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1. Make It Student-Centered

Students are the owners of the learning commons. Forming a user advisory board is a good way to communicate and generate ideas about how students want to use their space.

In remodeling our own school library to be a learning commons, we asked students to vote on their favorite cabinet and countertop materials. Book club members decided the paint color, and advanced art students painted ceiling tiles to look like book covers. We also added soft seating. Students have access to a kitchenette with a microwave, refrigerator and sink and can purchase drinks and earbuds. The learning commons is open before and after school for students to bring breakfast, receive tutoring and work on projects, homework or creations in the makerspace.

2. Keep It Flexible

Your learning commons should be a flexible physical space. Making shelving mobile greatly increases the ability to adapt to changing needs and activities.

Shorter shelves on wheels make a small space flexible to accommodate book club meetings, author visits, community meetings, book fairs open to the public, etc. Shorter shelving also creates more visibility and openness, providing space for book displays. Although ADA accessibility guidelines do not restrict shelving height, shorter shelving certainly allows for better access for those in wheelchairs.

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4 Things Affecting Library Learning Commons

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1. Make It Student-Centered Students are the owners of the learning commons. Forming a user advisory board is a good way to communicate and generate ideas about how students want to use their space. In remodeling our own school library to be a learning commons, we asked students to vote on their favorite cabinet and countertop materials.

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Click on the bottom right to get the slide show. Paper copies available from the Library.

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CILIP

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CILIP: Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals

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A 2007 video that shows the contribution an effective school library can make to the educational, creative, emotional and reading development of children and young people. It looks at how design can enable this. Find out more: http://bit.ly/1nJ9SvO

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Library Media in the 21st Century - Part 1/2: Physical Spaces & Student Projects

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Created by the Kettle Moraine School District in Wisconsin. Learn more at www.kmsd.edu/media

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Design Thinking

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At NoTosh, we constantly seek out and test new ideas and we've pulled together a selection of the best ones, in the form of really useful tools and resources for you to play around with - with your colleagues, your teams, your staff or your students.

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A Coggle Diagram about Culture Iconography, Student voice (Like, Don't like and Make it easier to use #), Furniture (Tables, Chairs and Shelves), Teacher Voice (Great Learning Space, Comment 1 and Comment 2), Colour anylthing but brown, Security?

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Mind map: My Wishlist -> Work/Creative spaces (messy - glue, paint, water, information rich environment, co-operative work ), Presentation Space (Teaching space, Community Use, Flexible), Digital Space (Library Catlogue, Web Site, eBooks, Social Media for reading), Breakout Space (Quiet, Task Based, High Tech), Reading Spaces (Comfortable Furniture (lounge), Surrounded by books - rich reading environment, Student Collaboration , Display areas), Technology (Replace Desktops with laptops, Production computers able to do film & art, Student collaboration , Printer / Photcopier)

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https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/school-library/

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Lundia | Shelving Units NZ -Storage Systems - Shelves New Zealand

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Lundia Shelving Ltd., 100% New Zealand owned company, specialising in the design, manufacture and supply of environmentally sustainable, full accreditation from Environmental Choice New Zealand, customised, pine, timber, static shelving, storage solutions, manual and mechanically assisted mobile storage systems, that are stylish, strong, versatile, space saving and built to last.

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Distinction Furniture provide a range of school furniture and home& office furniture with a perfect balance of quality and value for today's modern office.

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© Copyright Mike's Woodshop Limited 2017, All rights reserved.

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School Library Shelving, School Library Bookshelves | Hydestor

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Hydestor offers custom school library shelving solutions and bookshelves catering for pupils and their needs. Call us today to find out more.

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Michelle Sims notes on Rachel van Riel and Hamish Curry

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Reading for Pleasure Presentation
#slanza17 - Unconference
#slanza17 - Monday
#slanza17 - Wednesday
Day Two of the conference, Tuesday, started with an author breakfast. Those of us staying on-site were lucky enough to be able to hear from Stacy Gregg. Stacy is a popular author at my school, however because I considered her to be a "horsey" writer I hadn't read her books myself. After hearing her speak I can't wait to read her books! The details behind each of her stories were fascinating. For example, she wrote a letter to Princess Haya, daughter of the King of Jordan, asking if she could please write her story, and ended up travelling to Jordan to meet her.
A lot of Stacy's stories involve embellishing real life events to make them fiction, she likes to write strong women role-models and she loves to write books about places she wants to visit (so she can go there to do research!). I am very keen to ask Stacy to speak at my school one day.

The keynote was by Hamish Curry, from design thinking firm NoTosh.

Here are some of his key points:

It is important to take the time to really understand our problems before trying to solve them.

