CHAPTER 5
There are many sources of ideas and inspiration to consider consider as we transform and reimagine our library spaces. Physical institutions focused on education can provide fantastic material with which to work. Internet resources like Pinterest and Twitter offer an even greater amount of inspiration.
Finding Inspiration for Your Space
When reimagining our library spaces, we don’t want to limit ourselves to the preconceived notions of how a school library should look. We need to get outside of the box, stretch our imaginations, and visualize how our space would look when it was truly serving our students.
There are many places to find design inspiration for your library—physical, print, and virtual. I’ve found amazing ideas online and in design books, museums, public libraries, and so on. Finding inspiration comes down to keeping your mind open and learning to detect how different types of spaces make you feel. Such a method might sound a bit wishy-washy, but eventually, you will start to get a good idea of things to do.
Visiting Other Spaces for Inspiration
Visiting other locations in person is a fantastic way to gain ideas and inspiration for your library space. When thinking about places to visit, don’t limit yourself to visiting only other school libraries. There’s inspiration to be found everywhere, from public art to traditional education institutions. Consider taking field trips to some of these types of spaces with your library design team, as Todd Burleson did with several parents from Hubbard Woods School (more on Todd’s story in Chapter 6). The following are several types of places where I’ve gotten great ideas.
Figure 5.1 The children’s section of the Seattle Public Library.
Public Libraries
Public libraries are excellent sources of library design inspiration. Even though they don’t always serve the same range of patrons or support the same programs as school libraries, there are far more commonalities than differences. Public libraries often have more funding for renovations and improvements than do schools, and many large public libraries have innovative and forward-thinking designs. While we might not have the budget (yet) to accomplish such renovations in our spaces, we can still get ideas for changes to make and dreams to aspire to.
Public libraries often have excellent signage and good branding strategies. They’re designed to be used by patrons independently. In the same way, we can get ideas for creating wayfinding signage to help our students navigate our libraries. We can see the power of branding and how using consistent colors and fonts in our signage can create a clear mood in our space.
Make sure to visit the children’s and teen’s sections (see Figure 5.1); public libraries are often on the cutting edge of what works well for these age groups. They often have kid-friendly furnishings, story time areas, technology labs, and other settings ripe for ideas and inspiration.
Figure 5.2 The Learning Commons at the University of South Florida.
Take some time to talk to some of the librarians. Ask them about how their space functions. What would they like to change? What is their favorite part of their space? These answers can be wonderfully insightful.
Academic Libraries
Colleges and universities might not seem like the best place to get ideas for elementary and secondary schools, but again, there are plenty of lessons to be gained. Academic libraries tend to focus heavily on collaboration among students. They also excel in finding ways to keep student devices charged since nearly every college student has a laptop and smartphone nowadays.
In academic libraries, I’ve been inspired by learning commons/information commons areas (see Figure 5.2). In these spaces, you’ll often see tons of mobile whiteboards, and glass panels mounted to the walls for more dry-erase brainstorming. They tend to include outlets galore and plenty of teaming tables for digital collaboration. One more thing that makes academic libraries student-friendly: snacks and drinks are readily available, and there are designated areas where students are welcome to consume them. Some college libraries even have a Starbucks or similar coffee shop incorporated into their space.
Consider ways that you can create collaborative brainstorming areas for your students. Think about ways to encourage device use by offering places where students can recharge their devices. If possible, consider relaxing your food and drink policies. Maybe designate a “café” area of the library for students to consume food and beverages. If you’re in a high school, think about getting a Keurig. Students who are awake are more likely to learn and remember.
Figure 5.3 A makerspace area in the Columbus Museum of Art.
Museums
Museums are designed for informal education, so these spaces naturally provide amazing ideas for rethinking our library spaces. Look for inspiration in art museums, children’s museums, science museums, and more. Museums are great resources for interactive spaces and displays. Look at group learning areas and observe patrons interacting with one another; think about ways that you could replicate these concepts within your school.
