Reimagining Your Library Space: How to Increase the Vibes in Your Library No Matter What Your Budget
Librarians are leading the way in creating future-ready citizens – now we need to update our spaces to match. In this session, attendees will get inspiration for transforming their library spaces. You’ll learn how to survey students and patrons, create a focus group, and use design thinking to brainstorm ideas for your space. We’ll discuss budget friendly ways to change your space as well as how to find funding. No matter where you’re at, you’ll find ideas for reimagining your space in this session.
(Note: this is the updated version of a previous presentation: How to Reimagine Your Library Space)
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
- Padlet from AASL presentation (password AASL23)
- My Learning Space Design Resources page – recommended articles, books and more
- My Library and Learning Space Design Pinterest board
Blog Posts
Stewart’s space
- The Stewart Library Makerspace: Video about how our makerspace has transformed our school
- The Great Library Makeover Part 1
- The Great Library Makeover Part 2
Tampa Prep’s Library Space
- Starting a Makerspace from Scratch: Introducing the IDEAlab and Makerspace
- COVID Library Update Part 1: Adapting the Space and Collection
Library space ideas
- 6 Tips for Creating Effective Digital Surveys for Schools – Includes link to my student surveys about our library space
- 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)
- 5 Easy Ways to Make Space for Innovation (AASL Knowledge Quest)
- How to Dream Big with a Library Space Analysis
- How to Create Collaborative Spaces in Your Library
- 3 Ways Visiting Vendor Showrooms can Inspire Your Space
Collection/Signage
- Genrefication: How to Organize Your Fiction Section by Genre
- Too Much Information: 3 Frustrating Problems with Signage
- De-emphasizing Dewey: How to Find a Balanced Approach (Part 1)
- De-emphasized Dewey: How I Changed Up My Non-fiction Collection (Part 2)
Funding
- How to Transform Your Library Space on a Budget (AASL Knowledge Quest)
- 10 Tips for Writing Grant Proposals
- 5 Tips for Creating DonorsChoose Projects
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 – One way to create a DIY floorplan of your library. Works in Google Sheets and Numbers as well.
- 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: