Hard to believe it's only two weeks until the end of term. Amazing to think what has been accomplished in 3 months - at times it seemed like the space would never been transformed into a working library.
Need to start thinking about developing library skills and proper research methodolgy. 3 weeks vacation should help that process.
Ideally need to start with basic shelf order lessons leading into DDC and what subject order is all about. If we can get our new Oliver plus installed and converted before Christmas, I can really get going with OPAC use and serious searching in the New Year!
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Proper Librarian work!
Actually did some real Librarian work today with Year 6. They have been looking at Genres so we had a lively discussion about different Genres followed by an activity to get them to really think about the characteristics of the books they are reading.
It was great to actually spend some time with them and get a feel for what they are interested in. So far it has been all about re-cataloguing and setting things up - there hasn't been much time to actually think about supporting the curriculum. Have done lots of stories with the younger ones but am keen to start some real work with the older ones.
The new PSHE coordinator asked me to catalogue the new PSHE resources and lend through the Library this week- this could form the basis of the Professional development Library for teaching staff. I have shelf space, just need to get them to send me the resources which are all over the school. Hopefully, this will be the start of something good.
The furniture company came again this afternoon to fit the lockable wheels to the shelving. They supplied them with only 2 lockable wheels so the shelves move around when a child so much as looks at it! Of course, they didn't bring enough so left me with books all over the floor and tables while they went to get more wheels. When they came back they must have had a flash of inspiration - there were two of them this time and one lifted the shelf while the other screwed in the new wheels - meaning no more books removed and re-shelved incorrectly.
Next, I need them to build a shelf across the back of the new computer tables - they are too small for the monitors so there is not enough room for the keyboards or any notebooks the children may need. If we put a shelf across the back the monitors can be raised about 6" and there will be enough space for the children to actually work!
It was great to actually spend some time with them and get a feel for what they are interested in. So far it has been all about re-cataloguing and setting things up - there hasn't been much time to actually think about supporting the curriculum. Have done lots of stories with the younger ones but am keen to start some real work with the older ones.
The new PSHE coordinator asked me to catalogue the new PSHE resources and lend through the Library this week- this could form the basis of the Professional development Library for teaching staff. I have shelf space, just need to get them to send me the resources which are all over the school. Hopefully, this will be the start of something good.
The furniture company came again this afternoon to fit the lockable wheels to the shelving. They supplied them with only 2 lockable wheels so the shelves move around when a child so much as looks at it! Of course, they didn't bring enough so left me with books all over the floor and tables while they went to get more wheels. When they came back they must have had a flash of inspiration - there were two of them this time and one lifted the shelf while the other screwed in the new wheels - meaning no more books removed and re-shelved incorrectly.
Next, I need them to build a shelf across the back of the new computer tables - they are too small for the monitors so there is not enough room for the keyboards or any notebooks the children may need. If we put a shelf across the back the monitors can be raised about 6" and there will be enough space for the children to actually work!
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Computers too!
It's definately all happening this week. Yesterday the IT Guys arrived, "en masse" and started to unpack monitors and hook everything up. Maintenance arrived in the afternoon to thread the network cable across the roof and by 4:30pm there were 10 computers up and running plus a separate one to run the Smart Board.
Now I will need to share and enforce my "Acceptable Use Policy" so that the students know what exactly what they can use the Library computers for!
The decorations have been a bit hit - lots of positive feedback from staff and students alike. For a bit of fun, have put together a comic strip showing the development and stuck it up so the kids can see the changes - have put in some of the pics above, it was too long to add everything.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Decorations
Now that most of the books are unpacked and re-catalogued, there is a bit more time to do some decorating. Got some lovely bright chiffon from the fabric market which we have draped across the picture book area to create a warmer, cosier feel to the space. This prompted a little more creativity and with the help of Elisabeth, who has been doing a lot of display work, we have now covered the four central pillars in the same colours as the fabric. It really brightens the place up and everyone has been commenting on what a difference it makes.
The Oliver Plus CD has arrived!! We have contacted the IT staff at our sister school in Tianjin to help with the installation and conversion along with Softlink Australia. No fixed conversion date yet.....still quite a lot to do with the current database. The Secondary data is still in the Primary database so there are 800 entries to be removed before we convert. Luckily the Secondary Librarian keeps meticulous records so it is just a matter or inputting the barcodes and hitting the delete button.
Fingers crossed that the conversion is successful and we don't lose any data. Having just re-catalogued the entire Primary collection, I don't want to have to do it again!!
Overseas orders forms have been issued so now is the time to put together my wish list for next year. I am still trying to establish contact with local suppliers to fill gaps in the shelves now, but I will need to order from overseas as well, especially for Non-Fiction and Magazines.
Just finished a Comic Life Photo story of the Library development which I will put up as a display to show how things have progressed since I started in September. It's truly amazing to look back and see the difference.