Many museums encourage a sort of audience participation with their exhibits. At the Columbus Museum of Art (see Figure 5.3), several of the works have space next to the art where patrons can add their thoughts and impressions on Post-It notes. In another exhibit in the museum, patrons can view the blueprints for the newest museum wing, read a statement from the architect about how play influenced his design, and then build their own designs using building blocks. There are many ways in which you could incorporate this kind of interactivity in a school library. You could create a space for students to make book recommendations using Post-It notes. Students could answer a poll on a whiteboard or chalkboard wall. You could create a combination book-and-maker display by asking students to create designs (with Legos, craft supplies, etc.) inspired by the books on display. You could then display these works alongside the books.
For more inspiration on creating interactive, museum-like spaces, check out the book The Participatory Museum (2010), by Nina Simon.
Classrooms (and Other School Spaces)
Whenever I visit another school, the first place I want to visit is the library. But sometimes, there are also amazing learning spaces in other parts of the school. Visit innovative classrooms, common areas, lounges, and other creative spaces. When the design of a school is innovative and forward-thinking, every space can be an inspiration.
Seek out a variety of schools and school spaces to visit. Regardless of the grade level, there are ideas to be found in all schools: elementary and secondary, public, private, and charter, urban or rural, large or small.
Public and Private Makerspaces
Makerspaces outside of schools are learning environments often geared toward adults, but that doesn’t mean the ideas can’t work for the younger set. Look at how they organize their workspaces, how they provide power, how they create access to resources, and how members can store in-progress projects. What elements do they use to inspire ideas? There’s a plethora of inspiration you can find in makerspaces, even if you don’t have a makerspace in your library yet.
To find local makerspaces, try Googling the name of your city and “makerspace,” “hackerspace,” or “fab lab.” Also, check directories like those found on Make.com. Many of the people who run makerspaces (whether for profit or nonprofit) are very passionate about what they do and are eager to share with others. They can become fantastic partners for you as you reimagine your library space.
Innovative Company Offices
Many startups and technology companies have embraced creative, innovative environments for their workforce. Google and Facebook are famous for their employee cafés, comfortable, homelike spaces and a variety of learning and working environments. Our budgets are certainly not as large as these companies, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t take from their ideas.
If you’re lucky enough to live in, or able to travel to, a city that includes companies with innovative office spaces, schedule a tour. Ask lots of questions about how employees use the space, and take lots of pictures. If you aren’t able to visit in person, look up spaces like this on Pinterest (more on this later).
For more inspiration, check out the books I Wish I Worked There!: A Look Inside the Most Creative Spaces in Business (2010) by Kursty Groves and Will Knight and Change Your Space, Change Your Culture: How Engaging Workspaces Lead to Transformation and Growth (2014) by Miller, Casey, and Konchar.
Other Spaces
Be on the lookout for inspiration everywhere. Artists, designers, engineers, and other creatives often cite finding ideas and inspiration at the most unexpected moments. Be aware of your surroundings while walking through the neighborhood. Watch children playing at a playground. Observe a group reading together in a bookstore. Even consider the layout of your favorite place to shop in the mall, paying particular attention to how it’s set up for its customers. Any place, anywhere can provide library design inspiration. You just look for it.
Sullivan recommends visiting spaces that your students frequent. Stores that your students visit, such as The Apple Store, can give you insight into things like lighting and merchandising (2013). If you aren’t sure where your students like to hang out in their free time, ask them!
Figure 5.4 The Imagination Playground at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Florida.
I’ve gotten ideas from visiting spaces like the Imagination Playground (see Figure 5.4), which consists of giant foam building blocks that students use to build all sorts of creations. I found an amazing piece of street art in Philadelphia made with chalkboard paint and sentence prompts like “I believe …” and “I wish …” I’ve found inspiration in cozy reading nooks in local bookstores. You can find ideas anywhere.