Sitting by a window is an incredibly powerful way to allow yourself to relax and slow down

To see how students are using a space, at three different times during the day put a dot on a floor plan to show where students are

We need to have visible learning and model the same practises we want students to do - Hamish suggested doing this in a bunker room in the library

You need to work out patterns and what they mean, make connections

Use 'hexagonal thinking' as a tool for thinking, ask good questions to connect concepts together

When you are prototyping you need to be open to feedback on how you can make something better

Management is about problem solving, leadership should be about problem finding, pattern finding

Don't start analysing in a secret laptop, do it in an open, visible way

There is a difference between space and place - place has belonging, character, community

Get the students to speak to search - once they start asking a device a question, they'll ask more because it's easy

We should be inspiration service providers

When you want to share an idea you don't need an hour, ask for ten minutes - everyone has ten minutes

Put things on ceilings and floors to surprise people

How do we create space to slow people down so they can relax and enjoy - e.g. corners, windows.

This was for a local history unit. The teacher buried a suitcase on the grounds for the students to find. They were totally engaged and the teachers enjoyed the unit more too.

There is more from the keynote in the tweets from the day (below). Following the keynote, I attended Georgi de Stigter's session "Digital Technologies #FTW (For the win)". Here is a
link to her slides. It turned out to be mainly on Google Forms which I have used before, but I did learn some more tips:

Use a linear scale so students can choose from 1 to 5

Use humour in the choices e.g. 'never, ever, ever' or 'you are the best'

Use sections to take students to different questions depending on if they answer yes or no

Ask open-ended questions e.g. 'why do you think...?'

Ask students and staff how effective you are e.g. 'On a scale of 1-5 how helpful do you find the library staff?' and 'What can we do better?'

Next up was Rachel Van Riel's workshop "Improving your Library Environment without Spending a lot of Money". Here are my notes:

Angle bookshelves to face the door

There is a difference between destination and impulse. Impulse is not planned, whereas people will ask for a destination e.g. toilet, reserved books, photocopier, OPAC. Keep your impulse items in the best places as people will search for the destination ones.

We should learn from retail.

Paco Underhill - "Why we buy: the science of shopping" (I've reserved this)

We need a rest for the eye - don't fill up every wall with posters

Trial different locations for things and see what works

There shouldn't be a visual clash with books e.g. posters. It is better to focus on the books

Use smaller Dewey signs to be less intrusive

Bay ends are rests for the eye, don't cover them with posters or books

Put face out books amongst the shelves, sometimes in the middle, sometimes to the left or right

Let the book jackets do the talking

People will go through a space e.g. doorway, when there's more space around it (so don't narrow the space with trolleys etc nearby)

Don't shut yourself away, get out on the library floor as much as possible

Let pillars and staircases sing - don't cover them with posters

If you have glass display cases put them in the foyer as they're transient areas

Bookshelves should always be more than 70% full, preferably completely full, otherwise people will think that the best has gone

Empty shelves signal that you don't have enough books

Participants in this session had been invited to send in photos of their libraries so that Rachel could give suggestions. I'd been too busy working on my presentation to send mine through, but I did manage to catch up with her on Wednesday and she generously went through some of my library photos too (she did say in her email to participants that she would be around on Wednesday for free advice, so I wasn't stalking her!). I'm going to do another post about the advice she gave me and show some before and after photos as I put it into practice.

After lunch was Hamish Curry's workshop "Designing Library Discoveries". Hamish talked about how children don't learn how to work AS a group, they're just asked to work IN a group. They need to learn what collaboration looks like. He said we need to spend as much time analysing a problem as solving it. We are answer rich, question poor.

Hamish asked us to write down on post-it notes two challenges and two opportunities that had come out of the conference. We put them up on the whiteboard and then they were grouped into common themes.

Next he showed us "the squid". We picked a topic and then came up with three questions, then switched into answer mode. The idea is to switch from question mode to answer mode, not work through each thread separately. Then we had to circle the two best questions and two best answers (we hadn't got far enough through so we circled "future answers" in the expectation that some good ones would have been generated if we had gone further!).

My final workshop was with Joanna Ludbrook - "Ka-boom! Working with Primary Classes, Creating Solid Foundations for Life-long Learning". Here are my notes:

Good site for list of topics covered during library classes - https://www.crsd.org/page/552

A Google a Day challenge - http://www.agoogleaday.com/

Recommended books:

'How to read a story' - Kate Messner

'The children who loved books' - Peter Carnavas

'Keys' - Sacha Cotter* Joanna had a set of keys that she uses to prompt children to create their own stories with. That sounds like fun so I'll be giving it a go at our school.

'Chester & Gil' - Carol Faulkner* Joanna asks children to define the qualities of Chester and Gil and it promotes good discussions.

