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FOXTEL WORLDWIDE NEWS
One of the exciting new initiatives in the Senior Library is the implementation of five TV displays. These screens are connected to individual Foxtel setups, and provide a continuous stream of news from channels all around the world. By exposing students to news from global perspectives, we hope to foster a curiosity for events outside their immediate context; equipping them for an increasingly globalised world.
WINDOWSILL GARDEN
With the prevalence of technology so evident within our Scotch community, we believe it's equally as important to balance it out with nature. Our windowsill garden brings some 'green' to the library space, providing the perfect harmony between the modern and natural worlds.
DESKS AND BOOTHS
The desks in the Senior Library were selected after careful consideration of sizing as the senior students are much bigger. The desk dimensions are 150cm x 75cm and allow for two students to sit comfortably with their books and laptop. Additionally we have four Sassy booths provided by DVA Fabrications, which are a favourite with the students. We increased the width of the back on the booths so that they fit exactly into our front window spaces, however, the extra size made them heavier on the wheels, which we've had to replace several times as they've become bent and hard to roll.
TIPS: Ensure your desks have sliders that easily slide along carpet. Wheels are not needed if the right carpet protectors are selected and you do not have the added issue of locking wheels into place. Ensure also that the legs are bolted and not metal clicked into the frame holding the wooden top.
SEATING
Couches
The couches are always used within the library and these allow plenty of room for up to four students. Dark colours make them less prone to staining (we allow food in our library). The couches need to be put on a cleaning roster if you select fabric and we have them cleaned once a year.
TIPS: Ensure that they are not excessively heavy. Strongly recommend that you try to move one before having yours made or delivered. They also need to be on sliders with no grip on the bottom.
Chairs
Chairs are coloured to differentiate areas.
TIPS: Ensure that they are strong enough and are one complete unit and not two pieces fitted together. These are primarily used when classes come in and there are enough in the space for one class in each area.
Beanbags
There are ten large Alta Oasis beanbags, which provide an option for the students wanting to relax in the space during recess, lunch and after school hours, in addition to use for reading during library lessons.
SHELVING
Fiction Section
The shelving pictured is 1m x 2.2m, holding a full shelf of approx. 50 books. Each shelf is on wheels that can be locked into place. Stepped shelving heights allow for the area to be more flexible and aesthetically pleasing, but be aware that at table height students will tend to use these as tables if you run out of proper tables. These units are regularly moved (fully loaded) and it is quite easy to do this, despite their weight.
TIPS: These units are very expensive due to the wave. While they look very good, the money can arguably be spent in other places. Shaped shelving can also create difficulties when trying to rearrange your library space. Face out is a big thing for fiction but can be achieved just as well from the right high and other choices in display holders.
Graphic Novel Shelving Along Wall
This shelving runs the length of one wall and is fixed in this location. The shelves also have bins at the bottom, which hold our picture books. As our collection expanded we needed additional shelving quickly and chose the small Billy Bookcases from IKEA.
TIPS: Ensure that all shelving is mobile - having this locks much of our collection into one area.
Non-Fiction Shelving
These are Billy Bookcases purchased from IKEA and are not mobile. They hold our non-fiction collection, which was heavily weeded due to decreasing use and the lack of reading for pleasure done in this area. This collection predominantly contains books that are relevant to assessments/units, or are on general interest topics requested by students.
Biographies and Mother Tongue Shelving
These are bookshelves purchased from IKEA. We chose to shelve the biographies and autobiographies in the glass room where the library classes take place as they are the most frequently used non-fiction resources during these lessons. The Mother Tongue resources are shelved here for exposure to the students during these classes as well.
BOOKENDS/DISPLAY HOLDERS
Standard bookend and display materials.
TIPS: Acrylic everything
CIRCULATION DESK
This desk is long enough to accommodate two staff members if necessary. The first space is used by the Senior Librarian and is the first point-of-contact, facing all operations in the library. The returns slot is built-in with a spring-loaded box. The second space is used as a laptop charging station. This has its own set of small ottomans to provide compact, short-term seating students who need to work on their devices while they are charging. The desk has no built-in drawers. Dimensions are approx 0.75m x 6m.