The Oliver Plus CD has arrived!! We have contacted the IT staff at our sister school in Tianjin to help with the installation and conversion along with Softlink Australia. No fixed conversion date yet.....still quite a lot to do with the current database. The Secondary data is still in the Primary database so there are 800 entries to be removed before we convert. Luckily the Secondary Librarian keeps meticulous records so it is just a matter or inputting the barcodes and hitting the delete button.
Fingers crossed that the conversion is successful and we don't lose any data. Having just re-catalogued the entire Primary collection, I don't want to have to do it again!!
Overseas orders forms have been issued so now is the time to put together my wish list for next year. I am still trying to establish contact with local suppliers to fill gaps in the shelves now, but I will need to order from overseas as well, especially for Non-Fiction and Magazines.
Just finished a Comic Life Photo story of the Library development which I will put up as a display to show how things have progressed since I started in September. It's truly amazing to look back and see the difference.
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
It looks like a library now!
The last of the chairs arrived this afternoon so we can now use the entire space. The bean bag samples are a huge hit so I have put in a request for 12 of the big "fatboys" and 6 of the more conventional ones.
Brilliant parent helper in yesterday who sorted out bookends and signs so at least we are starting to define areas for Fiction, Non Fiction etc. Still need shelf signage but that will come.
Did some buddy reading this afternoon with a Year 2 & 3 class, which was a big hit. All the kids really enjoyed it. Will now have to see if we can encourage some more classes to get involved.
Only a few books left to unpack, mostly Non Fiction. There are some serious gaps in the Fiction collection so I will need to put together an order and start finding some reliable local suppliers as I can only order from overseas at a particular time of year. Magazines are tricky too, there is a local supplier for the Bayard Presse magazines but I am struggling to find a supplier for Nat Geo or Ranger Rick locally.
Will also need to start thinking about audio books, DVDs....... the list could be endless.
Brilliant parent helper in yesterday who sorted out bookends and signs so at least we are starting to define areas for Fiction, Non Fiction etc. Still need shelf signage but that will come.
Did some buddy reading this afternoon with a Year 2 & 3 class, which was a big hit. All the kids really enjoyed it. Will now have to see if we can encourage some more classes to get involved.
Only a few books left to unpack, mostly Non Fiction. There are some serious gaps in the Fiction collection so I will need to put together an order and start finding some reliable local suppliers as I can only order from overseas at a particular time of year. Magazines are tricky too, there is a local supplier for the Bayard Presse magazines but I am struggling to find a supplier for Nat Geo or Ranger Rick locally.
Will also need to start thinking about audio books, DVDs....... the list could be endless.
Saturday, 8 November 2008
What a week.....
Started using the new counter properly this week and working with the students to sort out returning and borrowing routines.
On Wednesday the remainder of the shelving arrived! They were bigger than I expected but once I moved them around a bit it started to look pretty good. Decided to create a research space with all the Non-Fiction for KS2 (Ys 3 - 6) next to the computers and the Fiction in the centre of the Library. The other side has shaped up nicely as Foundation and KS1 space with all the picture books, readers and a smaller Non-Fiction area.
I am so pleased with the way things are finally taking shape. A bit manic though, trying to move all the non-Fiction over and make some sense of it. Absolutely no signage so that's a priority for next week. Luckily I have a parent coming in all day Monday so we will be cutting, laminating and hanging signs so that it starts to make some sense.
Friday was a very exciting - the head of the Parent Group, "Friends of Rego", appeared with samples of bean bags. They are brilliant, there are large regtangular ones with nylon, wipable covers and a more conventional style. The Friday afternoon classes had a ball trying them out and I am now coordinating a whole school order so that we can negotiate a good discount.
The chairs also arrived last thing, not sure I have got them all yet but it is looking really good.
Still waiting for the computers to be hooked up, the network point is in the opposite corner so it involves bringing cables across the ceiling and putting in a new network switch so I may have to wait a bit.
Traffic has been awful in Shanghai this week, it's been really foggy and wet and there have been a lot of accidents. Turns a 30 min jounrey into 1 1/2 to 2 hours - not good!
Have added in some new pics to the slideshow - it's really interesting to look back and just see how different the space looks now.
On Wednesday the remainder of the shelving arrived! They were bigger than I expected but once I moved them around a bit it started to look pretty good. Decided to create a research space with all the Non-Fiction for KS2 (Ys 3 - 6) next to the computers and the Fiction in the centre of the Library. The other side has shaped up nicely as Foundation and KS1 space with all the picture books, readers and a smaller Non-Fiction area.
I am so pleased with the way things are finally taking shape. A bit manic though, trying to move all the non-Fiction over and make some sense of it. Absolutely no signage so that's a priority for next week. Luckily I have a parent coming in all day Monday so we will be cutting, laminating and hanging signs so that it starts to make some sense.
Friday was a very exciting - the head of the Parent Group, "Friends of Rego", appeared with samples of bean bags. They are brilliant, there are large regtangular ones with nylon, wipable covers and a more conventional style. The Friday afternoon classes had a ball trying them out and I am now coordinating a whole school order so that we can negotiate a good discount.