'The three bears (sort of)', and 'Little red riding hood, not quite' - both by Yvonne Morrison. These books are great to encourage children to question what they read.

'Mr Archimedes' Bath' - Pamela Allen. Joanna uses this book alongside Aesop's fable 'The Crow and the Pitcher' to illustrate the scientific theory of displacement.

Make jars of physical things to represent a book.

Include volunteer hours and duties in your library reports

"What's-on-Wednesday" - shared at the unconference

*These two books were the only two I didn't have and are both out-of-print! I managed to pick up copies on Trademe.

I was able to catch up with Rachel Van Riel at the end of day to get her opinion about how adding reading for pleasure to the curriculum has impacted reading and libraries in England (for The day ended with the conference dinner. The entertainment was great but hard to describe so here's a
my NZEI scholarship). We talked for an hour and a half - she is so generous with her time, and such a lovely, knowledgable lady to speak with. I walked her back to her room, which was in the same boarding house as mine, however I still managed to get lost trying to back to my room! Fortunately there were helpful librarians to point me in the right direction!
link to the conference Facebook page with photos and videos of the evening.
Here are the tweets from the day:

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Reading for Pleasure Presentation #slanza17 - Unconference #slanza17 - Monday #slanza17 - Wednesday Day Two of the conference, Tuesday, started with an author breakfast. Those of us staying on-site were lucky enough to be able to hear from Stacy Gregg.

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Rachel Van Riel 1: Putting Readers First (BESÖK)

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Rachel Van Riel föreläser inom BESÖK 12 mars 2013. Projektet BESÖK (Bibliotekspersonal i E-län Samverkar för Ökad Kompetens) syftar till att kompetensutveckla medarbetarna på de 13 folkbiblioteken i Östergötland, samt universitetsbiblioteket och länsbiblioteket. Projektet medfinansieras av Europeiska socialfonden. www.projektbesok.se

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It was a great pleasure to attend the SLANZA 2017 conference at Kings College between 16 - 19th July 2017. I was inspired by the passionate and innovative practice I hear about and challenged by the great key note speakers.

Below I have added my conference presentations and tutorials, please feel free to view and use them as you like.
Digital Technologies #FTW Presentation Generation Z: Capturing the Hearts and Minds of our digital Learners

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It was a great pleasure to attend the SLANZA 2017 conference at Kings College between 16 - 19th July 2017. I was inspired by the passionate and innovative practice I hear about and challenged by the great key note speakers. Below I have added my conference presentations and tutorials, please feel free to view and...

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Outline of the Plan

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Journey Mapping

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Journey mapping for school library design | Place and environment | School libraries | Services to Schools | National Library of New Zealand

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Journey maps increase your understanding of how students use your school library's space and services, and help you work out how to improve the library's design.

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Shelving guidelines

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Shelving guidelines for your school library | Place and environment | School libraries | Services to Schools | National Library of New Zealand

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Here we provide information to help you choose the right shelving options for your library.

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more Future of Libraries.

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Much of the reporting on the future of libraries discusses the rise of digital content, shrinking budgets, and the need for librarians to expand their roles, especially in the research process. Indeed, we have seen all of these scenarios unfolding for the past 20 years. Libraries developed makerspaces, embedded librarians, collaborative spaces, access to digital collections, but what's coming for the library for the next century?

Although many items are available digitally, they are usually out of copyright, meaning pre-1923, or in some form of open access. Whilst newspaper articles, current research, books, and other proprietary resources are not freely available. The push to make some materials open access has helped to expand access to proprietary resources. But, as librarians, we need to provide universal access to information.

Funding for libraries is continually being challenged as access to information seems to be getting easier. What is not obvious is that libraries pay a substantial amount of monies to access this content, while costs are rising. The ubiquitousness of the Internet seems to make access to information easier, but the cost of this information is growing. These costs are well hidden from the user. Access to content of value necessitates a high cost: think New York Times, Journal of the American Medical Association, or Wall Street Journal.

For this reason, digital content and funding have pushed libraries and librarians into different roles.

Embedding librarians within research units or as part of other team activities is essential to evidence-based practice. This frees up researchers and investigators to focus on core tasks while the librarian provides access to key information. What has been lost over the past 10 years is the librarian's ability to maintain control of the profession. The physical archive is the last standing place for traditional library services. Even though many libraries are digitizing their holdings, these items still need to have a space to live. Not all printed materials are being thrown away.

What I am proposing for library advancement into the 22 nd Century is a radicalization of the way business is done by collaborating within and between institutions, unless of course a new Andrew Carnegie emerges to fund and endow over 2,500 libraries worldwide.

As discussed the two main drivers for the directions libraries are taking are space and cost.

