Projects!

I see teachers who are reading stacks of books, going on epic adventures, hanging out with girl friends, and finding lots of family fun.  I have read one graphic novel, seen a few friends, and gone on a few adventures...but projects are the focus of this summer so far.

My summer  feels like a series of home projects and a BIG work project.  Not a bad place to be but not the same ;)

What are some of my some home projects?
First I want to re-do the area for my picnic table.  First I dug up ALL of the rocks, then the old grass/weeds!  Then a neighbor rototilled it to make it easier to level and rake.  This was in May.  

My next steps are raking it flat, laying down landscape fabric, then replacing the large stone pavers.  Ben is going to help me re-do the picnic table for his family life merit badge.  Taking it apart, replace the rotten boards, spray painting the metal, and then re-assembling.  I hope that Sunday is a productive work day for this project.

Here are some before/mid project...YES it is way over grown and a mess.  The table is not much better!

Another series of projects is cleaning up the house.  I started on the basement last week. I need to make a trip to a consignment store then maybe switch some of my summer/winter clothes out and maybe thin them down.  I really can't do too much any day...but inch by inch it will be a cinch ;)  CLEANING UP my kitchen counters, my kids rooms, etc... are all on the goal/wish list.  We shall see.  
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IF YOU TEACH AT WAMS DISCLAIMER! 
Cleaning up a library collection is a lot like cleaning out a closet.  It has to be done.  There has not been official librarian at WAMS in 8 years!!!!

The big daunting work project is a complete overhaul of the middle school library in a summer.  Last year was the high school media center.

Without a librarian, there were over stuffed shelves, a library missing critical books in series, and not 100% safe.  The first goal was to remove non-fiction that is out of date.  

Our goal was to eliminate most non-fiction before 2000.  This leaves books that are 22 years old.  Sports, technology, space, and many other topics are out of date after 22 years, but it is a starting point.

Next, we wanted to pull EVERYTHING off the top and bottom shelves to make them in line with ADA recommendations.  

Another goal was to remove large numbers of duplicates.  Pulling off the books is step 1.  7 copies of one older Newbery book like "Crispin" is a bit excessive.  1-2 books of each title is PLENTY!!!

The next step is to then re-arrange the remaining books to make sense, be user friendly, and follow the ADA guidelines above.  The goal was to leave the fiction and non-fiction about the same.  The biographies were completely re-located to be easier to find and be closer to the non-fiction.  Classics and Newbery award winning books were put in their own section to honor these older books.  Finally, all of the series were put together is an accessible area. 

The books are no longer on LOW shelves around the 'teaching pit'.  Yes...there is a pit area.  The books are no longer on the very top and bottom shelves, and ready for signage.  Plus the shelves are no longer over stuffed.  After summer cleaning, we hope to make some dynamic shelving displays (where you put a book at the end to draw attention to that shelf!)

Are we done yet?  NOPE....

Then these books have to be discarded from the computer system, sent to the school board for approval, then each book's barcode needs to be "blacked" out and the book stamped discard.  

Finally, books are distributed to staff and students.  Any left will be re-located to the elementary for storage or another book buying company.  None will go to the trash.  

Another step is to add labels, complete a full inventory, and eventually order new books to fill in gaps in series, non-fiction, etc...

It is a daunting process.  About 5,500 books are being removed.  A large box is going to the high school with old back stock which are more appropriate at the high school.  Finally a few will replace copies at the elementary center.  

Here is some of the progress photos!  I do not have many BEFORE pictures...but the after counts ;)

Some of the series of books especially if they have multiple authors.

Non-fiction (first half)

Fiction shelves with less on them!

New space for biographies and Who Was series.

Here is a before and after of non-fiction:

BEFORE!!! See the super tall and low shelves stuffed FULL!  Not ideal for a modern library. 
Quality over quantity :)

AFTER!!!  Same wall - just more of an over view but see the open spaces on the shelves, less books shoved in, and none at the top or  bottom.

I would love a week of no projects, no planned activities, etc... We shall see!  Plus we are upgrading wiring at our house to be safer and might keep working on the barn project like the concrete floor.  I am whooped from the middle school projects.  So working 7:30-1:30 leaves me ready for a nap not a home project ;)