Theresa Lloyd is at the helm of Macon High School’s new Library/Media Center. The beginning of the 2009-10 school year saw the relocation of the Library/Media Center. The library was moved from the middle school building to an area more centrally located in the high school. The media center now contains two separate computer lab areas on opposite ends of the library. The computers were located in different parts of the school last year.
Q. What is your job at MHS?
“My official job title is Library/Media Specialist. It is a relatively new term for someone who is certified for the position as librarian, but I am really just a ‘Lover of Books!”
Q. Has the use of the library increased since re-location?
“Yes it has, we started checking out books immediately when school started. Our shelving units hadn’t arrived yet, so we used about every cart available at the school, boxes and tables to hold the books until the shelves came in early October. Of course, since the library was new, everyone wanted to come in and look around. I noticed the increase in activity right away. During the month of October the number of checkouts rose from 840 the previous year to 1008. I usually open the library around 7:45 a.m. each morning and students often come in to check out books or just sit and read. With more books being checked out I also hear more “book talk” between the students. Discussion among friends about books that they have read and liked. I keep a waiting list for books that are currently checked out. I have had as many as 60 kids on the list at a time waiting for various books.”
Q. What are you doing to encourage reading?
“Before Christmas I asked teachers to check out a book to read during the holiday break. The teachers were to rate the book, include page numbers with passages they thought were especially meaningful and to offer a personal challenge to students to read the book also. Teachers were also asked to tell students if the book they read was from their usual genre or if they had chosen something new and different to read. “The Faculty Reads” book are displayed in a special section in the library where kids can come in and see what books their teachers have enjoyed. We continue to have a book discussion book group that meets once per month. The group is limited to 16 members. Students apply for membership and four new members are admitted from the incoming freshman class each year. The club reads classics and books from different genres and is more of a college prep group.”
