The 2013/2014 Marrs library year was full of new experiences, tried and true events, and teaching to support not only classroom curriculum but personal interests as well.
After spending the summer reorganizing the fiction section into genre sections, we observed a great increase in the students' ability to self-select materials for independent reading and classroom assignments.
Lessons:
LibGuides: Several classroom visits for research necessitated the use of libguides to amass all of the resources. Teachers found this resource very useful, and students can access from home. examples: invasive species, civil war scrapbook,
Common sense Media: This year, one of the lessons presented covered internet awareness and privacy issues. We managed to meet with all of the fifth grade students and cover items related to interenet safety.
Orientation: Every language arts class visited the library at the beginning of the year to go over procedural information and effective ways to use all of the resources at the library.
Databases.
Catalogue lesson.
Book Talks.
Story Elements: personal identity, plot, setting, etc.
Research: endangered species, econolympics, civil war, citations,
Poetry:
Events: Marrs Movie Night, Book Exchange, book club (needs to be broadened)
Clubs: This year, the library sponsored three clubs including the Golden Sower Club, the Manga Club, and the Youth Volunteer Corps.
Library Hours / Usage:
Morning Library: The Marrs library is open in the morning from 7:10 -7:40 (before duty hours) for students to pursue personal interests and complete assignments and homework.
In addition to visits with their classroom teachers, students also visit the library with passes.
Afternoon Library: We allow students to stay and checkout, do homework, read and such on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (barring any staff meetings, etc. ) On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I sponsor an "open library" until 4:00 for students to use.
Author visits: Two author visits happened this year at the R.M.Marrs library. The first scheduled one was with award winning author Ben Mikaelsen. He was most gracious with our students and they had many questions for him.
The second visit was our first Skype session, and to herald this occasion, we brought in YA author, Caroline Starr Rose. SO glad all the technology worked! What a valuable experience working with classroom teachers on a novel and then bringing in the author!
Other uses of library:
district coaching meedtin
Math Contests
Spelling Bee / Geography Bee
Pentathlon
Continue weeding 500-600s (more of the 300s and 900s were weeded due to spacing issues- decisions based on classroom relevance and currency)
update subscription to School Library Journal. (Ordered, but need to spend more time reading.)
Increase Sports fiction and nonfiction. (for the 14/15 school year)
Update 500s and 600s. (Can online sources be used?)
Add more ebooks, both fiction and nonfiction.
Increase circulation by:
1. More spontaneous book talks. (circulation increase, year-end report)
2. Use QR codes to direct students to motivational websites about reading. (Still in development - more qr . .more signage)
3. Social Media to connect readers to library. (Begin tweeting library events, - started this year in April - also have events place in Falcon flyer)
4. Create more recommended reading lists. (Need to address)
5. Offer 1/2 off prices to collect fees for missing materials. / Let students work off fines.
6. Hold more librarian-teacher led PLCs to continue the collaborative spirit and instill passion in the wonderful services we provide for students.
August 14, 2013 - May 9, 2014
Number of students per classroom visit /instruction: 16,220
1st quarter: 4460
2nd quarter: 3500
3rd quarter: 4360
4th quarter: 3900
August 14, 2013 - April 30, 2014
Number of individual drop-ins. 5952
1st quarter: 2129
2nd quarter: 1171
3rd quarter: 1626
4th quarter: 911 (does not reflect last three weeks)
Total Checkouts: 32,292 (up 11.03%)
Number of holds processed: 2661 (up 16.92%)
Renewals: 2032
1. Reorganization by genre ( completed last summer, now ongoing) now include more signage and more "face-out"
2. Increase collaboration with teachers- continue use of libguides to organize information and teaching units for classroom teachers
3. Use more technology to supplement classroom objectives.
a. Libguides as webpage (completed) Also create Marrs Mural progress page)
b. Ipad instruction and use (Used 2014 with literature circles in Mrs. Murray's class.)
c. ebooks
d. Teen Tech Week
4. Create book clubs based on individual interests. (Need more time to develop)
5. Increase library surroundings by adding small teen spaces and including artwork.
6. Maintain library advisory board for patron input. (This should be developed further.)
1. 2013/2014 - We mainly used World Book and Brittanica. Reviewed at the beginning of each research project
2. Follett Shelf (14/15 - add more ebooks, also purchase multiple copies for literature circles.) I was disappointed that after reviewing a lot of of the nonfiction ebooks, they were not added to the Library consortium. Those resources would also have been quite valuable.
3. Increased collaboration with Omaha Public Library. (we did meet with them on one of our literacy nights)
In regards to usefulness, it would be nice if our databases reflected more current events and a broader range of topics.
1. Of course, our exciting news here in the library this year is the addition of a new mural to fill the library walls . . and hopefully, the minds of the students!
Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, citizenship status, or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to address inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531-299-9822).
Las Escuelas Públicas de Omaha no discriminan basados en la raza, color, origen nacional, religión, sexo, estado civil, orientación sexual, discapacidad , edad, información genética, estado de ciudadanía, o estado económico, en sus programas, actividades y empleo, y provee acceso equitativo a los “Boy Scouts” y a otros grupos juveniles designados. La siguiente persona ha sido designada para atender estas inquietudes referentes a las pólizas de no discriminación: El Superintendente de las Escuelas, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531-299-9822).