Sierra Vista High School’s library is not just a silent sanctuary for bookworms; tucked away in the halls of the campus holds an endless amount of books and resources open to all students. Advised by Sierra Vista High School’s new librarian, Mr. H. Lynn Mitchell, former 4th-grade teacher, 7th-grade science teacher, middle school library media specialist, and now a three-time high school library media specialist, the library serves as a safe space for students to study, engage, and community.
Despite it only being Mr. Mitchell’s second year at Sierra Vista, he wholeheartedly dedicates himself to his craft in the library. Mitchell shares “For me, becoming a library media specialist was a natural transition within my educational career path. Although going into education is my fourth career, it has been one of the most fulfilling. I have used all of my real-life experiences to build and maintain our learning commons. I would like for it to be a place that directly supports the learning process for students and teachers. A place that supports positive learning opportunities like my high school library.”
The library serves as a place that encourages a positive learning culture within Sierra Vista High School. Students can check out any book and check it out with the librarian, Mr. Mitchell, to take home. With the wide variety of books the library holds, students can get lost in the pages of their favorite adventures or be engrossed in thought with their imaginations running wild.
As technology evolves, the library evolves with it. Now the library’s allure does not stop at its physical collection but has also expanded to online resources, embracing the digital age and offering a world of knowledge at the click of a mouse. Mitchell utilizes the school library website and shares, “Technology today is ubiquitous and ever-evolving. Access to high-validity resources has to be the same. The main driver for me will be the library website. The ability to access resources to inform oneself about a particular societal issue or situation from the palm of your hand is very powerful. This was not always the case. In one of my previous careers, I was in telecommunications. I witnessed the development, explosion, and power of the dynamic World Wide Web. As a young teacher, I soon realized that research and literacy skills had to be developed. Skills to collect and evaluate information anywhere in any format. I am only in my second year here at Sierra Vista but I do plan to continuously create and develop technology-rich collaborative spaces. Spaces within the learning commons that are accessible to everyone and capable of doing everything our learning community needs. A technology-rich space, that functions, is current, and is capable of pivoting to any learning situation our school requires.” The library learning portal offers many resources and is still evolving and more pages will be added soon.
While libraries are undoubtedly places of serious study, they also offer opportunities for students to forge meaningful friendships. Mr. Mitchell shares “The library is the largest classroom on campus but it’s also the most capable. If you look around the environment, it has different areas where people can be comfortable, they can work quietly, hang out, recharge, socialize with their friends, and everything is fairly constructive and positive. Not only that, they have resources here so if they decide to take time at lunch to get caught up with something they can do that. If they just want to be, they can do that as well.” The communal areas of the library, such as designated reading lounges or school desks, provide spaces where students can gather, socialize, and hang out with one another. Deone Timbol (11), a library regular, shares “Here in the school, there’s not a lot of places that have this type of vibe that the library has. Here in the library, it’s very comfortable and you have the idea to maybe do your homework or catch up on certain assignments.” Whether students are engaging in a lively conversation about their favorite class or simply studying together, the library becomes a social hub where students can harmoniously study and socialize.
Whenever students find themselves needing a book to help their studies or a story to get lost in, the library is the perfect place to stop by. Sierra Vista High School’s library is more than just a collection of books– it is a gateway to boundless possibilities. The library opens the doors for opportunity and learning from 6:30 A.M. to 1:55 P.M. upstairs.
