Week 7: Improving the library environment

A full week = a whole heckuva lot happening in the library! One of the more simple things I learned was one way to repair damaged books. While checking in and shelving books earlier this week (before the scan gun was ripped from my tight-fisted grasp by a student library aide...so much for power), I ran across several books that needed some serious love. Ms. Allen had recently received a catalog:

that she handed me and told me to flip to the repairs section. There I found all kinds of materials used to repair books and various resources in the LMC. Ms. Allen went on to explain some pros and cons she had found with different materials and some of her preferences. That's when she handed me this:

and gave me her testimonial regarding book tape. I say this half jokingly, but I'm completely serious when I say that she was adamant about choosing the right book tape. She claims that the solid, opaque tapes hold better and lasts longer than the translucent ones. Although she does like the looks of the clear tape better, she swears it does not last as long. I understand the importance of durability, but I must confess that having a background in art, it drives me insane that this tape is not only an eye sore, but that it actually covers up some of the artwork of the book, thus hurting its aesthetic. ICK! 

Regardless, I gave it a try myself. 

   

So ugly... 

but it was fixed! I was amazed at how solid the tape felt. I also felt like a book doctor, which is awesome because the thought of being someone who fixes things without dealing with blood is much more up my alley. 

Also this week, we kicked off our annual "Educators are Awesome" campaign. Every year, our principal sends out a mass email to our students' families asking for them to write which teacher they believe deserves an apple and why. While getting parents to respond to anything at our school is very much a challenge for us (especially at the middle school level), we do end up getting quite a few responses. The only negative to this week is that the Related Arts teachers (yours truly) as well as any other "non-core teacher" often gets over-looked. We all understand and accept this, but when one of us does get an apple, it tends to be a big deal. When given her apple, you would have thought Ms. Allen had just heard her name called as the next Miss America. Squealing commenced, and a proud picture was in order.  

"I think Ms. Allen deserves an apple for: All of the extras she's incorporated to make JTA and the library more inviting for everyone." 

This message of thanks could not have come at a better time, because it's true that the library and our school is undergoing a huge transformation. Below is a brief slideshow of the current things happening that is changing the look of our library.

Beside these displays, Ms. Allen and I have also taken on another, much larger, project that is impacting the overall environment of our school. Just this week, we began the first step. While I want to share, I think I'll save it for another time. 

Who would've thought that "In the Library With Lupton" has branched out to spaces much further than the walls of the library...