Every morning, students line up outside of the library’s double doors waiting for them to be unlocked.
Approximately 60 kids sign into the library each day to study or sit with friends. Since juniors and seniors have more study halls, the tables and chairs are usually filled with upperclassmen.
Those borrowing chromebooks, printing and grabbing a book do not have to sign in, but are welcomed into the space.
“On an average day, we probably see closer to like 125 to 150 students,” said Jodie D’Alexander, the library media specialist. “When they come in for study hall, they’re all making a b-line for the comfy chairs. It’s a race to see who can get one first.”
The library is decorated with all different activities like a community sticker board, buddha boards, rainbow scratch art and more. D’Alexander creates a plan for the library a week in advance, determining at the end of March that there would be a poetry area in April, as the month is national poetry month. The area will feature the supplies to make black out and magnetic poems.
“I try to keep it fresh and creative,” said D’Alexander. “I try to change it up, everything I’m doing.”
Most recently, a pom-pom poll was introduced with a new question every week. The week of April 5th, the poll asked students whether they would take a magic carpet ride or time travel.
“My biggest focus is to get students off their phones,” said the librarian. “I’m trying to foster interaction, teambuilding, just conversation.”
D’Alexander finds that the library is full of life throughout the day.
“Just the other day, there was a group of juniors and seniors playing headbands. They were having the best time because it was just something fun and new to do.”
Even though the library is known as a place to relax, there are also many instructional classes that take place. The majority of the humanities classes usually take a lesson in the larger area rather than in the classroom when working on projects or student portfolios.
The English department specifically has been encouraging independent reading so there has been a large increase in the amount of books checked out in the media center per month.
“When I promote a new book, the readers of Woodland are usually at the door asking ‘Did you get it? Can I check it out?’” said D’Alexander. “I usually try to find things that will engage readers and promote and foster reading.”
The large nonfiction section is organized by the Dewey-Decimal system full of textbooks that students still use, but there has been a push for databases so the use of online sources will be recognized in college.
With the push, fiction books are checked out more commonly than nonfiction books.
D’Alexander has started organizing the fiction novels by genre, but is also keeping the organization of the author’s last name. Stickers on the spine of the books will denote the genre of the text.
“Everyone is welcome in the library whether it’s to study or research or just read,” said D’Alexander. “We have an open door policy. I want it to be a home or a hub for everyone here at Woodland.”
