The Library Media Technology Specialist and Technology Integrationist serve in a variety of roles within the district. LES (Laconia Elementary School) has a part time LMTS that also serves as the middle school STEAM teacher in addition to maintaining the elementary medica center. Laconia HS/MS has a full-time technology integrationist who also co-teaches throughout the year. As their roles vary from school to school, they have identified four main responsibilities:
(1) provide weekly classes for library skills, technology instruction, and checkout; and
(2) provide technology support to staff as promptly as possible; and
(3) maintain the library media center and purchase materials; and
(4) provide professional development.
Laconia High School and Laconia Middle School
The Laconia High School Information Media Center (IMC) houses almost 9,000 items and consists of a large large area with tables and chairs that could accommodate one class at a time or small groups. There is one computer cart of Windows machines available for classroom use, a charging station for students to use and approximately 30 loaner Chromebooks that can be checked out to students if their device needs charging or repair.
Our book collection mainly consists of fiction books, current issues topic books, and history/biography books. Unfortunately with our 1-to-1 computing our library needs have changed. There are many students who read for pleasure from our fiction section and make requests for titles and authors they would like purchased. The other two large book collections in the media center are: 700’s section which consist of many arts and sports books, and 900’s section which are made up of history and biography/autobiography titles. We have integrated our reference books into our main collection for easier access. We also have a new collection of Playaway audio books that students may use with or without the physical book. Also, due to an increase in EL students, the library now houses the beginnings of a Spanish collection, currently 116 items.
The IMC lab has data projector, while the Classroom lab has a LCD panel. In the past few years, many Makerspace materials that are housed in the library and available for use by students and staff, including a Silhouette machine, stereo equipment, electric piano, guitar, microphone, Waterbot, etc.
The overall collection average age is 16 years, which includes ordering everything requested for curriculum needs as well as ordering lots of new and award winning recreational reading books. With the addition of SORA in 2020, students can access ebooks and recorded books both at school and while at home. The state-provided Badgerlink resource is also used by students and staff, especially for research.
The media center staff consists of a full-time technology integrationist, who replaced the previous LMTS. The technology integrationist arrives at 7:45 AM and stays until 4:00 PM unless arrangements have been made to stay longer. A part-time library assistant position was not refilled when the employee took a position elsewhere. The media center currently uses a few student volunteers to help with some of the day-to-day library tasks.
The LMTS collaborates with teachers on multimedia projects as well as teaching research and media literacy skills, and fills other library or technology requests from faculty. The staff is available to assist students who want some help choosing books. We do encourage some book research through the core subjects so our students don’t lose these research skills. Currently, all four media collections in the Rosendale-Brandon School District are accessible through Destiny.
While the IMC does offer spaces for special needs students to work both independently and with aides, most computer-based special education services are located in the classrooms for the learning disabled.
The collection at Laconia is currently being weeded and sorted in preparation of the consolidation of middle school and high school into a 6th-12th grade building.
Laconia Elementary School 4K-5th Grade
Laconia Elementary School houses approximately 406 students in grades 4k-5th. The library was completely rebuilt over the summer and reopened at the start of the 2025-2026 school year with new shelves, multiple seating options throughout the space, an instructional area with a touch panel, a staff work area, and an attached MakerSpace room. Seating is available throughout the library for use during class time, small groups, 1:1 instruction, or after school programming or meetings.
The media center staff consists of a part-time Library Media Technology Specialist (LMTS). The LMTS is responsible for the library media center, MS technology classes, and technology support for the building. Generally, the library is always open during normal school hours, although it is not staffed when the media specialist is at the middle school. The library media specialist arrives at the elementary school around 9:15am and departs around 3:45pm.
With the consolidation of school libraries, the nonfiction collection has become more robust, but will need to be strengthened in a variety of areas based on student interest. The fiction collection is especially strong and new titles are being merged in with the current genrefied sections. Special collections such as Spanish language, Braille, Professional, and Recorded books have been expanded to meet the needs of the students, but additional materials are needed to continue to meet the growing demands of these populations.
The library program promotes lifelong learning by emphasizing reading for pleasure, enrichment, and recreation. Students and staff have access to diverse multicultural collections, which contain recreational as well as informational materials. Collections include: books, reference tools, recorded books, e-Books, robotics kits, MakerSpace kits, and other nonprint materials as well as the technologies to provide access to these electronic information resources. The LMTS selects resources to meet the diverse needs of the student population, including a span of reading levels, as well as cultural diverse materials that follow the national population pattern. She also regularly solicits suggestions for purchase from staff members and from students. Students and staff are able to inter-library loan materials using Destiny. With the addition of SORA in 2020, students can access ebooks and recorded books both at school and while at home. The state-provided Badgerlink resource, the PebbleGo subscription, MagicSchool AI subscription, and BrainPop are also used by students and staff.
Laconia Elementary Collection Analysis
Elementary MakerSpace
The LES library also has a dedicated space attached for MakerSpace or "STEAM" activities, which is maintained and supported through Common School Funds. MakerSpaces provide a collaborative, flexible environment where students are empowered to explore their own interests and apply academic concepts to real-world challenges. MakerSpaces foster learning through several key methods:
Inquiry-Based Learning: Activities in a MakerSpace often start with a question, problem, or challenge rather than a set of instructions. Students must ask questions, research solutions (using library resources), experiment, and iterate to find a successful outcome. This directly supports the principles of inquiry.
Hands-on Experimentation: By providing tools and materials—which can range from simple items like cardboard and circuits to high-tech equipment like 3D printers and robotics—MakerSpaces allow students to physically manipulate and prototype their ideas. This hands-on engagement transforms abstract concepts (like coding) into concrete, observable experiences.
Embracing Iteration and Failure: The process of "making" inherently involves testing, failing, and redesigning. MakerSpaces normalize failure as a necessary step in innovation, teaching students resilience and a deeper understanding of the design thinking process. Students learn to analyze what went wrong and use that knowledge to improve their next attempt.