1.7 Creating a supportive learning environment

• Creating a supportive learning environment
• Use of library space
• Automated library systems
• Security system
• Occupational health and safety
• Environmental controls

Creating a supportive learning environment

The school library should be exciting and welcoming and be identifiably different from classrooms. A multi-media learning environment motivates pupils to explore resources for both curriculum related work and for their own personal learning and enjoyment.

Ideally the library should be:

• A whole school resource
• Centrally located within the school
• Easily accessible to all classes and all students, whatever their particular needs
• A single-use area

The library should embrace:

• The central fiction collection
• The central non-fiction collection
• The reference collection
• A teacher reference collection
• A reserve collection
• Access to ICT e.g. Internet, CD-ROM, online library catalogue
• Study space
• Enough seating for a whole class
• Informal reading areas.
• Other collections such as audiovisual, picture books, Christmas, reading sets, etc as required by the school

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Use of library space

The use of space in the library should be flexible and respond to the changing needs of the school community. The library should be well organised and signposted in order for staff and students to make active use of the services and resources offered. Occupational health and safety considerations should be given to arranging all areas of the library.

The library layout should be attractive and welcoming. Studies show that a good layout can increase:

• Quality and frequency of use
• Time per visit a user spends in the library
• The number of materials a user is exposed to
• The examination and comparison of materials by users
• The number of unplanned impulse selections

Furniture

The furniture in the school library should help the school community to access the resources and services that the library provides. Furniture includes:

Shelving

• Wall-mounted or free standing
• Various heights
• Front-facing display shelves
• Boxes for picture books
• Carousels for paperbacks

Seating

• Student table and chairs
• Group Work tables
• Carrels or study desks
• Stools
• Low tables
• Easy chairs, bean bags or cushions

Computer and audiovisual areas

• Ergonomic chairs
• Work stations for Internet use, CD-ROM, access to online library catalogue
• Tables for printers and scanners
• Provision of cabling to, and between, equipment, furniture, walls
• Listening stations with headphones
• Area for television/video/data projection (audiovisual) viewing

Circulation area

• Desk for issuing and returning of items
• Work area for processing items e.g. covering books
• Storage, shelving
• Computer space
• Provision of cabling
• Reserve collection (College libraries, in particular)

Display

• Whiteboards
• Fixed noticeboards
• Free standing/mobile noticeboards

Storage

• Security areas
• Audio-visual equipment
• Cupboards, shelves, filing cabinets, picture files, map cabinets

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Automated library systems

An automated library system encompasses a circulation system, cataloguing and Public Access Catalogue. Most Tasmanian government school libraries use TALIS as their automated library system as software and training is provided to government schools free of charge and TALIS provides a state-wide network of resource management. Stand-alone systems also exist and some schools (many non-government schools) choose to automate in this way. Card catalogues and manual circulation systems exist in some school libraries, especially those with small collections and limited staffing. The decision about whether or not to automate should be carefully considered by all library stake-holders as the decision will directly impact on the teaching and learning opportunities for students. Information Systems at the State Library of Tasmania can provide guidance, especially to schools who may wish to use a part of the TALIS system:

Email: state.library@education.tas.gov.au
Phone: 6233 7939

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Security system

Some school libraries may wish to install an electronic security system to prevent items leaving the library without being checked out. Sensor gates are placed on either side of an entrance/exit so that library patrons must pass between them. When being processed all items should have a tattle-tag placed in them, usually in a place where the user will not see them. When the items are checked out these tattle-tags are desensitised at the circulation desk. If the alarm goes off when a patron walks through the gates, it means that a sensitised tag has been found.

A security system will be effective in reducing losses if a contingency plan setting out consequences once the alarm sounds is devised and adhered to. It is also necessary to educate all library users in appropriate use of the security system. Extra staff time may be required to monitor the system.

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Occupational health and safety

All plans for the development or reorganisation of the library, including furnishing, staffing, use and movement of pupils, must be in line with the school's Occupational Health and Safety requirements.

Specific issues include:

• Suitability of furniture design and placement
• Lighting and ventilation
• Placement of leads and cables
• Provision of appropriate fire extinguishers

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Environmental controls

• Internal conditions need to comply with Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
• Temperature, ventilation, humidity and dust are factors to be controlled for the comfort of users, and to prolong the life and reduce maintenance costs for computers and other equipment. Ideally temperatures should be in the range from 20 degrees to 22 degrees Celsius with relative humidity between 45 and 55 % and provision made for adequate air changes and elimination of dust.

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For more information about the use of library space, furniture and equipment consult: Learning for the future. 2nd edition.

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