z

In order to highlight the impending refurbishment to parents, and to encouragement their involvement, I've created an Amazon wishlist where items can be purchased and posted directly into school - I've gone for the whole spectrum of prices, from £3.99 to £399. I suppose its a 21st century version of the "donate a book" scheme. We'll add the traditional name plates to indicate who has given the item. (If anyone reading this has an urge to buy a book, please send an e-mail indicating what you have bought and what you'd like on the nameplate). So far the interest has been good, but we'll know once the next newsletter goes out with a double page spread about the library telling parents what the new features will be (listening post, more space, improved PCs, increased shelving etc etc), a plan and a few pictures of the furniture. The physical work of getting the place cleared will start in exactly two weeks' time, so not long now until lift off...

Work has started on clearing the Courtyard - the husband of the Head of Art and his cousin kindly came in and rescued some plants before the groundsman are in tomorrow...

Online and High Street Bargains

2007-04-28T11:59:00.000Z

I really am of the Internet age (having first used it in 1997 with great excitement (even though each page took around 5 minutes to download and that didn't include images as these were all blocked to "speed things up"!) and those who know me can say that I like an online bargain and often get one and for others too. However, today I had chance to pop into Ipswich and went into Waterstones just to see if I could spot any special offers and try and save a bit more money than the 20% I tend to get from the usual book suppliers, Peters or Amazon, which I thought would have been unlikely as let's face it the high street stores can't beat online prices. Can they? I ended up saving between 33% and 50% on a dozen or so fiction titles for the library. One particular classic, that I needed to promote the all-time Carnegie Anniversary Top 10, and didn't have in stock was "The Family from One End Street" by Eve Garnett which was on a 4-6wk waiting list from Amazon when I looked yesterday, and there in Waterstones there it was with a 50% reduction and a good pile of them too...

Some purists would be critical that I would choose to buy from non-library suppliers, but let's face it in ever hard times with budgets, I can't afford to turn down these discounts, and making the money stretch a bit further is doing my bit to give that extra support to the students.

Finished "Beast" by Ally Kennen last night. Real page turner that one and my favourite so far. Think I'll relax with a book from this morning's trip with another non-internet bargain today, as my local Threshers were selling 4 packs of J20s for 65p - so I cleared their shelves... Anyone for a drink?

Books v Resources

2007-04-27T17:09:00.000Z

I'm aiming to have 1000 items ready directly after the refurbishment. I've already expanded what I started with; these were simply - paperback books, hardback books and audio cassettes. We now additionally have picture books, CDs for the Listening Post, Articles, Posters and an excellent weblinks package which I'm going to plug from Carelpress. £70 for 8000 weblinks that are updated monthly and integrates with the library automation system... A small step towards my aim of a "one-stop-shop" for resources.

I've processed 496 new items to date, so almost halfway to my target. Talking of books, it is such a generic term in libraries, people mean resources when they actually say books - or do they? I'm still amazed at the number of people who think that Libraries only stock books. The classic line always is "How many books have you got in the library?". Its only a Librarian who would ask how many resources there are, and probably only an experienced one to ask how many are less than 10 years old too...

So far, I've placed another couple of orders and seeing a book rep next week, only after negotiating a better discount. One of the real highlights of the job is when the brand new resources arrive, ready covered and labelled just waiting to be added to the catalogue, which I'm slowly improving. At least when I now type in "koala", "diabetes" or "wind power" something is actually found.

Oh well, had better go and continue reading through the Carnegie Shortlist ready for the shadowing group. Some good ones this year and pretty accessible - but I've yet to find anything particularly uplifting and cheery.

Year 2k + 7

2007-04-26T14:13:00.000Z

Today we witnessed the very sad (!) event where the Millennium Collection found a new home in school with the English Department.

Since this collection was put into stock 7 years ago the books haven't exactly been flying off the shelves (unless in a moment of sheer frustration or when an over-zealous child has knocked them with their back-pack onto the floor) so they may well be better deployed elsewhere - and probably in a safer place too.

The library will have some of these classic titles, for after the refurbishment, but these will be in paperback and will hopefully have an attractive cover... Regardless of the proverb: pupils do judge a book ... etc

Things are starting to happen (outside)

2007-04-26T09:28:00.000Z

Thought I'd better show you what the Courtyard is like before the groundsmen (is that PC? Perhaps I should say: Grounds Personnel) clear most of it next week. Not very exciting at the moment... and is that a crisp packet I spot too?

We're going for a science-related theme, so that means some scented plants, water feature etc. It'll all look very grand once it is finished and ready for the summer. They'll be a table and chairs for a reading area too - wood or metal - the jury is still out there. We're still debating wherever to have fish in a barrel too.

A colour dilemma....

2007-04-26T09:17:00.000Z

This project at times has been stressful. However, the most difficult decision to make hasn't been the new library layout, as you would expect, but it has been the colour of a wall.

Yes, "a colour of a wall?" I hear you cry.

I opened my big mouth and said we needed some contrast. The rest of the library walls will be white, so thought it would be a good idea to paint the wall and door behind the counter area a different one. What a mistake.

I have driven everyone in the Art department mad. They now hide for cover when I mention the word "colour", or "what do you think of this colour?"

I have been back to the hardware shop three times to get tester paints. Its becoming embarrassing. They now know me by name.

I started with the green (or Citrus Green) - no one liked it. The kids have described it as a "big bogey", so scrapped that idea. Thought we'd try a blue - the response was lukewarm, but putting the red (or should I say Calypso chairs against it) it looked awful. After a moment of inspiration (thank you to the Art department for not deserting me in times of trouble) we've gone for yellow (or Sunny Savannah 5 according to the Dulux colour chart)... As you'll see below, I was almost running out of wall space....

As the Library was in September 2006

2007-04-26T09:04:00.000Z

OK, I know this is being retrospective in many ways but you need to see how the library looked when I first started here. The previous Librarian had done a fantastic job with the resources that she had and it has been my remit to take it to the next step forward.

As you can see we're in a timewarp... Is it 1974? Can I hear the echoes of ABBA's "Waterloo" in the background? Unsurprisingly I've got Eurovision on the mind, as I've got a fancy dress party to go to at an undisclosed location and still trying to finalise my costume...

Bit of background info

2007-04-26T09:00:00.000Z

The real point of this blog is create a log of the newly refurbished school library. When I was in charge of refurbishing the last library I neglected to take many photos, so I'm not going make that mistake again.

A bit of background history.... The school library is as old as the school, that's around 35 years old and it desperately needs updating and bringing into the 21st Century to actually be of decent purpose to our students and staff. The work on the refurbishment starts on 14th May and it should be finished sometime around 9th July... This blog will chart the progress....

So to give you a brief rundown about what will be changing...

- All the furniture and most fixtures and fixtures will be going
- Builders will demolish a wall, add a door so we have fantastic Library Courtyard
- Shelving will be replaced
- A listening post will be added
- Replace and increase the number of PCs (not too many - we're not an ICT Suite!)
- The Library will be painted and the carpets and lighting will be replaced