The [?] CenterCreating a 21st century school

library media center

A What Center?

A quiet, traditional library? (SHHH!)

A study area?

A technology lab?

A Makerspace?

The [center]

of the school

The paradox of the school

library How do you make a space both energizing AND reflective?

Yes, really.

The school library media center needs to serve 3 main purposes.

#1Promote information literacy

How?

Provide a highly curated selection of books and magazines to read (and great videos to watch and websites to visit), educational resources to support student research, and a helpful librarian to guide students through it all

#2Provide an area for students to gather in 3 ways: individually, in small groups, and in a large group

How?

Create a layout in the library that supports all of these goals and provide additional structural supports like headphones, moveable furniture, and thoughtful policies

#3It’s not just books. It’s a community hub.

How?

Create a warm and welcoming atmosphere with additional learning centers inside the library like a makerspace (even if it is just a cart or Lego wall), a stage area, comfortable furniture, display student work prominently, provide other quiet activities like chess boards and puzzles

Mood Boards

In the design world, they use mood boards/inspiration boards/pin boards (where do you think the name “Pinterest” came from?) to visually show the atmosphere they want to create

Purpose #1 - Promoting Literacy Mood Board

Books and mags that appeal to students, in multiple genres and formats

DVDs for classroom use (or students, if school policy allows

Purpose #2 - Three Kinds of Space Mood Board

Purpose #3 - Community Hub Mood Board

Sources

Boy Who Harnessed cover

Harry Potter cover

Persepolis cover

Wired cover

NatGeo cover

Jazz DVD

Planet Earth DVD

Girl reading

Group studying

Study carrel

Group study table

Computer lab

Rolling book carts

Headphones

Rubik’s cube

Chess set

Bean bag chair

Cell phone charger

Student work

Puzzle

Lego wall

Library stage

Mood Board #1 Mood Board #3Mood Board #2