Discussions of digital access taking away from the physical library have been going on since the late 1990s. Since then we've seen libraries and librarians transitioning from collections of physical books to collaborative space junkies. In the past 30 years little has changed. Today, we still hear about innovative collaborative spaces, maker spaces, and quiet spaces. But is this really the best use of library resources?

A great deal of library literature touches upon the prohibitive cost of access to information. Of course, the existing paradigm is that everything is free on the internet. But that is just not true. A lot of important scientific, legal and research information hides behind paywalls. Few people realize that every library, no matter how small, pays a substantial amount of money for access to electronic resources and print materials. Even then, every library has different levels of access to the same information or no access at all for some information.

Space:

It is no surprise that libraries are seen as a place for people to gather to create new knowledge. This will be a key driver for the next century. Today many public libraries collaborate with community centers to offer much needed services or hire a social work professional. Corporate libraries have taken a huge hit in the past 10 years and will probably continue to diminish due to changing corporate priorities and budget cuts.

I believe that, in the future, libraries will have to work collaboratively or through a consortium. In this way, as space for housing resources becomes an issue for all types of libraries, a large consortium can be developed to provide kiosk access to all available online information, sometimes at a cost and large print libraries from which everyone can borrow. The sharing of resources will be essential to reduction of space. Simply put, there will be less physical standalone libraries. It will be up to library associations to bring together disparate parties to consolidate information resources and harness the power to dictate their own futures.

All the major U.S. and International library organizations and affiliates must work together to leverage their power to guarantee that there is a library in every state building, university center or corporate entity with universal access to all the world's information. Under this umbrella, libraries will share resources and costs. But more importantly they will be an authoritative force in the community.

Cost:

While space for library collections is dwindling so too are the budgets allocated to the development of a collection. Every library has limited access to the wealth and breadth of information that is available. For instance, a law library traditionally only has access to legal information. When they need medical information concerning a malpractice case they need to find these resources elsewhere. My former workplace, a small medical library open to the public in New York, has corporate accounts for lawyers who pay a subscription fee to access this medical information they couldn't get elsewhere, not even in a public library.

Information is not FREE! In order to make libraries affordable they will need to be incorporated into existing structures or businesses. The library's main asset is the librarian. This person does not have to reside in a traditional library space. I envision one giant law library handling the acquisition of information and dispersing it through smaller branches to meet the demands of lawyers across continents and state lines. This goes back to the idea of a kiosk, which is controlled by professional librarians and provides access to all types of information. These kiosks would be portals into the "real" world of information, providing access to the entire world's information, not a limited subset. The only way to get a handle on the prohibitive costs of information is if all library organizations band together to make a deal with publishing companies.

It is my belief that publishing companies are the real roadblocks to library growth. Many people do not realize the rising costs of already expensive information. One library does not have the same access to information as another library. Resources are limited and collections are controlled by what the specific library can afford. One resource alone may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and only a few libraries will have access. This is unacceptable. Every library has different access to information, but all libraries should have the same access to all information, whether you are a lawyer, medical professional, student, or citizen. In a groundbreaking case, Switzerland made a deal this year with five publishers to provide free access to information for its citizens. This should be a model for all countries.

Space and cost are the drivers for libraries in the future. The time is ripe for librarians, from across the globe, to band together and make some real progress in steering the course of the profession. Libraries will remain a vital part of the community, whether private or public, because of the services they provide, such as access to information and vetting of authoritative sources. Additionally, if libraries are embedded within other institutions, provide comprehensive access, and banded together for equitable access to all information, not just a slice that is affordable, everyone would have the same access to information.

Future of libraries reading list:

