Library Essentials Beyond Books
School library equipment is not just about populating your library with the latest novels. The best library is not the one that has rows of books but goes beyond that to create the best environment for students. A well-equipped library is a necessity that nurtures a reading habit, fuels curiosity and makes students perform well academically. In this article, we are going to focus on some essential school equipment which goes beyond books to create that perfect experience for students in your library that will make them want to visit often.
Essential Technology for Modern School Libraries
Technology is no longer a luxury in today’s classroom and the library is no exception. Some of the key pieces of school equipment that you should consider are:
Computers and Tablets: Your library will be helpful if it is adequately fitted with computers and tablets equipped with educational software, installed online databases and e-books. This will help students in doing their research, completing their assignments and learning from other digital resources.
Projector and screen: a good piece of equipment in any space to use in a library is a projector and screen to be used in presentations, movie nights and group learning activities
Interactive Whiteboard: The interactive whiteboards will have your class engaged in the classroom. They will be using it for their presentations, joint projects and a few fun interactive learning activities.
Headphones: Each computer must be fitted with a headphone to ensure that students who listen to audio resources or even watch videos do not bother the other students.
Comfortable Reading Environment Furniture and Equipment
A comfortable and inviting environment will be the determiner in making them want to stay in the library. Some of the school equipment which will go a long way in creating this environment in your library are:
Comfortable Seating: Equip the space with a variety of sitting appliances such as bean bags, plush armchairs, study tables and chairs. This would appeal to many different learning styles and tastes.
Shelving: Good shelving makes it easy to find books and other material. Consider adjustable shelving if the collection is growing and the books are of different sizes.
Display Cases: Use attractive display cases to show student art, historical artifacts, or events about to happen.
Bulletin Boards: Use short postings to advertise new books and new books are a great way to show student work or announce library activities.
Some Useful Tools and Tips for Managing a School Library
Effective management is the lifeblood of a school library. Some of the tools and tips below will go a long way in keeping your library in order:
Library Management Software: Library management software serves in playing the role of the backbone of the library and can provide capability to the library to perform cataloging of books, checkout and return schedules, reporting and much more.
Book Cart: A well-built book cart can make it easy to carry books or materials from one place to another in a library or classroom.
Label Maker: A label maker is quite useful to give clear and consistent labels for books, shelves and other materials in a library.
Comfortable Chair: Comfortable chair for the librarian will make it easier to keep stress away from the longer hours of managing a library.
Conclusion
You got ample ideas from the blog on how to make your school library great for students. Equipping the library with everything that we mentioned in the blog, it will be more than just a place to store books. It will be a busy hub of learning that encourages reading and contributes to making academic success for students a reality.
