THS’s New Media Center is an Astounding Facility, Has Spectacular Chairs

Added by andyhofmann on September 7, 2012.
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Talawanda High School’s new Media Center is a unique, comfortable space that helps students learn and promotes further acedemic achievement within THS’s halls–with style.

“I really like the chairs,” said Vilppu Antilla, a senior at Talawanda High School, of the partial rocking chairs arranged around the Center’s eight main tables. Little touches like these help students feel comfortable as they learn, and help them learn better. But there’s more to this new space than the relaxing decor.

“I love the view from out the window,” THS librarian Carol Morison said, speaking of the Center’s gigantic wall-width two-story windows. “I’m waiting for one of those big thunderstorms, you know? That just seems exciting to watch.”

She also particularly enjoys how new everything is: the sleek, modern decoration, the relaxed atmosphere, and those chairs. “It just feels really unique. I’m really enjoying it.”

Although, it’s worth noting that style–namely, the space’s tall, lofted design–has come at a bit of a cost.

“There’s sort of a noise problem, vertically,” Morison said. “In the old library, you could speak fairly loudly and not really affect anyone. Now, there’s kind of a risk of really disturbing a class.”

Morison said the stairs to the upstairs computer lab are an issue, too. “Oh, they take up a bit of space, yeah. It would’ve

been nice to have a bit more space where someone can relax and read.”

Actually, the new Media Center has less room, overall.  “There’s less space, but we got rid of a lot of books, which was what we really, really needed to do, and there’s space to expand my collection, so I’m happy.”

Being the start of the year, the oft-touted technological prowess of the school isn’t yet effecting the way the Media Center is run. “The TVs aren’t hooked up yet and we have a couple glitches that we’re working out, but that’s expected.”

However, Morison is looking forward to the possible “Bring Your Own Device” aspect to the new space.

“Hopefully, as the year goes on, more students will bring their devices into the library as they adjust,” she said.  “Everything is so new, we’re all still figuring things out.”

“But,” she added, “We have twelve very capable computers down here, and an actual space for them. They’re not breaking down or freezing like the computers in the old high school, thank goodness.”

“[The computers] have 2GHz i5 intel processors–they’re pretty fast, even if they’re not the fastest computers out there,” said Jim Vajda, Network Specialist at Talawanda High School. “These computers will probably last us up to six years.”

“The network is so much faster, which means the computers run a whole lot better than they did. It’s great.”

As the year goes on, the new media center will continue to evolve and change. “We’re going to work out all the kinks, get used to everything,” Morison said. “We’re planning on adding a whiteboard, for teachers to write on and help them teach.”

As for those chairs: Morison came up with the idea of using them, herself. “I think what it was, was that I saw them over at another library, and I thought, ‘ooh, we should get those.’ It was a great idea.”