TIPS: Ensure the hole cut in the desk for returns is measured appropriately. In addition to this, the desk height and privacy screen need to be carefully considered; if the privacy screen is simply to hide objects then it should be removed. This desk needs to be considered carefully and based on each individual circumstance.
'HOT' DESK
This is used by the Library Services Assistant - Graphics in the evenings, and by staff that need to work closely with library and integration staff.
CUPBOARDS AND DRAWERS
Cupboards are very important and ones with built-in power are especially useful. With the increasing number of devices being managed by libraries, secure storage is important. In the cupboards below, a total of 24 charging ports and 16 USB charging points are supplied.
TIPS: Ensure that cupboards are used to store important items, too often they are used to store thing we think we require but never use.
MOBILE TV UNIT
This unit has a 60" Sony screen mounted on a mobile stand. It is used around the library where needed and is also the unit we use for video conferencing.
TIPS: Ensure that a space on the unit exists for the placement of a laptop (if you can). Cable management for mobile devices needs to be considered.
VERTICAL MOBILE TV STAND
Our Vertical TV Stands add a whole new dimension to teaching in the library - allowing for easier viewing access by students, and increased convenience for our teaching staff.
ADDITIONAL FURNITURE
Trolleys
Clax trolleys are used for collecting parcel deliveries from Reception, taking books to classrooms, and moving large quantities of books between the library levels. Wire basket trolleys are used for shelving, and the metal book trolleys are used for processing/cataloguing/weeding books and for organising English novel deliveries before they are given to the students.
Sit-Stand Desks
Sit-stand desks are used for teaching classes, professional development or other presentation sessions, and when working on the collection undertaking activities such as stock-take.
TABLES
The shaped student tables match those in the Middle School building. We did have flip-top tables, however, we had several breakages and the tops were wobbly when multiple people were leaning on them. The mobile sit-stand desks for staff are sourced from Woods Furniture and are great for tasks where you are working on the collection (e.g. stocktake) in addition to teaching.
SEATING
Beanbags
Large Alta Oasis beanbags are located in the class/reading area and may be taken outside with a class. Noise/concentration is an issue that we experience with them. We have experimented with adding shredded/crumb foam in with the beans; this has helped reduce the noise, however, it does make the bags heavier to carry around.
Armchairs
The armchairs were a short-term solution that are a mix of styles sourced from Amart Furniture. As they are not meant for heavy duty/school use we have had some bases collapse and legs break. However, they are great for encouraging individual reading and create tiered seating along with the beanbags for teaching classes.
Booths
We have two booths sourced from DVA Fabrications. They are very popular with students who are completing group work or sitting assessments and with those who enjoy playing board games. They were initially located against the walls, however, students kept walking on the seats to get past each other, resulting in some damage to the seat pad.
Student Chairs
Student chairs match those purchased for the MS Building classrooms.
SHELVING
The Graphic Novel and Non-Fiction shelving is mobile while the Fiction shelves are built directly into the walls or sourced from IKEA and located around the edge of the space. This allows for the entire space to be collapsed and hold a large gathering of individuals. The mobile shelving contains two or three shelves depending on the size of the books, are mobile and have a metal lip on top with perspex backing to hold the books upright while they're on display.
TIPS: Ensure that graphic novel shelving is the height of your non-fiction as they are the same height in many cases. In addition the wheels on this shelving need to be as heavy duty as possible. Finally I highly recommend that all shelving has the built-in display bar you see in the images.
BOOKENDS AND DISPLAYS
The library has a mixture of clear acrylic bookends for the Fiction and Graphic Novel collections, and metal bookends for the heavier Non-fiction books. We use perspex book displays on top of the IKEA shelves and in amongst the books, while the mobile shelves have a metal lip on top with perspex backing to hold the books upright while they're on display. This helps to ensure that the content is the most important part of the shelves.
RETURNS TROLLEY
We purchased a Book Return Trolley with Key Lockable Lid and Internal Spring Depressible Platform from WA Library Supplies for the Middle School Library. The trolley is mobile and located near the entrance for students to return their books as they enter the space.
TABLES
Each table is on wheels with a full metal frame. The frame is powder coated yellow and the top is a whiteboard surface. The structure is quite heavy. The dimensions of the table are 1.8m x 1.5m x 0.6m.
TIPS: Ensure that you test the weight of the tables before purchasing. Recommend rounded edges.
