The School Library Media Facilities Planner (Best Practices for School Library Media Professionals)

This handbook shows librarians, media specialists, and educators how they can transform their school library or media facility into the knowledge center of their school. Tom Hart advocates re-designing school libraries so that they can impact students and set them on the path to future academic and professional success. Practical, step-by-step chapters cover facilities as they relate to teaching-learning, the knowledge center, open learning, information literacy, and the new goals for the knowledge society. Detailed guidance is offered for the facilities planning process (for both new and existing) including developing the team, needs assessment, planning documents, spatial relationships, special considerations, and the roles of library consultants and facilities planners. Readers learn to consider school demographics, program philosophy and goals, changes in information technology, patterns of use, collection size, programs and activities, equipment, location, climate and acoustical control, lighting, windows, doors, water, communications networks, storage and counter space, and more, in the design of their facilities. Important sections on working with architects and contractors and moving into a new facility protect library and librarians’ interests. The author includes exemplary facilities, success stories, problem scenarios, a glossary of terms, and appendices with model policies, procedures, and planning documents. The companion DVD includes tours of facilities and additional planning information.