The Taylor Media Center fosters lifelong readers, critical thinkers, and skillful researchers.
That's a great mission statement for our library, and it encompasses the breadth of services and experiences we want our library to offer the school community. Yet, our library space was feeling and looking a bit, well, stale. Meghan Crowther, our Media Center Coordinator, decided it was time for some changes.
One major goal was to give the user a warm welcome by opening up the library entrance. In addition, the circulation desk needed to be relocated to the heart of the library. This more central location allows students better access to adult help when they need it and provides improved sight-lines throughout the library, allowing for better supervision of students while they're in the library.
Moving the circulation desk out of the library's "foyer" opened up that space to be used as a computer research and printing location. All the desktop computers have been moved to the foyer space and the printer is stationed alongside. This permits students to access these computers without disturbing classes having story time or using other library resources.
The former library office has been completely changed. Previously full of desks and books waiting to be shelved and much other "stuff," the space has been decluttered and repurposed as a "maker space" with the addition of a work table with seating and a 3-D printer.
Reaction to these changes has been quite positive. On seeing it for the first time, many children exclaimed,
“Wow!” before excitedly checking out all the changes.
Students, faculty, staff, and parents are enthusiastic about the updates to the Taylor Media Center. We hope you will come take a look during your next visit to James River.