I began my career at Mountain Ridge Middle School in the 2022-2023 school year. When I arrived and I moved into the library, I immediately noticed environmental changes that I wanted to implement in order to provide students with a more enjoyable experience.

Component A: Flexible and Adaptable Space

The library is a place for everyone, and that means it must adapt to fit its purpose. Whether it's a space for a faculty meeting, one or more classes in for research, the book fair, or a community event, the tables can be moved, the chairs pushed aside, and the library adjusted to fit the needs of its users.

Scholastic Book Fair 2025

Scholastic Book Fair 2024

The Douglas County School District library department hosted a virtual author visit with Jennifer Nielsen. The library was arranged into a classroom-type setting to allow students to hear and learn from her. We were also able to submit a couple of questions that she chose to answer. She was so gracious and knowledgeable and we could have listened to her stories all day!

Our Technology Leadership Program used the library space to spread out and learn about computer parts. We moved the tables around so students could easily walk around to view and identify the different parts.

At the start of the school year, one of our 8th grade pods needed more space to do some Icebreaker activities. It was loud, wild, and every seat was taken. The library was the perfect place to host the event, and it was so much fun to see the students working together and getting to know one another with a cooperative challenge.

NJHS Toys for Tots

7th grade science class in for fossil record research lessons

Quarter 1 student celebration breakfast.

Students are nominated by teams as stand out examples of great character and effort; families are invited for a donut breakfast to celebrate.

Discover Where You Belong

Students looking at attending MRMS are invited to come for a school tour and a presentation from our principal to help them make their decision.

Peer Buddies

The counseling department runs a program that partners up students to help each other with organization, test taking strategies, developing routines, and managing missing work. They meet in the library weekly to catch up.

The MRMS library is an open-concept space. It was important for me to at least have some separation in the space for the different areas I wanted to provide for students. In order to have a space that could be a dedicated quiet reading/working area, I made some changes to the old computer lab area.

Before space as computer lab area

When I arrived, this computer lab was outdated and was no longer used. It was a large area that had the potential to be better. Once the computers were salvaged, furniture removed, and drops taken out, I was able to adapt the space.

After as a second learning space

The whiteboard hung on the wall was replaced with a retractable screen, a projector and Apple TV were installed, tall tables and stools were brought in. Now the area is used as a teaching area, meeting area, or as a quiet working and reading space. The picture above shows a few members of my bookclub using the space for one of our morning meetings.

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