In addition to fostering a love for reading and learning, school libraries contribute hugely towards improving students’ academic performance and skill development. School students spend time in libraries to understand topics deeply and get additional support in subjects. However, access to the internet and mobile devices has impacted the significance and role of school libraries directly.
While considering library ideas for schools, the librarians and other decision-makers must keep in mind some important statistics. According to Statista, “39 percent of children aged between two and six years in Canada were reported to use a mobile phone. Half of the children aged between 7 and 11 years were reported to have a mobile device such as a smartphone. This figure rose to 87 percent in the case of teenagers aged between 12 and 17 years.”
Hence, no school in Canada can engage and impress new-generation students without integrating conventional and digital libraries. The integration will enable every student to understand a topic in his preferred way – reading printed books, reading eBooks, watching videos, or listening to audio. However, the librarians must make the library popular with students by considering several innovative library ideas for schools.
10 Innovative Library Ideas for Schools to Engage New-Generation Students
Keep the Library Environment Welcoming
Students usually visit the school library after working hours. Most of them use the opportunity to immerse themselves in books. Hence, schools must keep students relaxed and comfortable by creating a welcoming environment. Decision-makers can make the library environment welcoming by making small changes like replacing harsh lights with warm/soft white lights and wooden chairs with soft furniture.
Create a Visual Library Environment
As highlighted by several studies, a visual environment invokes positive emotions – calmness, joy, and inspiration – in children. While designing the school library, decision-makers must focus on creating a visually pleasing environment. For instance, they should keep the library visually appealing by designing wall art. In addition to transforming the library walls, the wall art will evoke positive feelings in school students.
Allow Students to Choose
As noted earlier, mobile devices have changed the content preferences of school students. Many students these days prefer multimedia content to printed books. The school library must enable each student to access content in his preferred ways. In addition to procuring printed books, the librarians must implement robust digital library software. The software will allow students to access digital content in popular formats like eBooks, videos, audio, simulations, and quizzes.
Simplify Content Search
While visiting the school libraries, students often find it challenging to choose the right book. Decision-makers must help students access the desired content quickly and straightforwardly. They should deploy reading champions who will recommend the right printed books to a student according to his needs and interests. Likewise, they should implement digital library software with intuitive search interfaces.
Include Choice Boards
In a classroom environment, teachers allow students to choose from a list of learning activities using choice boards as a visual aid. Decision-makers can understand the preferences and expectations of students by installing choice boards in school libraries. For instance, they can use choice boards to procure the printed books preferred by students. Likewise, the choice board will help them collect feedback by conducting surveys.
Organize Fun Activities
Decision-makers should make the library popular with school students by organizing fun activities regularly. These fun activities will keep students entertained and motivate them to spend more time in the library. Decision-makers can help students make the most of the library time by organizing fun activities like library treasure hunts, summer reading schemes, and theme-based events.
Minimize Wait Time
Often students stop visiting the school library when they cannot access their favorite books. The librarians should overcome this constraint by making library resources accessible in physical and digital formats. For instance, when a book is not available in the library in printed format, students must access it in digital format. Decision-makers can further reduce wait time significantly by implementing digital library software. The software will enable many students to read books, watch videos, or listen to podcasts simultaneously.
Gamify Reading Experiences
Several studies have highlighted the effectiveness of gamification in fostering learner engagement and motivation. While planning or revamping the school library, the librarians must opt for eLearning gamification the reading experiences of students using various options. For instance, they should foster friendly competition between students by displaying leaderboards inside the library. Likewise, they should encourage students to read books using gamification techniques like virtual coins and badges.
Foster a Love for Reading
While planning school library projects, the librarians must focus extensively on fostering a love for reading. Teachers should encourage students to spend time in the library by recommending books and planning group projects. For instance, they should divide students into small groups and instruct each group to read specific books. Finally, students can collaborate with each other to discuss various aspects of the topic or assignment. Such projects will encourage students to visit the school library regularly.
Build a Thriving Community
No school can keep its library relevant in the digital age without building a thriving community. Librarians must encourage students, teachers, and librarians to join an active community. Teachers should promote the community by discussing and recommending books. Likewise, students can strengthen the community by sharing their favorite books. The community will contribute hugely towards keeping the school library popular and relevant in the long run.
Conclusion
Access to smartphones and tablets has changed the content preferences and reading habits of school students in Canada. Schools can meet the preferences and expectations of new-generation students by ensuring seamless access to physical and digital content. In addition to transforming the library environment, schools must implement cloud-based digital library software.
The digital library software will enable students to access learning content in various formats using computers or mobile devices. Also, students can access multi-format digital content after school hours and on school holidays. Schools can further customize the cloud-based software to modernize libraries by reducing costs and complexities.