American Library Association. American Association of Law Libraries.Andy Tattersall. Christine Wolff. Council on Library and Information ResourcesFAS Communications. Hernon P, Matthews J. Jenny Peachey.Knight Foundation. Marcela Cabello and Butler, Stuart M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Nationwide online access to scientific literature. (2017). Switzerland. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Samantha Adams Becker, Cummins, M., Davis, A., Freeman, A., Giesinger Hall, C., Ananthanarayanan, V., Langley, K., and Wolfson, N. (2017). The New Media Consortium. Retrieved from: Tim Redmond. Tomorrow's library. (2017). Webster Keith. Building the library of the future. (2017). The state of America's libraries 2017: a report from the American Library Association. Kathy S. Rosa, ed. 2016. Retrieved from: www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2017 Future of law libraries in the digital age - scenarios. (2001). Chicago: American Association of Law Libraries. Retrieved from: https://www.aallnet.org/Archived/Leadership-Governance/committees/scenarios.html Following the success of the learning technologist, is it time for a research equivalent? (2017). London School of Economics. Retrieved from: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2017/03/27/following-the-success-of-the-learning-technologist-is-it-time-for-a-research-equivalent/ Ithaka S+R US library survey 2016. (2017). New York: Ithaka. Retrieved from: http://www.sr.ithaka.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SR_Report_Library_Survey_2016_04032017.pdf . No brief candle: reconceiving research libraries for the 21st century. (2008). Washington, DC: Council on Library and Information Resources. Retrieved from: Nothing common about it. (2017). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University. Retrieved from: http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/harvards-cabot-science-library-charges-into-the-future/ Reflecting on the future of academic and public libraries [e-book]. Chicago: ALA Editions; 2013. Available at: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 11, 2017. https://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub142/pub142.pdf Shining a light: the future of public libraries across the UK and Ireland. (2017). United Kingdom: Carnegie UK Trust. Retrieved from: https://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/carnegieuktrust/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2017/04/Policy-Report-Shining-a-Light.pdf Developing Clarity: Innovating in Library Systems. (2017). Miami, FL: John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Retrieved from: https://kf-site-production.s3.amazonaws.com/publications/pdfs/000/000/233/original/Knight_UL_Innovation_Report_final.pdf How public libraries help build healthy communities. (2017). Washington, DC: Brookings Institution. Retrieved from: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2017/03/30/how-public-libraries-help-build-healthy-communities/ Institute-wide task force on the future of libraries-preliminary report. (2016). Cambridge, MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved from: https://future-of-libraries.mit.edu/sites/default/files/FutureLibraries-PrelimReport-Final.pdf https://actus.epfl.ch/news/nationwide-online-access-to-scientific-literature/
NMC Horizon Report: 2017 library edition. Austin, Texas:
http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2017-nmc-horizon-report-library-EN.pdf
Craftsmanship Quarterly. Retrieved from: https://craftsmanship.net/tomorrows-library/

Research Information. 89: Cambridge, UK: Europa Science Ltd. Retrieved from: http://content.yudu.com/web/tzly/0A42tim/RIAPRMAY17/html/index.html?page=16

Walt Crawford, Gorman, M. Future libraries: dreams, madness, & reality. (1995). Chicago: American Library Association

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Much of the reporting on the future of libraries discusses the rise of digital content, shrinking budgets, and the need for librarians to expand their roles, especially in the research process. Indeed, we have seen all of these scenarios unfolding for the past 20 years.

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riving Innovation within your Library

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Infiniti Special Event - Driving Innovation within your Library

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Mark Wilson

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The Future of Libraries —

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The future of (school) libraries. Carol Koechlin and David Loertscher on Today's Schools

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Carol Koechlin and David Loertscher, recently in Melbourne for the SLAV conference, talk about the future of libraries. On Today's Schools. Channel 31 Melbourne and Geelong. Produced by well imagine that pty ltd. www.wellimaginethat.com.au

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Design considerations

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Didn't find what you were looking for? First, try this.

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Use the search functionality to find what you came here for.

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If you typed the URL directly, please make sure the spelling is correct. If you clicked on a link to get here, the link may be outdated. Use the search functionality to find what you came here for.

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SLANZA conference 2017 slides - ILLEs.ppsx

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The joy of reading is something that stays with someone for life and for many, this joy has its roots in the school library. Reading for pleasure is also inextricably linked with higher achievement and social mobility, making the school library a place of great importance in a child's life.

While the end goal is the same, the layout of today's library has changed considerably from even a few years ago to accommodate high demand for technology and the shift from a quiet space to a learning hub for both groups and individuals. It is imperative, therefore, that the design and resourcing of the school library is meticulously planned by those with expert knowledge.

School News spoke to industry insiders for advice on refitting the school library.

The company provides a space planning consultancy service to evaluate the library space and create a space for people to connect, explore and learn. "We work out flow of traffic, create fun and interesting reading nooks and breakout spaces, provide a range of options for seating and standing, and ensure there is sufficient space for PC and own device plug in," says Mr Reed.

"The contemporary learning space requires innovative thinking to complement interaction and engagement with students," says Trevor McCann from library design and solutions company Raeco. "Setting up zones such as quiet reading, learning, discussion, breakout areas to plan and play are important examples to enhance student learning experience."

Of chief consideration is the accommodation for books. How many shelves? What type? And what height? Most consultants will be able to provide guidance on the amount and types of shelving required once they are supplied with book collection numbers.

The number of choices for shelving is vast both for style - rollaway, wall mounted, floating, curved and shuttle, and for construction - steel, natural timber and acrylic.

All suppliers agree that there has been a shift to face-out display not only in emerging readers and picture books, but in graphics and fiction too. "For some time now we have been supplying a shelving system that displays the books facing out, not like before boring old spines," says Darrin Batty from Fry Library. "This reduces wear and tear on the books and the kids love seeing the bright illustrations. It's also a win for librarians as face-out displays are easier to re-shelve. We are also putting non fiction books and series books into browser bins which serve as a space saver."

