A library is useless to patrons if it is not easy to navigate.  A goal of mine at the Twin Valley High School library is to be organized enough that the students and staff can locate materials with no assistance. The organization of materials is just as important as the collection itself, and patrons should be able to locate resources effeciently.  Not only does the physical space need to be organized with the room layout, and book locations, but the digital world needs to be organized for cataloging, e-books, audio books, databases, and research tools. 

The library media center is a space for students to read, learn, research, collaborate, and create. The Twin Valley library has changed over the past 5 years to reflect that and to allow students to feel welcome in the library at all times. To make the library as user-friendly as possible, the layout has drastically changed.  Included are two maps of the library- before renovations and after renovations.  In the before map, there are many bookshelves organized in a traditional library method.  The new map shows less bookshelves, and new 'zones' for the library.  The books in the fiction section have been moved and organized by genres rather then just by author's last name.  Some of the non-fiction books have been pulled and put into displays for easier retrieval. We still use the Dewey Decimal system, and there is great value to that.  However, there is also value in the students being able to navigate the space quickly and efficiently.  The changes to the library have made it feel more welcoming and the organization of my materials has increased circulation.  

The 9th grade students get an orientation to the library when they begin their classes at the high school.  I made a scavenger hunt for the students-one physical and one digital.  The students complete the physical scavenger hunt by walking around the library and familiarizing themselves with the zones, the call numbers, the resources available, and the technology in the library.  The digital scavenger hunt has students explore the LibGuide, Destiny Quest, and our databases. Organizing the orientation this way makes it fun for the students, and it also gives them hands-on experience to the library right at the start of their high school careers. The scavenger hunt is attached. 

However, in LLT574, we are learning about the flipped clasroom.  It is suggested that rather than doind orientation as a face-to-face lesson with the students, that I should be making videos for students to watch BEFORE they come in for a lesson.  I think there is a lot of value in this, but also a lot of questions that arise. Attached are my thoughts on the Flipped Library trend that is happening right now. 

In the LIB 513 class, my skills were put to the test when we learned about cataloging and classifying materials.  Using the RDA workbook was difficult for me, and using Sears Subject Headings was new.  This class taught me the importance of classifying materials and how detailed and intricate the system is.  I enjoyed learning about the Library of Congress and practicing writing MARC records.  While I found it to be challenging, it was enlightening as well. Attached is my RDA record for an e-book, and also all of the discussion posts in which I participated. These discussions revolve around FRBR, cataloging, access points, subject headings, keywords, and genrefying a library.  I have already been using the information that I learned from this class in my library, and I can see it being useful for years to come when I add new titles to my collection.

Cataloging metadata, indexing, and classification standards are all essential to organizing a library's materials. It amazes me to see how quickly search results come up when a students types in a topic into Destiny Quest. Before my LIB 513 class, I never had a appreciation for features like "you may also like" because I did not know how it worked.  After learning about cataloging and subject headings, it was clear to me how books are classified and how connections between materials can be made.  This extensive system helps students to be better researchers and find the resources that they need. The midterm for LIB513 included using the CIP to create a MARC Record, comparing the Library of Congress Subject Headings and the SEARS List of Subject Headings and access points. I have attached this midterm as my artifact for this competency.

What is wonderful about the Library of Congress is that all of the work is done at the top, and then is universal throughout libraries.  When I order my books through Junior Library Guild, I do not have to do the cataloging myself; the MARC records are sent to me and uploaded right into Destiny Quest.  I know it hasn't always been this easy, but I appreciate the technology that has allowed this to happen so quickly. Included are the images of The Kite Runner's details in MARC Record view and in Title Details view.  I frequently find myself switching back and forth now that I understand the MARC records and can quickly identify a subject heading or another piece of information that might be missing from the Title Details page.