Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/776907
"We changed the environment from being quiet and restrictive to something that inspires creativity." District librarian Kory Bootsma decided that old-fashioned school libraries were becoming outdated and wanted to change them. With support from the district, school sites, educators and students, she worked to create vital and engaging learning environments that connect with the new state standards, future trends of school libraries, and the district's desire to increase students' depth of knowledge of math and science. " With the Internet, we saw the decline of the libraries as a center of research learning," says Bootsma. " We wanted to bring school libraries back to the center of learning and research so students can explore, discover and learn. We changed the environment from being quiet and restrictive to something that inspires creativity." Transforming libraries into active learning centers had a surprising effect: It increased the number of books stu- dents check out. Since they spend more time in the library, they notice books that pique their interest. " Yes, circulation has gone up," Bootsma says happily, because she wants students to love books. She also changed the decor of the libraries with brightly colored and unusu- ally shaped furniture that can easily be moved around. Bootsma embraces change. She was a history teacher, then an agricultural sci- ence teacher, and is now a credentialed library media teacher. As for what's next, she's not sure. "People ask me if this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I say that job hasn't been created yet." Opposite page, top, Kory Bootsma holds a circuit board in Tomas Rivera Middle School's library-cum-Makerspace; at left, Bootsma works with students Carolina Serrano, Katy Rojas and Sophia Sanchez; above, students make circuits. Top, Priscilla Blackwell-Taylor with robotic "cubelets"; above, Bootsma with Corrina Mendoza and Jonathan Aceves and a Lego techno car. 23 January / February 2017