Chris Pooley at shelving specialists Hydestor says: "A review of enhancing sections of the non fiction collection has seen the option of taking selected Dewey categories and treating them like sophisticated picture books and providing them in a face-out display mode. The logic is if children aren't able to select books via Dewey from a spine-out view, they can choose them by seeing the covers; think of all those popular topics in non fiction such as dinosaurs and volcanoes."

There is also a high demand for mobile shelving, especially curved units, which have a middle division to stop the books from falling back, says Mr Batty. "They require no installation, are easy to move even when fully loaded, and can be used to create quiet areas and different shapes in the library." Acrylic spinners are a popular choice for novels and DVDs, as are acrylic-fronted bookcases for picture books.

Versatility of shelving units is essential, says Mr Reed. "We (Resource) have developed a steel shelf that transforms from a standard flat shelf, into a display shelf, a picture book tub and a CD/DVD shelf. This allows any shelf type to be completely interchangeable between any unit in the library and provides great flexibility."

And furniture needs to be easy to move so that spaces can be re-worked according to group size and use. "Flexible, modular furniture is essential, says Mr Reed, and today's school furniture is fun for users. "Breakout soft seating that is easy to move and re-configure is proving very popular."

Schools are also asking for nesting tables and mobile flip tables, both of which can be used for collaborative work yet easily pulled apart for small groups or independent study. And as laptops and tablets find their way into the hands of even the smallest customers, demand for chairs and tables with integrated power continues to rise.

Mr Stewart encourages clients to ask where the product is manufactured, and how long it can be expected to last. "Check whether the supplier will be able to help if you have any problems with the product, and always ask if it is designed for your requirements as some companies will try to apply generic solutions."

At Raeco, Mr McCann says that schools need to ask their supplier whether the new learning environment will encourage engagement and interaction. "Is the furniture agile and flexible for a learning space? Can they provide a learning environment that encourages engagement and interaction?"

Ecoplus Systems' general manager, Paul Sowry, says acoustic treatments which have been engineered to absorb noise and reverberation can be fitted. Ceiling tiles can also be supplied with a seismic grid, as a safety feature, in areas prone to earthquakes.

Staff at NZ Acoustics consult with many schools to help them create learning spaces where groups can work collaboratively without noise negatively impacting on independent learners. Spokesman Nigel Spiers says the first port of call is always the ceiling. "That is the cause of most room excess sound reverberation and noise. It is also much easier to treat a ceiling as you are not limited by windows, doors, shelves and other fittings and you are not taking up valuable wall space, and it is much more cost effective to treat ceilings rather than walls or floors. As a guideline, $1,000 of acoustic ceiling panels correctly positioned will make a significant improvement to the acoustics of any small to medium-sized library room."

Mr Spiers advises that installing thin acoustic panels will only absorb a moderate amount of high frequency sounds: "To absorb male and female voices, chair scrapes and lower frequency sounds requires 50mm thick acoustic panels."

Ms Goulton recommends checking several aspects: sound absorption, impact noise reduction, cost and performance.

"Booth seating with built-in power is popular with more and more people bringing their own devices and requiring power and data facilities," says Mr Reed from Resource. "This also coincides with the increased need for laptop/tablet tables that hook around seating to provide a little working surface."
Questions to consider Space

What are the distinguishing features of your library space?

Are they being utilised?

Are there views to consider?

Is there sufficient lighting?

Does the flooring need replacing?

Are the wall colours suitable?

Do the acoustics need improving?

Signage

Do you have prominent signage?

Are the service points clearly signed?

Would you like to incorporate wall graphics?

Collection

Can the collection be weeded?

What are the collection numbers?

What is the percentage on loan?

Circulation pods

How many circulation pods are required?

Would you like the option of sit and stand height pods?

Would you like to incorporate electric height adjustable pods?

Do you require storage? ie. Door for hard drive, drawers etc.

Breakout furniture

What type of soft seating would you like to include? ie. Individual chairs, ottomans, booths, incorporated power and data etc.

What type of tables do you prefer? ie. Round tops with pedestal base, mobile flip tables etc.

How many chairs per table would you prefer?

Do you require tables and chairs for outdoor use?

Lundia, a shelving specialist company in New Zealand, has been supplying storage solutions for more than 50 years.

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Transforming the school library for innovative learning - SchoolNews - New Zealand

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The joy of reading is something that stays with someone for life and for many, this joy has its roots in the school library. Reading for pleasure is also inextricably linked with higher achievement and social mobility, making the school library a place of great importance in a child's life.

