South Effingham High School Principal: Dr.

Mark Winters Opening Date: 1996 Enrollment: 1,438 Grades: 9th-12th Mascot: Mustangs Colors: Maroon & Silver MUSTANGS. . .The Legend Lives!

School Profile

Enrollment & Staffing

Magnet
Charter Title 1 Total Exp. Per Student Locale

No
No No $8,707 Rural

Total Teachers Total Students Student/Teacher Ratio

80 1438 17:1

Students Per Grade

Student Demographics

Grade 9
Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12

452
375 345 266

White
Black Asian

1263
117 13

American Indian 4

Hispanic

19

The existing school library media center is located at the front of the school close to the main entrance and it is an irregular shape. The library media center computer lab is an adjoining room.

This is a collage of pictures taken from the back corner of the SEHS school library media center. The front of the school building is to the far left and you can just see the front office through the windows in the wall at the very back of this picture.

This floor plan was made using a free trial of the Gliffy software from Gliffy.com. As you can see the floor plan is quite large, so it is hard to see the details. In the next few slides, key features of the SEHS library media center will be highlighted.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

Upon entering the SEHS library media center through the main entrance, you enter into the area that classes and individuals use to work at the large tables for group work and the main librarys PC computer work area. There is a large motorized screen that drops down from the ceiling and a LCD projector to project from the presentation computer .

Key areas in the existing school library media center

Just in case there is ever any doubt where you are and what to call it at our school, we are clearly labeled.

There are many different book displays throughout the library to highlight new books and popular books, such as this one by the circulation desk.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

As you continue into the library media center, you will come to the circulation desk on your left. We utilize student help as often as possible. It isnt uncommon to see students checking books in and out at the circulation desk or out in the media center doing various other tasks. In this area, there is a desk and computer for our paraprofessional, two computers used to check books in and out, a small display for popular books, and a standing-only computer kiosk for patrons to look up materials.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

Just behind the circulation desk is the library media specialists office. The office has plenty of shelves and storage space, a telephone, computer, printer, sink, refrigerator, and microwave. This office also houses many of the switches in which the computers connect along with a wireless router for patrons desiring a wireless internet connection. There are windows so that the librarian can keep a close eye on what is going on outside of the office area while in the office.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

Continuing around the room to the left and just behind the librarians office is the server room and storage area. This room houses the racks of servers that feed the entire schools network connections. There are also metal shelves to store surplus and spare equipment.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

As we move around the corner and past the back entrance to the library media center, we pass another small area of computers that are just in front of the technology media specialists office. This office has an area to work on computers and other technology, a computer, telephone, printer, and filing cabinets for storage of extra parts, cables and cords. This office also holds the librarys audio and video collection.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

The next room to the left is the A/V Media room. A television program can be broadcast from this room to the entire school. We use this room to make school IDs and it also contains digital still and digital video cameras. This room also houses many combinations of television/VCR/DVD/Overhead Projector/Laptop/LCD projector/etc.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

Just past the A/V room is the teacher project area. This room holds the Ellison Dye cut machines, laminator, poster board materials and butcher paper rolls. This room also stores older periodicals.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

Over the past few years, our library has worked to increase the number of books to an acceptable number. We have added many new titles and targeted books that are especially popular with teenagers. We have a very large collection of vampire, manga, and other popular books.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

The study table at the back of the stacks has become a popular place for groups of students to come together and play card games such as Yu-GiOh! and other role playing games.

To help raise funds for the library, we sell popcorn one or two Fridays each month as part of Reading is Pippitty, Poppity, Popcorn Friday We also have different promotional activities such as the Michael Jackson Tribute Week.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

In the back middle of the library media center there is a long area of tables for students to play chess, a small area of Mac computers and a small area of comfortable seating.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

It doesnt matter what time of day it is, students are always eager to challenge each other in a game of chess. This area acts as a divider between the stacks to the right and the areas where classes or individuals are using computers and study tables to the left.

Conveniently located in front of the circulation desk is a comfortable area for students and staff members to read a magazine, catch up on the days news, or read for fun.

Key areas in the existing school library media center

The library media center computer lab is an adjoining room just behind the circulation desk. This area may be accessed through the main corridor or through the library itself. Students and teachers have really appreciated being able to use the lab with their classes this year.

The SEHS library media center is fairly up-to-date, but there are some things worth pointing out. There are many windows to let in ambient light and there are motorized remote control blinds that help to control the amount of light when the sun shines into the media center brightly. While the carpeting of the media center helps keep the noise down, it may become soiled and mildewed over time causing the patrons discomfort. The furnishings are mostly a light colored wood, which isnt a modern sleek look, but it is durable. The technology is not the newest, latest, and greatest, but it is about standard for most public high schools and meets the Georgia state standards for modern technology.

A survey was developed using the SEHS website service through Schoolwires. The survey was posted on the SEHS library media centers home page and all students and teachers were encouraged to take the survey. The survey consists of 4 sections inquiring about the individuals demographics, use of library media center, overall library media center ratings, library staff ratings, and optional suggestions and comments.

Questions 35-38 are optional open-ended questions. Participants in the survey have the opportunity to type opinions and explain some of their views. Because not all answers are serious or appropriate, some answers have been omitted.

35. If you chose "excellent" or "poor" for any of your answers, please tell us why: 1. 2. The media staff are tremendous in knowledge and willingness to help. I've always received answers to my questions promptly and with little struggle. i usually get very pleasant experiences in the media center, although at times all of the media specialists are busy. The media center staff do a wonderful job helping students find what they need for reports and research or reading material. If they do not have the desired materials, they are willing to look up the resources at the local public library and print that information out so a student can go to the public library and use their resources. i needed help with something and the people in the library said they couldnt help me OK REALLY I DONT WANT TO BE HERE THESE COMPUTERS ARE SLOWS AND FREEZE UP!!!

