The bell rings. In a few seconds, students pour out of their classes.
Coppell High School sophomore Grace Potter squeezes her way through the bustle of the school hallways. She opens a door and suddenly…
Silence.
It is this comforting peace that Potter finds tranquility in every day before school and during lunch in the CHS Library.
“The commons and cafeteria is super loud,” Potter said. “I don’t really like loud sounds, and the library has a very welcoming environment. Plus, I don’t have to go scrounge around looking for my friends in the commons.”
For many like Grace, the library is an important communal space.
Though the welcoming environment may be familiar, the new set up of the library is not. In an attempt to make browsing books easier to navigate, library staff has implemented several new accommodations. Among these are new seating areas, a more open comic section and, of course, new books.
According to librarian Alicia Grijalva, while fantasy and mystery have been the most popular genres of books checked out, the library is expanding its selection of sports fiction, graphic novels and manga including new copies of Spy X Family.
“We wanted to expand those sections because they’re popular, they serve a lot of students who like those genres in particular,” Grijalva said. “We always want to meet student demand for what they’re interested in and what they want to read.”
According to librarian Trisha Goins, the process of ordering the books is a timely one. Books must be reviewed before they can be ordered, inspected for content that is age and reading level appropriate and for relevance to the students and curriculum.
Accepted books are then put into a school library journal from which librarians use to choose books for the upcoming school years.
In addition to books, Grijalva and Goins plan to expand activities offered at the library throughout the year to give opportunities for students to learn to knit, paint and create with different materials.
“We really look for innovation and what we can offer to prepare people for the future,” Grijalva said.
Throughout these events, the CHS Library strives to be more than just a place to obtain books. Among such events is the recently hosted Dot Day, inspired by The Dot by Peter H. Reynold, where students participate in a scavenger hunt and the opportunity to design a dot patterned button for themselves.
Other events include Hispanic Heritage month from mid-September to mid-October and a Comics Day where the library’s selection of graphic novels will be given a chance to shine.
Outside of the events and books, there is even a new face in the library staff. CHS Library assistant Angie Mahalik, former Coppell Middle School West librarian for eight years, will be at CHS for the 2023-24 school year.
“The sense of community that our student body and staff have is a very encouraging space,” Mahalik said. “I feel as though I’m a part of the CHS family, being here in the library.”
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