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Activities

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Library design for 150 sqm
Scroll down to the correct image

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Creating a library space that students want to visit means understanding the different ways students actively engage with learning both individually and socially. Modular tables and mobile bookcases give freedom to reconfigure spaces quickly and easily as groups, individuals and classes flow in and out through the day.

Our colourful bookshelves can be used to create zoned learning spaces for individual and group activities, while contemporary seating brings sophistication and comfort. IT can be integrated throughout the space with options for both desktop and freestanding power access for fixed and plug-in equipment.

Contact us to discuss how we can design a flexible Learning Commons layout to fit your space and meet your specific priorities. We also offer a Primary School Library Design service.

Our designs are based on research on how students move through spaces and what tempts them to read a digital message or pick up a book. Physical factors of space and colour directly affect learning experiences so we take the time to get this right.

Contact us to discuss how we can design a flexible Learning Commons layout to fit your space and meet your specific priorities.

The varying demands of students and staff mean that the Learning Commons has to be simultaneously a haven for quiet study, a space for small groups to collaborate, and big enough to accommodate whole classes. Different areas can also be customised to appeal to different age groups - Year 7s or a special 6th form area, for example. Tables can be joined together for large group teaching or for a staff or governors' meeting.

As well as students moving seats and desks to suit their own preferences, the whole layout can be completely changed to refresh, for example, at the beginning of a new term. Click on the example layouts to see how the same furniture can be easily moved to offer a wide range of learning spaces.
Example space of 250m²
Cleverly designed, a space of 250 square metres can easily accommodate seating for 72 students as well as plenty of books on show. Tables can be joined together for large group teaching and will also seat 16 for a staff or governors' meeting.

Click on the arrows to see the same furniture used in 4 different configurations.

Example space of 150m²
A space of 150 square metres can easily accommodate seating for 46 students as well as plenty of books on show. Tables can be joined together for large group teaching and will also seat 16 for a staff or governors' meeting.

Click on the arrows to see the same furniture used in 4 different configurations.

School Library Shelving >

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Library Design for Secondary Schools and Academies

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Creating a school library space that students want to visit means understanding the different ways students actively engage with learning both individually and socially. Modular tables and mobile bookcases give freedom to reconfigure spaces quickly and easily as groups, individuals and classes flow in and out through the day.

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Service to Schools — Designing Libraries

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Designing library spaces for learning

Think about the needs of your learners and school community when you're designing your school library space. For example:

What do you want your library spaces to do?

What types of spaces and facilities do you need?

What do you need now?

What might you need in the future?

The design process should include a plan for gathering information and advice. Discussion with the school community is important at all stages. As part of the planning process, visit other school libraries to gather ideas.

In the following video, principals and librarians in Christchurch schools talk about how their libraries have changed from a traditional book hub to an energetic modern library learning environment (MLLE).
Modern Library Learning Environments in Christchurch schools (YouTube)

Key learning spaces in an innovative library learning environment

Consider how each of the following learning spaces is accommodated in your school library:

quiet space - to reflect, read and study

collaboration space - to discuss, brainstorm, share and tell stories

presentation space - to present, share and celebrate

breakout space - to discover, create, practice and share

makerspace - to play, experiment and design.

Characteristics of an innovative library learning environment

Characteristics of an innovative library space include a:

welcome, vibrant and culturally inclusive environment

large, flexible learning space based on fluid design principles

place for end-to-end learning: consuming, creating, producing and sharing new knowledge

balanced access to print, digital and multimedia collections

place of exploration and curiosity.

These characteristics will:

encourage readers to develop a passion for books and reading and become critically capable readers

allow library staff, teachers and students collaborate to find, use, share and create information

provide seamless access to information resources, advice and support to the classroom, home and mobile devices 24/7

strengthen the connection between home and school

create a whare pukapuka, and a meeting place for the school community.

Key stakeholders

Key people and groups to involve in the process of moving to an innovative library space are:

Whānau and the wider school community can also play a part in the discussion and communication process. This will ensure that the vision for the future is grounded in the school's values and philosophy. It's important that the whole school community understands the rationale for change and the vision for the future.

The role of principals

The work to develop the shared vision of your library as a learning space is best led by the principal.

School principals: creating libraries as centres of learning

The role of librarians

School librarians are extremely important in improving learning results of students, including:

encouraging reading engagement

providing access to books and online information, and

promoting the teaching and sharing of digital literacy skills and digital citizenship among students and staff.

Your school library team

Library furniture, equipment, and signage

We've put together a list of suppliers of furniture, library equipment, and signage (including information about signs in te reo Māori) to help you with the design and fit out of your library. Some suppliers will work with you to source what you need or create custom pieces that fit your specific requirements and budget.
School library suppliers list

Examples of library spaces for learning

Read these articles and view the video for inspiration.

