Presented at ISTE Librarian’s Playground, June 27, 2023
Many of our school libraries are still stuck in the past with dated layouts that don’t work. We need to transform our spaces to meet the needs of today’s students, but budgets can be tight. In this playground session, we’ll discuss how to redesign and rethink the physical space of our libraries, including practical and budget-friendly changes that we can implement right away.
Resources
Reimagining Library Spaces: Transform Your Space on Any Budget
In my book, Reimagining Library Spaces, I breakdown a practical process for rethinking and redesigning a library space, no matter where your budget is at. Each chapter includes action steps and connections to the ISTE standards. The book also includes examples of four different reimagined library spaces.
Links
- My Learning Space Design Resources page – recommended articles, books and more
- My Library and Learning Space Design Pinterest board
Blog Posts
- The Stewart Library Makerspace: Video about how our makerspace has transformed our school
- 6 Ways to Rethink Your Library Space and Make it Amazing
- 3 Ways Whiteboards Can Make Your Space More Awesome
- How to Get Library Design Inspiration: 6 Places to Visit
- 6 Active Learning Spaces Your Library Should Have (AASL Knowledge Quest)
- How to Identify and Reframe Design Problems in Your Space (AASL Knowledge Quest)
- How to Transform Your Library Space on a Budget (AASL Knowledge Quest)
- 10 Tips for Writing Grant Proposals
- 5 Tips for Creating DonorsChoose Projects
- The Great Library Makeover Part 1
- The Great Library Makeover Part 2
- 5 Easy Ways to Make Space for Innovation (AASL Knowledge Quest)
- COVID Library Update Part 1: Adapting the Space and Collection
- How to Dream Big with a Library Space Analysis
- Genrefication: How to Organize Your Fiction Section by Genre
- Too Much Information: 3 Frustrating Problems with Signage
- How to Create Collaborative Spaces in Your Library
- 3 Ways Visiting Vendor Showrooms can Inspire Your Space
More resources
- Colleen Graves’ post on Makerspace Storage
- Tiffany Whitehead’s blog, Mighty Little Librarian (look for links in the sidebar for resources on Ditching Dewey and genrefication)
- Kelsey Bogan’s posts on Dynamic Shelving (Also check out her posts on genrefication and ditching Dewey)
- Video about the Stewart Storage Cart and our collaboration with CEF
- School Library Journal article I wrote about our furniture design challenge
Tutorials
- The Epic LEGO Wall: How to Build One – tutorial for building a LEGO wall
- LEGO Wall Round-up – Examples of a variety of LEGO walls created by other educators
- How to Create a Floorplan of Your Space in Excel
- How to Create an Awesome Whiteboard Wall – tutorial on how to use dry-erase paint to create a whiteboard wall
Recommended Books
- Make Space: How to Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration
- The Third Teacher
- The Language of School Design: Design Patterns for 21st Century Schools
- Library Spaces for 21st-Century Learners: A Planning Guide for Creating New School Library Concepts – great resource for creating surveys and focus groups
- The L!brary Book: Design Collaborations in the Public Schools
- Get Active: Reimagining Learning Spaces for Student Success
- The Space: A Guide for Educators
Vendors mentioned: