Tables, chairs and even the bookshelves made to be the perfect fit for elementary school students.
By: Melissa Hayes
A large, plush dragon carpet sits on the floor for story time, posters for books such as "Charlotte’s Web," The Boxcar Children mystery series and storybook character, Romona, and student projects decorate the walls.
Round tables surrounded by chairs that are just the right size for elementary students, as well as bookshelves small enough so that even the highest shelves are within their reach are just part of the comfortable atmosphere inside the new media center at Indian Fields at Dayton.
"We wanted it to be as nurturing and bright and friendly to create that atmosphere that children would feel comfortable and want to come to the library," said Shari Repka, media specialist at Indian Fields’ main building who designed the new media center.
The new media center has six new computers and 4,000 new books.
Students and staff of Indian Fields at Dayton welcomed the new media center Monday after being without one since the start of school because the old library had to be converted into two first-grade classrooms over the summer. Administrators had hoped the new media center would be complete by the start of the school year, however, construction delays kept it from opening until March 21.
The media center was constructed on top of the school’s former stage. A wall and door has been built where the stage curtain used to hang.
Recently retired principal Ray Ivey initiated the media center project.
"This was never utilized when I was here," Mr. Ivey said of the old stage. "It’s a beautiful space now."
He said the idea was to have both projects completed at the same time, but the media center was delayed because the old heating and ventilation system had to be replaced.
Although Mr. Ivey is retired, he said he came back for the ribbon cutting ceremony to see the completed project.
Students have been using the new center since the week of March 21. But the lack library space before then hadn’t kept Ms. Delina from teaching her lessons.
"We really pulled together and came up with some unique ways to keep the library going, but boy are we glad to have our own space," she said.
Ms. Delina has spent the past seven months teaching literary lessons in classrooms and using the hallways for book exchanges.
Awaiting the start of a dedication ceremony Monday, a blue ribbon hung from one side of the center’s wall to the other. Quoting Cicero school principal Andrea Orlando said, "’A room without books is like a body without soul.’ Along with the dedication of our teachers and staff, this new media center will serve as our soul."
Superintendent Gary McCartney spoke about the many surprises a library and books have to offer.
"It’s like a birthday. You’re getting a special gift and it’s all wrapped up and you don’t know what it is. Well that’s what the library is. There’s all kinds of surprises and they’re all in the library," he said.
Susan Delina, the school’s media specialist, called upon students from each of the school’s 10 classes to present their thoughts on the new center.
Kindergarten students presented illustrations they colored after reading Dav Pilkey’s "The Paperboy." First-graders made a list of the top 10 things they love about the media center including, the many books to choose from, a dragon rug and the great stories they’ll hear there. Second-graders wrote paragraphs on the same subject, sharing the same views as their schoolmates.
Two parents announced that over the course of the week they would be painting a mural on the bare wall in place of the stage with several other parent volunteers. The mural turns the doorway to the room into the entranceway of a library that is set outside with a bright blue sky, green grass, white fluffy clouds and a large tree.
During the dedication, student representatives from each class joined Mr. Ivey and Ms. Orlando in cutting the ribbon.
Afterward guests and visitors were invited into the new media center.
Ms. Orlando walked into the room and spotted "The Frog Principal" written by Stephanie Calmenson on a bookshelf.
"I’m finding books I should read," she said jokingly.