Divine design: how to create the 21st-century school library of your dreams - Margaret Sullivan talks about 5 design considerations that you shouldn't overlook when planning your dream school library. New York examples.

Library ideas: a place to pin ideas from or for libraries around the world - Stephen Heppell's Pinterest with school library images featuring innovative features from libraries all over the world.

School Libraries: excellence in practice at Amesbury School - In this video, Carolyn Knight, Teacher in the Library, and colleagues talk about how their school library supports literacy and student inquiry. Amesbury School is a new Year 1-6 school in Churton Park, Wellington.

Designing library spaces for learning

Think about the needs of your learners and school community when you're designing your school library space. For example:

What do you want your library spaces to do?

What types of spaces and facilities do you need?

What do you need now?

What might you need in the future?

The design process should include a plan for gathering information and advice. Discussion with the school community is important at all stages. As part of the planning process, visit other school libraries to gather ideas.

In the following video, principals and librarians in Christchurch schools talk about how their libraries have changed from a traditional book hub to an energetic modern library learning environment (MLLE).
Modern Library Learning Environments in Christchurch schools (YouTube)
Key learning spaces in an innovative library learning environment

Consider how each of the following learning spaces is accommodated in your school library:

quiet space - to reflect, read and study

collaboration space - to discuss, brainstorm, share and tell stories

presentation space - to present, share and celebrate

breakout space - to discover, create, practice and share

makerspace - to play, experiment and design.

Characteristics of an innovative library learning environment

Characteristics of an innovative library space include a:

welcome, vibrant and culturally inclusive environment

large, flexible learning space based on fluid design principles

place for end-to-end learning: consuming, creating, producing and sharing new knowledge

balanced access to print, digital and multimedia collections

place of exploration and curiosity.

These characteristics will:

encourage readers to develop a passion for books and reading and become critically capable readers

allow library staff, teachers and students collaborate to find, use, share and create information

provide seamless access to information resources, advice and support to the classroom, home and mobile devices 24/7

strengthen the connection between home and school

create a whare pukapuka, and a meeting place for the school community.

Key stakeholders

Key people and groups to involve in the process of moving to an innovative library space are:

Whānau and the wider school community can also play a part in the discussion and communication process. This will ensure that the vision for the future is grounded in the school's values and philosophy. It's important that the whole school community understands the rationale for change and the vision for the future.

The role of principals

The work to develop the shared vision of your library as a learning space is best led by the principal.

School principals: creating libraries as centres of learning

The role of librarians

School librarians are extremely important in improving learning results of students, including:

encouraging reading engagement

providing access to books and online information, and

promoting the teaching and sharing of digital literacy skills and digital citizenship among students and staff.

Your school library team
Library furniture, equipment, and signage

We've put together a list of suppliers of furniture, library equipment, and signage (including information about signs in te reo Māori) to help you with the design and fit out of your library. Some suppliers will work with you to source what you need or create custom pieces that fit your specific requirements and budget.
School library suppliers list
Examples of library spaces for learning

Read these articles and view the video for inspiration.

Divine design: how to create the 21st-century school library of your dreams - Margaret Sullivan talks about 5 design considerations that you shouldn't overlook when planning your dream school library. New York examples.

Library ideas: a place to pin ideas from or for libraries around the world - Stephen Heppell's Pinterest with school library images featuring innovative features from libraries all over the world.

School Libraries: excellence in practice at Amesbury School - In this video, Carolyn Knight, Teacher in the Library, and colleagues talk about how their school library supports literacy and student inquiry. Amesbury School is a new Year 1-6 school in Churton Park, Wellington.

Find out more

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Read our guide to designing innovative school library spaces. It includes case studies and links for further reading to inspire your thinking.

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Welcome to Roadmap!
This first section of the Toolkit offers good practical knowledge in project planning for implementing informal learning spaces, including typical project phases and deliverables, stakeholder's role and effective communication methods and strategies to reach out to your internal team and external audiences.
Whether you are planning a small or large complex project, it is always a good idea to set a clear process map independent of the timeline to identify the different phases of the project and objectives per each phase. The section materials in this section can provide insights in answering questions to the following

What are the large phases in project planning for informal learning spaces?

As the principal lead, who should I involve at which point and why?

What are the effective modes of communicating to internal team members and external audiences?

Don't forget, this is not science - there is no set formula to get it right 100% from the beginning - and as a skilled project lead, you will always need to improvise. However, sharing a clear project process with your team and having a shared understanding of each team member's role can significantly reduce the potential pain-points along the project.

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Welcome to Roadmap! This first section of the Toolkit offers good practical knowledge in project planning for implementing informal learning spaces, including typical project phases and deliverables, stakeholder's role and effective communication methods and strategies to reach out to your internal team and external audiences.