Bialik College Library (Melbourne Australia) presentation to the SLAV Central Metropolitan Term 2 Branch Meeting, May 2011. Building the new Bialik library as a learning space for the future.
The school library as a contemporary learning environment
1. School Library Association of Victoria SLAV Central Metropolitan Branch Term 2 Branch MeetingWelcome to Bialik May 2011 SLAV Central Metropolitan Branch Term 2 Branch MeetingWelcome to Bialik May 2011 Entrance atrium and north facing sun screen
3. Delivering on our Role Information Products, Services, and Programmes that are: Accurate, Timely: there is minimal delay in adding or delivering services, Relevant: to the curriculum and the students age and capabilities, Up to Date, and Reliable: robust and stable platforms and or programmes. Easy to use. Integrated: allow patrons to search once across all resources, and Products and services that available wherever they are required 24 / 7. A library space that is a welcoming and flexiblelearningenvironment. Everything we do is to be done with the focus on supporting student learning outcomes.
4. Focus on Students Transition from playground of learning for the young students to academic learning commons for the older students. Photos of libraries we used as examples when we began developing the Bialik College Library.
5. Focus on Students Lots of WiFiand powerpoints. Different types of seating and study spaces. Noisy collaborative spacesand quiet studyspaces. Variedand flexiblespaces with lots of colour. Printas well asonlineinformation. Photos of libraries we used as examples when we began developing the Bialik College Library.
6. Integrating the online and physical library The new Bialik Library and the new Bialik eLibrary will be fully integrated. Both the physical and online libraries will fully support learning at Bialik. See http://elib.bialik.vic.edu.au
7. How the building works The new library is the most environmentally responsible building the school has built.
13. Study areas have lots of natural lightCreate spaces students can own but still maintain line of sight so staff can supervise what is going on. The library’s wireless network and power points in the outside tables makes the courtyard an extension of the library.
22. Study areas have lots of natural lightCreate spaces students can own but still maintain line of sight so staff can supervise what is going on.
23. How the building works The Junior Library is on the first floor so it links directly off the Primary School class rooms.
24. How the building works Bookable areas have names that underline the learning activity that takes place in the space. Story World Story World supports reading and literacy among our younger students. InterACTIVE A craft / wet area that encourages hands on learning. It is also used for many of the Primary School library lunch time clubs.
25. How the building works Bookable areas have names that underline the learning activity that takes place in the space. Seminar Room The class room in the library with a smart board and coloured glass boards so students and teachers can write on the walls. ColLABorate For collaborative learning. Large TV screens attached to lap tops allow groups of students in each booth to learn collaboratively.
26. How the building works Bookable areas have names that underline the learning activity that takes place in the space. News Cafe With newspapers, magazines, and news TV the news Café is for catching up on new information. The coffee machine for senior students and staff makes this a social and informal learning space. This is where the printer, photocopier and scanner are located. Year 12 Study Lounge A dedicated quite study space for Year 12 students.
27. Impact of the building Overall use of the library has increased dramatically. On average there are now over 1,200 visits per day. Increase in the use of the library as a learning space and a social space. Learning spaces are heavily booked and patron feedback is very positive. Use of the (weeded) print collection has increased dramatically. Average monthly checkouts have risen by 214%, while the increase for books alone is 204%. Our work has changed though the focus remains the same: the library as a learning environment.
28. Challenges Patron expectation is now much higher. Though we have given them more they want more again. We have to deliver more.Especially more technology and more online services. Our workhas become more varied and complex. We have to deliver services on two levels with the same number of staff. We therefore have to find further efficiencies and continue to streamline processes.
29. Next Challenges We are now working on the next challenges: Googalise the catalogue and make the online resources easier to find and use. Integrating the online and physical library services. eBooks. See Eli NeiburgerLJ/SLJeBook Summit presentation “Libraries are Screwed” on YouTube. The internet of everything.The boundary between the physical and the online is becoming blurred. Deliver library services via mobile devices.
30. Meeting the Challenges Continue to streamlineandoutsource back end processes. Library staff are vital.Free them up to directly engage and support students and staff. Reskilling is the new constant. We need to learn new skillsand question old habits. Work in partnershipwith suppliers. Be prepared to experimentand make mistakes but manage the risks. Report and document what we do and the VALUEwe deliver. Library staff wiki, 3 year team plan, and a pie chart from the regular library report.
31. Questions Courtyard with wireless internet and power to the outside tables is an extension of the library.
