A new look - Learning & Aesthetics Centre @ KCPSS

It's pretty different and refreshing concept of library in a school. Lifestyle, I was told - to make it a warm and comfortable place for the children in school. Yes, somehow, in a school, we are given the 4 vertical walls and the label "Library" - the image that comes to our mind will be shelves and shelves of books... what else???? Isn't it the main function of the library - that houses as much knowledge and information as possible?

Yes, NLB took the lead... many years ago, to revamp the 'role' of a library, to revamp the 'use' of the library - how the user can use it... it had taken bold steps to change the deep-seated mental model. It has grown with time... so as to remain relevant. Yes, libraries in higher institution has changed too... gradually... somehow I think it's because, no matter what, being a learning institution, many still hold tight to the 'academic' look and feel... What's more, schools!!!!!

I was impressed - not because it's new look - but the school's bold move to reduce the amount of print materials in a library!!! What??? So few books and you can still call it a library? You can find more books in some of our homes than what you see in this library... (Yes, that's the typical mindset).

Where are the rest of the books? Well, they've been decentralised to the various subject rooms... so, at a look, the library area has shrunk significantly (think it's more than 50%)... it gained more spaces by penetrating through other physical areas... Certianly, there's room for finding out how the school operates in this manner... in managing the resources...

Of course, I guess the school would have found a clever way to provide/justify confidently its loan rate... 'cos after all, the typical old system will still be chasing after the school for numbers...

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