Finding Digital Inspiration
Visiting a variety of learning spaces is an excellent way to get fantastic ideas for your library. Unfortunately, not all of us live near well-designed museums, classrooms, libraries, and makerspaces, nor are we always able to travel. But no matter where you live, you can access an endless treasure trove of ideas and inspiration on the internet. It may take a little searching and digging to find what you’re looking for, but it’ll be well worth it.
Figure 5.5 Screenshot of the author’s library and learning space design Pinterest board.
Pinterest: A Learning Space Design Goldmine
If you’ve never used Pinterest to find professional resources, you’ve got to check it out. Pinterest is far more than just the recipes and DIY projects for which it’s known. Pinterest functions like a virtual bulletin board. It allows you to browse “pins,” which are images and links from websites. You can then pin these to your “boards,” creating themed boards filled with inspiration. I’ve got boards for library display ideas, makerspace organization tips, learning space design, as well as many additional topics. Try searching for a subject that interests you, and see what comes up.
Pinterest is a fantastic resource for learning space design ideas. Browsing Pinterest allows you to “visit” places that you might never be able to see otherwise. You can check out places like public libraries and museums, innovative school spaces in other countries, and more. I’ve gotten so many ideas from Pinterest, including the original inspiration for the epic Lego wall in my library. Check out the links to some of my Pinterest boards below to get started!
PINTEREST BOARDS FOR INSPIRATION
Twitter is a goldmine of ideas and inspiration if you know where to find them. The hashtag #libdesignchat is focused specifically on library design—it’s a great way to find and share ideas. Also, many school library organizations host Twitter chats, and library design is often a topic of conversation. You can also use popular hashtags, such as #tlchat (teacher librarian chat), #tlelem (elementary teacher-librarians), #makerspace and #makered for ideas about makerspace design, and #edtechchat (educational technology chat) for ideas related to technology in education. These hashtags provide a lot of great ideas. Also, consider asking a question of the group using one of these hashtags—educators on Twitter are happy to share what’s working in their schools. The hashtag for this book is #reimaginelib, so that’s another great place to find and share ideas from what you’re learning in this book.
ISTE STANDARDS CONNECTION
ISTE Standards for Educators 1. Educators continually improve their practice by learning from and with others and exploring proven and promising practices that leverage technology to improve student learning
By seeking out a variety of resources, research, and information, we can get ideas to transform our spaces and support student learning. This allows us to continually improve our practice as we rethink our spaces. Utilizing digital tools, such as Pinterest and Twitter, is a way to leverage technology.
Build a Mood Board for Your Library
In fashion and interior design, many designers begin by creating a mood board of colors, textures, images, and other aspects to inspire them as they come up with their ideas. These mood boards can be created on bulletin boards, on poster boards, or created digitally. As teacher librarians, we too can create mood boards to help inspire us as we reimagine our libraries. I keep my mood board as a bulletin board mounted next to my desk in the library (see Figure 5.6). I look at it every day, and it reminds me of the space and environment I aspire to create in my library.
Collecting Your Inspiration
Start by collecting everything that inspires you. Depending on whether you are creating your mood board digitally or physically, you can scan copies of cutouts you find in catalogs and other print materials or print out color pictures of images you find on the internet. I like to go through this process with physical images because it helps me to get the big picture and see everything with which I’m working.
Your inspiration might come from the items you pinned earlier, or they might come from photos you took when you visited other learning spaces. Look through catalogs for library furnishings, and cut out images of furniture and layouts that you love. Go to a home supply store and gather paint samples of color possibilities for your space. Consider tactile elements as well—maybe a particular type of texture for furniture, a Lego baseplate or whiteboard surface, or even a leaf of a houseplant you’d love to see in your library. During this phase, don’t hold back. Add everything that inspires you to your collection.
Figure 5.6 One of the author’s inspiration boards for the Stewart Middle Magnet School library.
