FELCH - The libraries at North Dickinson County School have been remodeled and upgraded with funds donated by a prominent family in the community.
"The elementary library has been quite redone. It was expanded into two new sections and is three times the size it was," said Superintendent Claude Siders.
The library has new shelves, tables, chairs, furniture, and a reading center for adults to read to kids.
The high school library's book collection was also upgraded.
"There are always lots of books," Siders said.
All the library upgrades were donated by David and Elsa Brule of Sagola.
Library Clerk Laurie Balmes will maintain both the elementary and high school libraries. The elementary library is for grades K-5 and the high school library is for grades six to 12.
Balmes, a 1985 graduate of North Dickinson, said the library also includes a Smart Board, a large screen TV for video and online learning and a new cataloging system for books.
Students can choose books by the reading level marked on the book with bright-colored stickers.
They can then take a quiz online about any book they read to see their reading level.
"The teacher is able to see how they are doing in reading," Balmes said.
Balmes said 300,000 titles can be accessed online.
Before the new system, the school had a PC based-system with no more than 1,000 titles.
The system also details overdue books, readership and which books are being circulated.
"This is a very useful tool in determining what books to get in the future," Balmes said.
Teachers also conduct weekly reader classes on the Smart Board.
"What they have access to here, there is no better library around," Balmes said.
Three love seats and six overstuffed chairs for the fourth and fifth grade will soon be added to the library.
The library has expanded and is now situated where there were once classrooms.
"It's fun to be here, kids love it," Balmes added.
Over the summer, Balmes said Mrs. Brule chose to replace the older books with newer versions. The older books were then donated.
Siders noted the library changes have taken place since Jan. 1.
Curt Meissner of Curt's Woodworks in Homestead, Wis., built the shelves, cabinetry and the custom-made teacher's desk.
Siders added that the Brule family also purchased new student desks for first through fifth grades and an additional teacher desk.
"They have been very generous to us this year," he said.
An open house for the libraries was held during parent-teacher conferences at the school.
Siders said the school is trying to showcase their technology that was upgraded this year.
The district sold a bond on May 1.
"The money was used to buy a new bus and upgrade furniture and technology throughout the building," Siders said. "Almost all the computers in the building were replaced."
A technology lab was also added to the middle school.
Lisa M. Hoffmann's e-mail address is lhoffmann@ironmountaindailynews.com.
