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Shaftesbury High School has a beautiful new library. It is spacious with large window, low shelves, several different seating options and a fireplace.

The new Shaftesbury High School library opened in September 2011, much to the joy of the students, staff and the community. We are staffed
with a half time Teacher Librarian, Mrs. Bilyk,  and a full time Library Technician, Ms. Moran. Our library provides resources and space where Shaftesbury students can research using online and print resources, do homework, study, or engage in leisure reading.

Technology, technology, technology!  You will not find rows of desktop computers with mangled wires in our library; the new space offers a wireless environment that encourages students to ‘plug in’ using their own devices, whether it is a laptop, tablet or iPhone. Users can logon to the PTSD public network and sit wherever they choose. Students can also ‘whale’ in using their own devices and virtually plug into our school network from anywhere. Technology is also available in the form of Dell netbooks (mini laptops) and Dell Streaks (tablets) to be signed out by patrons during class time and over lunch.

 We sure have come a long way from our old, dark library with 1970s carpet and nowindows!  The new space has the feel of a‘trendy book store’ environment, with comfy, movable seating and barstools that overlook the school’s green spaces through an expansive wall of windows. The cozy fireplace creates a lovely ambiance on those cold winter days, and the high ceilings help the area to feel large and open. Advanced, automated lighting and electronic blinds add to the easy livability of the space.

The SHS library offers a large seminar room for meetings and for small group use. The room can easily be divided into two rooms with a moveable wall.  This space encourages group work by providing more freedom for students to engage in group discussion without disruption to the library common area patrons.

 There is something for everybody at the new Shaftesbury library!

V. Fogarty
4/27/2013 01:26:39 am

This library sounds like a dream! I would love to come and see it. It gives me ideas to modernize our library. Who was responsible for the overall design of it?

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