Burlington Community High SchoolBurlington, Iowa

around 1120 students, grades 9-12

BHS LibraryBuilt in 1969- only changes since involve installing

computers, getting rid of typewriters, card catalog, and microfiche readers

2 points of focus for Practicum

• increase use of technology in Library Science class• Used Jing and Screencast.com to record instructions for

Google Site creation• Distribute instructions via email• Students share sites with me through Google Docs

•Increase the number of graphic novels in the collection• Decide where to display graphic novels- regular non-

fiction placement deemed boring• Need for visual browsing, like at a bookstore

Examples of Student Google Sites

I asked them to use a template available from Google, the content could be up to them, but it had to include

text and a picture

This is from one of my students who is obsessed with Disney movies.

Student stuying with iPod touch.When I took over in the library, students weren’t able to listen to mp3

players in the library, and we didn’t have wireless Internet.

These are the same tables and chairs that were in the library when it opened in 1969.

This used to be the magazine reading area- the single chairs were taken out. Now we simply have tables and chairs everywhere.

Downstairs computer lab

This is one of two computer labs in the library. The labs are normally checked out by teachers, but if all the computers are in use, I let individual students work on these.

They are probably on Facebook.

Magazine DisplayI don’t check out magazines to students- they are just

available to read in the library. Magazine readership has really dropped this year. The only magazines students

look at are Seventeen and Sports Illustrated.

This Sarah Palin book was

donated by a School Board

member. It has checked out

once, to a teacher.

I currently subscribe to 20 magazines, but next year I’m not sure I will order as many. I cut the cost down from $1000 to $700, and I still feel like it’s a waste of money.

We have six card catalog computers by the main desk, but students mainly want to hop on and check their Facebook. The catalog doesn’t get used as much this year as it did last year.

Not sure if kids are used to it.

One of the neat structural elements of the library.

View from above. It’s nice having two floors, but supervision is a pain. The only time the 2 nd floor really gets used is for the computer lab, and a student center uses it during 4 th period.

Individual seating options exist upstairs, but only get used during student center. As you can see, they’re not useful for much other than studying.

Most of my non-fiction collection is upstairs, which makes weeding and inventory difficult.

This is the upstairs computer lab. 31 computers. Printer is downstairs, of course.

My library is organized according to academic area. The 800s are closest to the English department, the 500s are closest to the Science department, and so on. It really doesn’t

make sense, but that’s the way it has always been.

9 public use computers next to the circ desk.

Circulation Desk. One of my Library Science students is on the computer.

I at least tripled the number of graphic novels in the collection this year.

I mainly ordered superhero graphic novels right now, but plan to branch out next year. Read your graphic novels

closely, as I have had a challenged book this year.

I tried to be fair and order Marvel and DC, so students wouldn’t have to choose between

Superman and Spiderman.

I also tried to choose characters that have movies coming out soon, like Captain America, Thor, Green Lantern, and the Avengers.

Progress and Reflection•Introduced my students to Google Sites, but they really don’t have a reason to use it•Graphic novel circulation has increased, but I know that collection development needs to continue, and I need to seriously look at how books are organized