Looking for ways to get more involved with students and teachers?
Want to boost your circulation?
We’ve had some great experiences this year working with other departments around the school to support events and the curriculum.
Collaborating on displays is a fantastic way to promote conversation between staff and the library. We have a better idea of what’s going on with their curriculum. This helps us pick more books to purchase as we see not only what the kids are learning but also what needs to be weeded out and updated.
It creates excitement over the topics that are displayed. We always see a boost in circulation numbers with books on those topics. Just a few displays we’ve created to support other departments…
Health Week
Students from our Library Club created this fun display board set outside our library to promote Health Week
This week long event is run by our health department. They take care of everyone on campus with their wellness center, counseling, curriculum, safety drills and of course, the government requirements such as eye exercises.
Books related to mental and physical health were on display all around the front circle of our library. We used blue cloth to make it stand out more and blue was the theme the Health Department used, so we kept with their design.
Activities happened all over the school including free massages for staff, a bubble and kite event out on the sports pitch (a very good stress relief – many, many staff got involved and enjoyed this activity), healthier snacks & food in the cafeteria, and even a quick nap time.
Art Exhibitions
Art department exhibitions and displays that support their curriculum and our library too.
We have a lot of great art books that sadly are checked out not nearly enough, especially considering the price tag on some of these beautiful hard cover, and full colour books.
Beautiful Art books in display in the middle of the library
Artwork lining both sides of the main room in our library, leading students and staff to the book display
Chinese paintings created by students
Zombie Apocalypse
Our Year 11 IB science project was recently run with the support of the library, as a zombie apocalypse took over the campus.
Students had to use science to live through scenarios created for them. Books and resources from the library were used to research how to make it through alive!
We also created an awesome display just using a book return cart featuring zombie and apocalypse fiction books. Most of these were checked out by the end of the day long science project!
These projects are something that are really easy, fun to do and can involve a lot of student creativity. I’d love to hear how this works in your libraries. Please feel free to contact me or comment below.
Kendra Perkins
www.theinspiredlibrarian.com
www.about.me/kendraperkins
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