Universally, libraries are seen as a valuable resource for information and also as a quiet place for productivity to occur. However, as the internet continuously grows its wealth of information and becomes even more accessible, libraries seem to be slowly phasing out. The troves of printed knowledge have often been put aside in favor of the quicker search process of the internet. An example of this can be observed at our very own Mendocino High School library, which contains some books that have gone unborrowed for over a decade. Even so, despite the lack of usage of the library’s most obvious purpose, it is heavily trafficked by students who seek either a quiet study space during free periods or access to computers and printers. If the library were further modernized to meet the needs of the students, an especially beneficial space could be created that would also be used more often.

To look further into this, I chose to interview multiple students from various grade levels. As students are the primary source of library traffic, I hypothesized that they may have the best ideas for improving the versatility of the space. One of the most common ideas seemed to be that our high school library is often overlooked by students due to the age of its contents. This factor makes the books available seem unappealing. Often, students instead choose places such as bookstores, which contain more modern literature that could be useful for their studies. Malia Rees, a senior, stated that she “never thinks to use the library,” and instead looks to local bookstores or online book retailers when she needs a new read. When a group of seven seniors were asked if they had ever checked out a book from the library, all of them replied that they hadn’t, but they emphasized that they valued the library as a social space.

However, many students noted that they often use the library for its other offerings. During class time, a visitor to the library would almost always find students studying or socialising during their free periods. The space offers an invaluable area for students to gather and get things done while on campus without potentially interrupting other classes in session.  Kiersten Kinter noted that she uses the library as a quiet space and often prints schoolwork there. The computers in the library lab, though used less this year because of the new Chromebook policy, are also vital for testing purposes. At a recent meeting regarding future architectural plans for the school, students also described the importance of the library being a quiet area and a meeting place for clubs such as student council. Senior Sevada Calvino described the library as “one of [her] favorite rooms in the school,” and stated that she knew many other students that felt the same way.

When asked about ideas for improvement, all students interviewed suggested updating the literary contents. Kiersten Kinter suggested putting out surveys to the student body to get more information about the kind of literature students are looking for. If new reading material were available to students, they may have more fun with reading assignments for their classes, which would encourage use of the library. Another note from students was about table space in the library. For those that use it to study, it can be a little overwhelming when an entire class enters for an activity and suddenly the quiet room is filled with students crowded close together at the five available tables. One senior recommended rearranging the room to allow more space for gathering without overcrowding.

Some plans for improvement are currently underway as well, some of which align with these student ideas. Many of the old volumes have been removed from the center shelves, which are soon to be replaced with more tables for study space. Updated reading material will slowly fill the empty spaces on the shelves that line the walls, joining reference editions and historic collections. Fionna Regalia encouraged students to visit, saying: “Laurie is really trying to make the library interesting for students. If you haven’t gone in there recently, you should because you’ll probably find something new that you’ll like!” Fionna also noted that if students were unsure of what book to check out, they could read the student reviews posted in front of some new copies. These reviews are another helpful aspect of the recent library changes.

As technology advances, it is incredibly important that libraries continue to modernize as well. Otherwise, students could lose access to a valuable aspect of their academic lives. A quiet study space that doubles as a gathering area for large groups can be hard to come by, and access to technology such as computers and printers is a necessary aspect of any school. With exciting changes being made, the Mendocino High School library will soon become an even more productive gathering place with modern offerings that appeal to everyone. Many students are already showing their appreciation for all the hard work going into updating the room, and hopefully, many more students will begin to take advantage of the opportunity to use the library in the future.