[CASL-L] Media Center reduction

[Luddy, Jean]

     Administration has approached me with a proposal to add a seminar room to the Media Center. The plan would involve removing half of the book shelves, in effect half of the print collection. There is not enough room in the rest of the facility to shelf the books. So I would have to discard a huge amount of books. The seminar room would be used on an occasional basis and books could not be shelved in the space. If additional shelving is installed in the rest of the facility, student seating will have to be given up. This room will also take away from the overall useable square footage of the Media Center.
     I am gathering information about collection size, student population and facility size to support my argument that this change will have a serious impact on library media service to students. Our school is in DRG B so information from those schools will be very helpful.
      We have expanded our holdings in the Gale Virtual Library and we have a collection of ebooks in Follett Shelf. However print still plays a role in student learning.
     I have been following the recent discussion on collection size and student population. These emails have given me some avenues to pursue
     Any other thoughts for strategies to discourage this idea will be appreciated.
                Thanks for any suggestions and information!
                          Jean

Jean Luddy
Library Media Specialist
South Windsor High School
860-474-1456