SEATING
Ottomans
Ottomans are the same as those in the Middle School, no hard chairs in this space.
TIPS: Select dark colours as black shoes and soles will mark.
Beanbags
Small Alta Kiddo beanbags are located in the class/reading area and may be taken outside with a class. The beanbag collection has become a mixed collection of shapes and sizes, and cleanliness, odour and noise/concentration are issues that we experience. We have experimented with adding shredded/crumb foam in with the beans; this has helped reduce the noise, however, it does make the bags heavier to carry around.
IKEA Armchairs
IKEA Vedbo armchairs are used to create layered seating for library classes, with the chairs placed behind the beanbags that are located on the mat.
Reading Chairs
The reading chairs are distinctive and are used when reading to the boys. The white fabric on the chair back can be written on and wiped off and can also be used to show what books are going to be read.
CIRCULATION DESK
A mobile service pod was purchased from DVA Fabrications for use as circulation desk in the JS Library. Whilst this was a quick, cheaper solution at the time, it is really only useful for checking books in and out. It is not a suitable size and shape for trying to process, catalogue and cover books, in addition to other library tasks.
BOOK DISPLAYS
IKEA Mosslanda Picture Ledges were added to our pillars to maximise display space and IKEA Flisat Book Displays are used to store books for students in Before- and After-school Care.
LED LIGHTING
White LED strip lighting was purchased from Bunnings and installed along the wall behind the top of the bookshelves to highlight the books displayed on top and to add some warmth to the space.
RETURNS TROLLEY
We purchased two Book Return Trolleys with Key Lockable Lid and Internal Spring Depressible Platform from WA Library Supplies for the Junior School Library. We teach students to return their books into the correct trolley to speed up the sorting and shelving process.
SHELVING
The Fiction shelving contains three fixed shelves and the Non-Fiction shelving contains two shelves to allow for larger books. Both shelves are mobile and have a metal lip on top with perspex backing to hold the books upright while they're on display. Our Little Pipers' books are stored in IKEA Flisat Toy Storage boxes for ease of access for children aged 0-3 years.
SIGN IN
iPads are used by students to sign into the Senior Library when they are using it for adhoc study or when cross-campuses classes have been cancelled. This uses the LibSurvey system as provided by Springshare; the iPad is in supervised mode and locked to the website.
CAMERAS
GoPro Cameras
The Senior Library has a complement of GoPro Hero cameras which can be optioned with various adapters.
Canon DSLRs
The Senior Library has a complement of DSLR Canon cameras, tripods and accessories that may be borrowed by students and teachers. A hard case or bag is provided. Students in the Middle School use their iPads for film and photography tasks.
Sony Video Cameras
The Senior Library has a number of Canon and Sony video cameras that may be loaned out to students and teachers.
DJI Osmo
The Senior Library now has the new DJI Osmo camera. The DJI Osmo is a versatile stabilized camera on a three-axis gimbal and can be used to capture stable footage in a wide range of circumstances. For more information on the Osmo, visit this ask.SCOTCH FAQ
USB CHARGING STATION
6-port PClocs USB charging station. This is used to charge all devices such as GoPros and phones without the need to have many more 240v adapters.
FOLDIO LIGHTBOX STUDIO
The Foldio is a pop-up studio, shrunken for convenience. White walls and built-in LEDs give just the right amount of light under any conditions. It pulls together in a snap, stays in place with sturdy magnets, and folds flat once the shoot is done.
SAMSON METEOR USB MICS
Samson Meteor USB microphones are compatible with both Mac and iPad, allowing for quick, portable recording in almost every situation. With a large condenser diaphragm, and stereo headphone jack for no latency monitoring, this mic is the one of the easiest ways to ensure a high quality video product.
Library Photos
Furniture
The libraries across Scotch have increased focus on providing environments for our students that are as up-to-date, comfortable and functional as possible. This has meant that ongoing review of the nature of existing and new furniture has resulted in new designs being adopted along with constant examination of both the perceived use of space and the reality.
The student numbers within the library have been a significant factor in the selection of furniture. In the JS, MS and SS Libraries we have had to accommodate far more than the standard class size due to the heavy use of the space during break times. This has meant that creating flexible furniture choices allows for variations in numbers and area usage each day.