Miami Valley School Location: Dayton, Ohio Grades: K-5 Students: ≈ 200 Staff: 1 certified, full time Schedule: fixed and flexible Kindergarten through third grades have weekly library time scheduled. Students are welcome to check out and return books at any time. They know how to check out books if the librarian is not available to help them. Fourth and fifth grades use the library for research as needed. Kindergarten through third grades have weekly library time scheduled. Students are welcome to check out and return books at any time. They know how to check out books if the librarian is not available to help them. Fourth and fifth grades use the library for research as needed.

Circulation There is a lack of space in this library, the circulation desk is very crowed. There is a lack of space in this library, the circulation desk is very crowed. There is one computer solely dedicated to catalog use.

Technology A full class (about 15 students at this school) can be accommodated in the computer lab, which is part of the library. A full class (about 15 students at this school) can be accommodated in the computer lab, which is part of the library.

Technology There is a projector in the ceiling and a pull down screen. The lab is a bit crowded, but provides excellent technology access for students. The librarian may use the lab to work on research skills; there is also a technology teacher.

Office Space Office is shared by the librarian and technology teacher. The office is shared by the librarian and technology teacher.

Story Time / Instructional Space There is a clearly defined gathering space for reading stories. It is not especially inviting. There is a clearly defined gathering space for reading stories. It is not especially inviting. The lack of space means there is only one table. Away from the computers, there is no good instructional space.

Shelving – Fiction and Information The fiction and information shelves are clearly distinguishable. The arrangement is unfortunate because students cannot be seen between the shelves. It would be a bigger problem in a school with larger class sizes. The fiction and information shelves are clearly distinguishable. The arrangement is unfortunate because students cannot be seen between the shelves. It would be a bigger problem in a school with larger class sizes.

Shelving – Picture Books This picture book room was the librarians office before the computer lab was created. This picture book room was the librarian’s office before the computer lab was created. The picture book area is especially fun and inviting.

View from Computer Lab They have tried to make the best of a very small space. They have tried to make the best of a very small space.

Story Quilt The story quilt was created by an artist-in-residence and first graders. The story quilt was created by an artist-in-residence and first graders.

Conclusions The librarian and the technology teacher support classroom teachers. This could be a more effective teaching library if there was a better physical space. There is not room for a class to be checking out books while another class is working on a lesson. The library can be difficult to navigate, especially for a student with any mobility problems, and supervise. The school and librarian seem to have done the best they can with the space they have, but a bigger library space is needed to best serve the students.