The lobby of the Mountain View Public Library.

For our documentary project we were assigned the task of getting out of our comfort zone to document a person, place, organization, or concept. We were told to take pictures and conduct interviews with three different people, which we would use to write and design a magazine article or book. I chose to do my documentary on the purpose of a library in the modern era as technology becomes increasingly prevalent.

The documentary project was a challenge, but highly rewarding once I finished the final product. While I did fall behind at first with writing the article, I managed to push through and finish it over spring break. I did enjoy designing the magazine, however I had trouble finding motivation to take the pictures I needed to. I also did enjoy making this website in Digital Media, though it was pushed aside in favor of me finishing my magazine article on time. If I could do it again, I'd probably put more effort into spending time outside of school working on this project.

For Design, we were assigned the task of designing either a magazine article or a book using InDesign and Blurb. I chose to compose a magazine article. While I did procrastinate a little and overestimate how much space I'd need for my written content, I finished it on time. I wanted to do something simple and minimalistic for my design, as that's the direction technological design tends to favor. However, I chose warm colors like oranges and pinks to give off friendly vibes of a homely place, like a library. I learned how to use InDesign while making the magazine, as well as improve photoshopping skills to brighten some darker shots I took and to make the gradiented image of my three interviewees. You can see my magazine by clicking on the picture on the left.

A picture of my InDesign interface for the magazine.

For the documentary I recorded four interviews with three different people. Recording the interviews helped me recall what each person said afterwards, as well as quote them accurately. The reasons I chose each interviewee is detailled in their bios below.

Sharon McClintock

Sharon McClintock is a children’s librarian at the Mountain View Public Library. She’s been working for eighteen years and was recently promoted to being a manager. She presents storytime to toddlers and helps run the parenting programs. She helps describe the public library’s stance on the library’s importance in the community as technology advances.

Gordon Jack

Gordon Jack is a librarian at Los Altos High School. He’s been working there for six years, and helped found Freestyle Academy when he was an English teacher. He looks at how the library functions as a community hub and works to provide resources to help students in any way they can, particularly from a technological angle. He helps describe his drive to keep the library relevant in terms of technological advances and as a community hub.

Susan Lamarche

Susan Lamarche is a librarian at Mountain View High School. She’s worked there for four years, and focuses more on keeping the library as a studious place relatively free of technological distractions rather than a community hub. She also helps the English Language Development program and keeps the library safe. She helps describe the importance of the library as both a studious place as well as a community hangout.