Over the course of the past five years, I have developed and led multiple projects to help improve student and staff access to book titles, educational resources, and learning opportunities. Some of the projects I have led and completed include:

• "Genrefying" the Wylie Library's fiction section
  This method of organizing books helps students better access chapter books that fit their interests and reading preferences. Quantifiable data has demonstrated that this change has increased circulation (increased book checkouts and returns), and readership student engagement with their library has improved.
  

• Grant-funded improvements to the library's physical space
  I have worked in conjunction with school leadership to acquire a grant that helped fund new, flexible seating for the Wylie Library. The purchase of new furniture has allowed for improved, flexible seating arrangements that benefit both students and staff.
  

• Improvements to the library's online catalog
  In an effort to make the Wylie Library's books increasingly accessible to Wylie staff and students, I have:

  • Revamped the library's online catalog by adding images of titles as well as adding a map to guide students and staff to precise book locations

  • Opened up a book hold/reservation system for students during remote learning. Students were taught to request titles online, which were then checked out and made available for pickup. Over 500 students from Wylie Elementary had access to this service over the course of the pandemic

  • I have overseen efforts to train and educate school staff on how to best utilize the library's online catalog and how to use the book reservation system for class projects and initiatives
    

• Additional student-focused initiatives and programs:

  • Student Publications: In an effort to encourage early writing skills, students are encouraged to "publish" their completed stories in the Wylie library. These published books can then be checked out by any student or staff member .

  • "Genre Passport" program, in which students receive a stamp each time they check out a book from a new genre. Students work towards earning all nine genre stamps to receive a prize

  • Student Shelving Squads - 4th grade volunteers have taken ownership in the Wylie Library by learning about and assiting with book shelving.