High School Library Ideas
With their constant use of the web, cell phones and electronic reading devices, it can be difficult to get high school students interested in their school library. If you are faced with the task of making your library welcoming and interesting for students, consider options that catch their attention and work with their communication habits.
Other People Are Reading
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Furniture
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Make your library a place where students will want to come to study, read or research by investing in comfortable furniture. Look for couches and chairs that look and feel comfortable and arrange them in a variety of groupings, some for individuals and some for group work. For study carrels or large tables, choose chairs that are designed for comfort or which have an angled back section that allows them to rock slightly. Install power outlets in convenient locations on the floor under tables and next to chairs to make it easy to plug in laptops.
Wi-Fi Zone
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Many students do their work and research on a laptop or smart phone. Instead of discouraging the use of electronics in the library, make it more accommodating so that students will be able to use the space for homework. Install a wireless Internet network for students with laptops and provide computer stations for other students. To limit abuse of the network, provide a password and user name for students and have your IT technician block websites such as Facebook and Twitter.
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Lunchtime Talks
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It can be difficult to attract high school students to the library; sometimes you need to give them motivation. Start a lunchtime series in your library to provide an alternate location for lunch with a bit of entertainment. Schedule topics that appeal to different groups of students. In the fall, you might have a workshop on writing college admissions essays, for example. You can also hold concerts by choir and band students, put on travel presentations or have the science teacher demonstrate scientific principles in fun and showy ways.
Print Alternatives
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WIth the ease of reading books, magazines and newspapers on computers and digital readers, it can be difficult to convince students to check out printed books. Work with students by providing alternatives to print. You might offer instant downloads of books on CD or offer digital files of books for digital readers. Stay on top of educational and informative podcasts, blogs and videos, and promote them in the library to catch students' interest.
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References
- Photo Credit library books image by Daughterson from Fotolia.com
