The FHC library is one of the only places in the school where students can be tutored, hang out, and, most importantly, check out books. Due to recent construction at the high school, the library has been temporarily relocated from its usual common open area in the middle of the school to the old Chinese language classroom. The library switch–up has negatively affected students, particularly in terms of space and study opportunities, due to the limited seats and smaller classrooms. Still, even though the construction is a two-year process, many are excited for the improvements coming to the school.
Although there are some challenges with the physical space, the library has been able to stay open through the help of the fantastic staff librarians, Jaye Jelier and Soo Schab, and students who have volunteered to help move boxes from the library’s original space. The current library still has everyone’s favorite perks: puzzles, candy, and most importantly, books. Despite its temporary move, the staff and students are still grateful for the new library.
“[I am] so thrilled, delighted, overjoyed, and all the best words that our district is building us a brand new space,” Jelier said. “As much as [the library staff] tried to warm up our old Media Center with sparkly lights and bright book displays, the space always felt dark, enclosed, and monotonous with all that flat fluorescent lighting. Now we’re going all in on a fun, dynamic space that invites and welcomes.”
There have been concerns about students inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) being able to tutor other students in the library. Because of the current library situation, the lack of space has definitely impacted tutoring hours. Students may be disappointed that they have to find other ways to help accommodate their peers, but with the help of the library staff, NHS students have been able to find other ways to get their volunteer hours in.
“At the end of the last academic year, [we] had to physically clear out the entire space,” Jelier said. “Luckily, Central High’s National Honor Society and my son, Nico, and his friends, helped us sort, box, and empty the space…it was overwhelming and exhausting to clear out an entire library, especially one with a large book collection and bulky furniture.”
Another addition to the FHC library that teachers utilize is the lecture hall. The lecture hall has been a tool for teachers to conduct work outside of the classroom setting. For American Sign Language (ASL) teacher Kimberly Anderson, the lecture hall is a space she utilizes immensely. Sign is a visual language, and it is vital to be able to see the teacher express the movements. As the lecture hall is now out of use, Anderson has yet to find a suitable space to reasonably accommodate her ASL classes.
“Not having the lecture hall has been very challenging for me because when [our ASL classes] do our testing, we go in there so that everyone can see me sign,” Anderson said. “Without the lecture hall, I have a lot of kids at a disadvantage, [and on tests] kids will get marked wrong because they cannot see me sign.”
Although not every teacher uses the lecture hall, this space is vital for teachers who do. The lecture hall features an open space with tiered seating, making the person standing at the center of the room visible to all. Without this space, it has been hard for teachers who use the lecture hall to find an equally suitable replacement.
“I think because I am the only teacher who uses it [the lecture hall], or one of the very few–I do not think that people really consider that [the school] took out both [the library and the lecture hall],” Anderson said. “I have not thought of any alternatives [for the absence of space], aside from making all the desks face me. But I do not think that my room could handle that.”
Many teachers are excited about the new updates in the library. However, for teachers who only use the library to check out books, there hasn’t been much need to make accommodations. For FHC English teacher Anthony Sultini, the library has been responsible for a multitude of things throughout his teaching career. This has been greatly affected by the construction.
“[The books] get checked in [the library], inventory gets done there, and this year, now it is on [the English teachers],” Sultini said. “Which is okay because it helps out the media center techs, and then we know exactly where the books are so that they do not get lost.”
The construction is much needed for the outdated building. Sultini is one of many teachers who are grateful for the library construction. Although he now has to keep track of his books on his own, he feels more comfortable with where his books are going.
“I am glad [about the construction] because I think that [the library] needs to be an updated space. I will give our media techs a lot of credit, though. They have made it a really nice place for students,” Sultini said. “I also prefer knowing where my books are, so I do not mind keeping them in my classroom because then I know that it is not necessarily that they are safe, but that I know where they are.”
The new library at FHC is an exciting new addition to the school; staff and students cannot wait for the library to be open for business. Although the current library is small and located in an old classroom, the new library will ultimately be a significant improvement for students and staff. There are many more exciting things to come at FHC, and construction in the library is just one thing to look forward to.
“To borrow a line from the musical Hamilton, ‘Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now!’” Jelier said. “Each and every one of us gets to revel in the Media Center’s new flexible, tech-rich spaces. I can’t wait to show off [the library’s] new dedicated classroom, private study cubicles, collaborative commons areas, and fabulously remodeled lecture hall.”
