The Columbus School library, has been considered for a long time an essential for students’ academic lives, it is slowly changing to be better for its community. By gathering its communities from librarians, students, and teachers, then we can explore its current state and potential for future growth.

Lina Isaza, who has been the school librarian for several years, is basically the leader of its transformation. She highlighted how the library has adapted to both curricular and extracurricular needs. 

 “It depends on what the student’s curriculum needs because generally the library resources are centered around students’ and teachers’ needs for their classes. For example, if the Spanish department needs a certain book, then we will buy a certain amount of copies of that book,” Isaza said.

Isaza described the library as a space where people like teachers and students are encouraged to collaborate and to interact with its resources.

 “We encourage teachers to bring their classes to the library and help their students with the resources we have. Many of the teachers have seen the potential that the library has for their students because of all the available tools,” Isaza said.

For Samuel Mendivelso, a 10th grade student who visits frequently, the library is more than just a place for books but also a space where he really focuses on his studies. Anyhow, he mentioned some areas where he thinks there can be some improvements, such as the need for better organization to maintain the quiet atmosphere. 

“I think it can be a quieter space than it is as of now, since it seems that sometimes everyone is up there and it’s a bit disorganized,” Medivelso said.

An opposite point of view is the one of Fernando Altmann, he is a senior who barely uses the library. Despite his limited use, he knows the library’s importance and how other students find it useful.

 “Every time I pass through the library, I always see students working on something. It’s a good environment to study, and people feel really comfortable studying there,” Altmann said.

The library mainly focuses on giving students acces to digital tools that are designed to enhance learning and make students feel more engaged in their school work. Its resources aim to support students and educators in learning how to use innovative educational technologies. 

”The school’s library has platforms like Sora for digital books, three databases for education and research, and access to international and local publications such as The New York Times and El Colombiano,” Isaza said. 

The insights gathered from students and staff show the library’s strengths and opportunities for growth. The main objective is to be able to engage those who don’t frequently visit remains a priority, as Altmann pointed out. 

 “Hosting book fairs or putting up posters about new books could spark more interest. For example, if the library showcased books that align with students’ personal interests or popular genres, it might encourage more people to check them out,” Altmann said.