Look to books on design, architecture, and art for inspiration. These don’t necessarily have to be books featuring school spaces, but they certainly can be. You might find a beautiful layout in a book on mid-century interior design, a color scheme that you love in a minimalist painting, or an inspiring office space in an architectural journal. One fantastic book for library space eye candy is The L!brary Book (2010) by Anooradha Iyer Siddiqi. It covers an initiative started by the Robin Hood Foundation in collaboration with New York City schools and various architecture firms. It features the renovation stories of fifty-one schools in New York City, and the color photographs are stunning.
Editing Your Collection
Now that you have all your inspiration laid out in front of you, it’s time to edit and curate. Eliminate any items that are no longer speaking to you or won’t benefit your students. Make it a collaborative process—have your library design team work with you to create a cohesive vision for your library space. You don’t have to toss these ideas permanently—keep them in a separate folder and revisit them later to see if your thoughts have changed.
Organizing and Looking for Trends
Now that your inspiration is curated, it’s time to organize and search for patterns. Lay out your images on your board. Arrange and rearrange them until you love what you see. Look for trends, such as certain colors and elements (e.g., sunlight, plants). If certain images speak to you more than others, print out a larger version of the image or resize it to take up more room on your board. When you finish with this process, you will have a beautiful, visual representation of your vision for your library space. These ideas may not be identically re-created in your library, but they will continue to inspire you as you figure out the practical changes that are possible.
Your Dream Library
After creating your mood board, visiting other learning spaces, and seeking inspiration and ideas online, you will develop a better grasp of how you want your dream library to look. Spend some time fleshing out your ideas. Write a narrative of a typical day in your dream library. Create a mission and vision statement for your dream library. Even if your ideas seem impossible now, I encourage you to spend some time clarifying and writing them out. People respond to passion and plans. When it’s clear that you have a passion for what you want your space to be. and a plan for how to get it there, funding and resources may follow.
Design Your Dream Layout
In Chapter 4, you used Excel, graph paper, or another tool to create a layout diagram of your space. Take that same diagram now and either save a copy, create a photocopy, or start from scratch. In this new diagram, forget about everything that is currently in your space. Ask yourself how your dream layout would look. Is there a wall or two that you would eliminate, or shelving units you would remove? Is there new furniture you would love to see? Would you like to add a new doorway to an outdoor courtyard?
Using the original template, create your dream layout. The only rule (for now) is considering the current physical parameters, but this has some wiggle room too—if there’s a classroom or office space connected to your library, an architect could potentially remove a wall and add extra space. If you’re currently expecting to have new construction soon, you could use different parameters, but sometimes having that limitation makes you more creative.
Another fun related exercise is to challenge your students to design their own dream library space. They can use paper and pencil, a program like Minecraft, physical tools like Legos, and so on. This activity can give you insight into the types of spaces your students would love to see.
Write up a Library Wish List
We often hear stories of principals discovering that they have $1,000 in the budget that they must spend within twenty-four hours, or they will lose it. Or a major grant becomes available, but it requires an itemized budget. Thus, it makes sense to create a dream library wish list that you can have on hand. When that unexpected funding appears, you’ll be ready.
When Todd Burleson’s parent-teacher organization (PTO) at Hubbard Woods asked him for ideas on how to spend their money, he sent them a version of his library wish list. They asked him what else he needed, so he sent them his dream wish list, and they funded all of it (T. Burleson, personal communication, March 14, 2017)! When you discover the perfect grant that can help transform your space, you’ll already have a budget ready.
Create a document organized in the way you see fit. Some prefer to organize based on the learning space (computer lab, instruction area, makerspace, etc.), while others prefer to organize by type of furnishing/purchase (chairs, tables, carts, etc.). Add links to potential vendors, contact info, and current prices. Update this list regularly.
Action Steps
Visit at least one learning space (other than your school). Take notes on what you observe.
Use Pinterest or Twitter to gather some space inspiration ideas. Designate a location to gather your inspiration, whether it is a Pinterest board, a file on your desktop, or a physical folder with color printouts.
Work with your library design team to create a mood board for your library.
Spend some time brainstorming your dream library. Start creating a wish list of items you’d love to get for your space as well as changes you’d like to make.