This year, St. Mary’s International School launched a lunchtime library system which replaces the previous ticket sign-up process and is open to students without restrictions. The upgrade, decided through the high school office, changes library accessibility and opening hours.
The change came about after technical challenges with the prior system and low overall student usage. “During the first week of school, only 10 or so kids were in the library at a time,” explained school librarian Mr. Rose. The new policy allows for increased usage with no reservations required, enabling more students to enter.
The library will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during lunch. Students are expected to go outside during lunchtime on Mondays and Fridays. On the other three 3 days, students can secure a spot in the library or opt to enjoy lunch outside.
The modification aims for more inclusive and flexible use of the library, which could be based on the unique needs of each student. “We wanted our students to engage with the library during lunches and to have it for the many different reasons students come to the library,” Mr. Rose stated. The library has five separate spaces for students to use, and it can accommodate 60 students!
Mr. Rose shared that the school’s vision for the library is “harmony.” The aim of the library is to have “a buzzing room where everyone is an embodiment of activity, and no one individual or group gets in the way of others,” to support students to spend their socializing time and lunches in an active, but respectful 20 minutes during lunch.
The new policy offers a more active library setting than the ticket policy, which limited entry to one ticket per lunch and left many students feeling worried to use the library. The library can now be a collaborative place to work, study, and read.