LMC Changes

 A FEW THOUGHTS from Mrs. Milner. . . 

    This year for me has been all about new beginnings. As many of you know, this has been my first year in this position of media specialist. As a result, I got to look at our beautiful new media center with "fresh eyes." For me a media center is truly one of the most uplifting places to be and without exception the one here at the Warren County Career Center follows that rule. When I got this job I was happy and eager to take a great place and make it even better. I hope you will agree.

     One of the first things I did and will continue to do is add warmth. I added plants to accentuate the aesthetics and break the hard linear architectural lines. It may sound like a little thing, but I believe that bringing the outside in makes the media center a more centered, inviting, and organically pleasing place to be. Ultimately, I want people to want to come in and use this wonderful resource. Next I tried to assess what resources the media center already had by completing a thorough resource analysis. During that process I decided that there might be certain populations of students that we serve who weren't adequately reflected within the book offerings. As a direct result of the study, I determined we needed more fictional books that were directly aimed toward boys. My later purchases were made with this aim in mind. I also made a concerted effort to purchase engaging new fiction, books that were missing within sets, and books that would engage even the most reluctant reader. I have also been working hard to make the resources that the media center already had work best for the students and staff here. I cataloged the laptops, headphones and even power adapters so that those materials made technology more accessible in all settings, not just the media center. This process not only allowed students to take the resources to where they were needed, but it allowed me to loan items out without worrying how to keep track of the materials and stay responsible for them. Finally, I have been working to really familiarize myself with many of the latest and greatest web 2.0 tools. I have been in the process of learning each resource, creating projects with the tools, and devising lesson plans that can later be used with staff or students. As a teacher, I hope to be a technological resource to whoever needs it.

     In the future I hope to continue all that I am presently doing, working to make this the best media center ever. I see it (and hope my patrons do too) as a student and staff centered entity. I would like to see the media center be the "heart" of this school. I will keep you posted as I work to make this a reality. But for now, I leave you with this thought. It comes from a sign I have posted in the media center and it says, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."