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La Porte ISD unveils five-year library improvement plan; bond funds to increase collections and upgrade facilities
Summary
District staff presented a five-year library improvement plan March 11 that prioritizes expanding and diversifying collections, updating technology and creating consistent minimum standards. Administrators said bond funding was allocated and purchases will begin in April after competitive bidding.
La Porte ISD staff presented a districtwide library improvement plan and timeline at the March 11 board meeting, saying bond funds will enable rapid expansion of collections and facility upgrades beginning in April.
"We really want to make sure that our libraries have those up to date titles, that they're diverse, that they're engaging," the district librarian said, describing five guiding goals: expand and diversify collections; enhance student and teacher engagement; upgrade digital and technology resources; establish minimum standards and accountability; and increase funding through grants and partnerships.
Administrators told trustees they had finalized title lists and were preparing competitive bids so book deliveries could begin in April. The district also plans furniture and facility upgrades at some campuses using bond allocations, e-reader stations, digital resources and reading programs such as Beanstack. The selection process for titles will be committee driven; the three certified district librarians will work with principals and campus staff to select materials so each campus receives titles while allocations recognize differing campus needs.
Staff said the La Porte Education Foundation, campus fundraising and community partners already supplement campuses and that the bond allocation will be used to meet minimum standards across campuses. A district library-improvement committee will convene in the coming weeks to guide five-year strategic planning. Administrators expect to return to the board with a longer-range implementation plan once the committee finishes its work.
The board had already approved the allocation of bond funds earlier on the consent agenda; the March 11 presentation focused on planning, selection processes and near-term purchasing steps rather than an additional vote.