3.

4. 5.

35. If you chose "excellent" or "poor" for any of your answers, please tell us why: 7. the computers in the computer lab suck, serioulsy, they're from the flintstone age and ya'll have all this money to waste on other things, come on people get real This library has excellent service and i am able to come in here to work on the majority of the work that I need to accomplish during my school days. The computer lab desperately needs to be updated!!! I chose poor for the computer lab because the computers are way too old and super slow. It takes a long time just to get to where you want to go. The computers in the computer lab (such as the one I am on now) are too slow and out of date. Crowded alot, computers are way way way way way way way way too slow and crappy computer lab could use some updated computers.. at least faster and reliable

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

36. Is there anything you particularly like about this library? 1. 2. 3. The staff. the fiction section usually has good reads. It is a comfortable library that makes students and staff feel welcome at all times. The librarians are very cheerful and helpful. The libarians. BookClub. BOOKS non-fiction cleanest part of school There is a separate computer lab available for teachers' use so we don't have to be in the media center if we only need to use the computers and not the books.

4. 5. 6.

37. Is there anything you particularly dislike about this library? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. It isn't very large and does not have a lot of space to read. Books are somewhat limited but not exceptionally so. the computers. I wish the library didn't have to close for testing so often. these computers because they ain't high tech. to quiet THE COMPUTERS IN THIS PLACE ALWAYS ASK FOR AN ACTIVEx INSTALLMENT BUT WE CANT INSTALL THEM Our library used to be open in the mornings prior to 8 am. One media specialist was here by 7:30 and left early- the other came in around 8 or so and left later. These early and later hours were much more friendly to students and teachers' schedules. Also, the library is generally in a mess. The books laying on the tables everywhere in the library is also difficult to sort through. It is very cluttered and messy, especially in the offices..

37. Is there anything you particularly dislike about this library? 8. The computers in the computer lab and the speed of the internet. 9. Slow, annoying computers. Some of which are broken 10. The book that I come in for most often is my class vocabulary book, and it is often not in stock or there are very few to choose from. Also, in the mornings, there are usually not librarians at hand to help me check out a book.

38. What additions or changes would you like to see made in this library? 1. 2. 3. More books and more alloted space for reading. new computers. I think the library needs a new rug. The one they have is getting old and soiled. Also, it's too bad that the state cuts the school library budget. Our library needs all the funding it can get so that students have the best and most current resources. Our library book club has to do a lot of fundraisers to make up for some of the difference of the funds that are lost from the state cutting the school library budget. high tech computers. more and newest books nicer people well what would be nice is too have more couch and recliners in there because us old people need a place to sleep and hide from the teachers after we get done eating, too many people sit on them couches and they are really comfy, plus allow us to go to more web sites, come on people, we're adults, quit treating us like little kids, its ridicoulus

4. 5. 6.

38. What additions or changes would you like to see made in this library? 7. I would like to see more computers added so that when entire classes come into the library the people already using the computers do not have to leave the library. 8. Open earlier so students and teachers can hve access to materials needed prior to school. Teachers have to be in the rooms by 8 am so that makes it difficult to come down and gather materials. Also, students that participate in athletics often have a hard time coming in the afternoon. MORE ORGANIZATION. Students and faculty need a way to look up books they'd like to check out. Now, we have to wait for someone in the media center to be able to help us look it up on the computer. While the library staff is friendly most of the time, it is often times difficult to even find them. 9. Speed up internet!! NEW COMPUTERS FOR COMPUTER LAB YO!! 10. of course, more books

The area I chose to focus on is the area where all of the book shelves are. I have removed the traditional book shelves and replaced them with motorized rotating cylindrical book shelves. The area that was occupied by the traditional book shelves has been turned into comfortable seating and a story area.

As this is my first year as the SEHS technology media specialist, I have already made many of the changes I would like to make to the facility. So far this year, I have added two standing kiosks for patrons to utilize the online version of our schools card catalogue, added a small section of Mac computers to create variation in use of computer platforms, moved some tables around to accommodate the students who like to play chess, and reopened the media center computer lab. These changes are already shown on my original floor plan. The biggest change I would like to make is with our book shelves. The librarian and I have discussed rearranging the shelves to see if the space can be used more efficiently, but it doesnt seem like moving them around will help very much due to the odd size of the room. I have come up with an idea, although it is far fetched, replace the traditional shelves with large motorized rotating cylindrical shelves. The cylindrical shelves would be no taller than the current shelves on the outer walls of the media center. Furthermore, the shelves would only house the least requested books in the library. This would open up floor space for more seating areas, a story time/presentation area, while removing many blind spots in the library.

After reviewing the survey results, it is obvious that an upgrade to the library media center computer lab is also something our patrons would like to see. The computers are older models, but they also log into their own server and all applications run off of that server. The county had us set the computers up in this fashion. If the county would cooperate and we had the funds, it would be nice to upgrade the library media center computer lab to newer and faster computers. It would also be nice if there was more space for each computer so that they are not so crowded together.

The current SEHS library media center policies may be found by CLICKING HERE. The current policies need to be updated to reflect new additions and upgrades. Due to the addition of the rotating cylindrical book shelves, some additional policies would need to be made concerning their use and/or misuse, safety concerns, and student responsibilities.