HHS Students Discover Library Leadership Opportunities

Emily Briselli, Managing Editor

Whether it’s to spend time with friends or to take a test, many HHS students will find themselves in the library at some point during their high school career.

The library test center sits vacant while students busily participate in the 2nd Annual Community Day. Improvements to the test center was one of many ideas discussed at the Learning Commons Council Community Day session. (Broadcaster/Emily Briselli)
The library test center sits vacant while students busily participate in the 2nd Annual Community Day. Improvements to the test center was one of many ideas discussed at the Learning Commons Council Community Day session.
(Broadcaster/Emily Briselli)

On Friday, October 7, HHS students discussed innovative ideas and possible changes to the HHS Library with the Library Learning Commons Council during their Community Day session in the library conference room.

The Learning Commons Council, advised by librarian Allison Mackley, is a student organization dedicated to the continual improvement of the Library Learning Commons. Ultimately, according to Mackley, this organization wants to make the library an area both conducive to learning and comfortable for students to spend time in.

Learning Commons Council President, Lynn Dang, said that “the learning commons council works to improve the library based on what the student body wants,” a sentiment that was expressed in today’s brainstorming session. The informal meeting offered students an opportunity to share their own ideas for improvement, and to gain insight into how the club is run.

The open forum style meeting encouraged session attendees, ranging from freshmen to seniors, to share their own ideas and build upon the ideas of others. Ideas such as library open mic nights, tutoring partnerships with National Honor Society, addition of student artwork, and adding another printer were just some of the many suggested by HHS students.

Mackley encouraged students not to hold back their creative solutions, and said that “we try to be as responsive as possible to what the students in the school want.”

The Learning Commons Council cited past changes to the library as encouragement for students to get involved in their library leadership group. The Mac computers in the library, as well as the new seating and charging stations all came out of previous years’ Learning Commons Council. Even the collaboration tables, which allow multiple students to work around one table off of the same computer screen, were made possible by the Learning Common Council.

This year, the Learning Commons Council is “reinvigorating” student involvement with a completely new group of students. In addition to Dang, other officers include Catherine Shi and Emily Reilly, Co-Vice Presidents, Olivia Reid, treasurer, and Paige Randall, student activist.

The club hopes to increase their membership, especially after today’s successful community day session. Current members encouraged anyone who wants to be a student leader and contribute to their community to come to the next meeting. The group’s next meeting is at 7 am in the library Think Tank on Friday, October 14. Any student interested in joining should talk to Mrs. Mackley or another member of the Library Learning Commons Council.