The chairs also arrived last thing, not sure I have got them all yet but it is looking really good.
Still waiting for the computers to be hooked up, the network point is in the opposite corner so it involves bringing cables across the ceiling and putting in a new network switch so I may have to wait a bit.
Traffic has been awful in Shanghai this week, it's been really foggy and wet and there have been a lot of accidents. Turns a 30 min jounrey into 1 1/2 to 2 hours - not good!
Have added in some new pics to the slideshow - it's really interesting to look back and just see how different the space looks now.
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Starting to look like a Library
Another busy week but the space is starting to look like a Library at last! Walked in on Monday to tables, picture book display shelves a Library counter and nails and cigarette butts all over the floor. Let's just say the workers were not the tidiest I have every seen. Unfortunately the workmanship is sloppy and badly finished on the counter. The main counter is okay but the drawers underneath are dreadful. Several of the display boards on the top of the picture book shelves are damaged through poor handling so it was a little frustrating after waiting all this time.
Still, the tables and computer desk are good and it does make it look more like a Library. Once the chairs arrive we will actually be able to use the tables.
The furniture company came back on Tuesday to install the dividing shelves on the picture book shelves so I have actually been able to put books on them! They also "supposedly" fixed the drawers at the counter but when I finally moved over yesterday and tried to put stuff in them, one of them fell to bits............there were no words!!
Furniture company will be coming back again next week to take the drawer units out and replace them with something that actually works.
Had to wait until yesterday for the network and power cables to be re-wired but finally moved to the counter yesterday morning. What a difference from being stuck in the corner. The children really like it too. I've now moved the work table to make a parents/work corner and it looks so much better.
My lovely display ladies were in on Wednesday and have transformed things. We now have a great colourful display of "Library" translated into all the different languages in the school and a bookshelf motif around the walls which really lifts the place. I've tried to take some pics and will upload more in the next few days.
Put in orders for more essentials like a cutter, rubbish bins, newspaper rack, clocks and book ends. Haven't even thought about book orders yet - still opening boxes and re-cataoguing .....
Interesting meetings with Oxford University Press and Bayard. Good contact with a Beijing supplier who came with the OUP rep and I now have 50 sample packs of the Box magazines to distribute to interested parents so hopefully we will get a free sub from that.
First Scholastic book club went well with over 130 orders. It's the first time I have done Scholastic and I have to say I am impressed with how much they do for us. Will see if all the books turn up as I have heard some comments that they run out of stock and then the kids are disappointed. I said I would do all the admin through the Library and place one school order giving the teachers the option to send me requests instead of individual class orders. Seems to have worked okay - got requests from two year group coordinators and I managed to find plenty to supplement the Library stock.
Repair supplies are on their way - they managed to source the stapler and staples locally and are now looking into the tape I asked for. Huge thanks to Andrea again for supplying samples of Raeco tape - otherwise I am sure I would end up with sellotape!!!!!
Massive post today, woke up early and took the opportunity to catch up.
Still, the tables and computer desk are good and it does make it look more like a Library. Once the chairs arrive we will actually be able to use the tables.
The furniture company came back on Tuesday to install the dividing shelves on the picture book shelves so I have actually been able to put books on them! They also "supposedly" fixed the drawers at the counter but when I finally moved over yesterday and tried to put stuff in them, one of them fell to bits............there were no words!!
Furniture company will be coming back again next week to take the drawer units out and replace them with something that actually works.
Had to wait until yesterday for the network and power cables to be re-wired but finally moved to the counter yesterday morning. What a difference from being stuck in the corner. The children really like it too. I've now moved the work table to make a parents/work corner and it looks so much better.
My lovely display ladies were in on Wednesday and have transformed things. We now have a great colourful display of "Library" translated into all the different languages in the school and a bookshelf motif around the walls which really lifts the place. I've tried to take some pics and will upload more in the next few days.
Put in orders for more essentials like a cutter, rubbish bins, newspaper rack, clocks and book ends. Haven't even thought about book orders yet - still opening boxes and re-cataoguing .....
Interesting meetings with Oxford University Press and Bayard. Good contact with a Beijing supplier who came with the OUP rep and I now have 50 sample packs of the Box magazines to distribute to interested parents so hopefully we will get a free sub from that.
First Scholastic book club went well with over 130 orders. It's the first time I have done Scholastic and I have to say I am impressed with how much they do for us. Will see if all the books turn up as I have heard some comments that they run out of stock and then the kids are disappointed. I said I would do all the admin through the Library and place one school order giving the teachers the option to send me requests instead of individual class orders. Seems to have worked okay - got requests from two year group coordinators and I managed to find plenty to supplement the Library stock.
Repair supplies are on their way - they managed to source the stapler and staples locally and are now looking into the tape I asked for. Huge thanks to Andrea again for supplying samples of Raeco tape - otherwise I am sure I would end up with sellotape!!!!!
Massive post today, woke up early and took the opportunity to catch up.
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