Monday, September 9, 2013

Rejuvenating Your Space!

Change is good - repeat after me. ;-)  

As busy professionals, often the last think on our minds is the actual space in which we work.  But making a few small changes to the layout of your school library space can not only refresh the space, it can refresh you as well!

Some quick and easy ways to refresh your library space might include:
  • have students determine and create items that will bring student voice into the space (e.g. an Intermediate-focussed bulletin board display; student watercolour art; a display of "favourite Kindergarten picture books"; student "recommended reads" tags)
  • obtaining a new carpet for the primary reading area (bright and colourful is always good!)
  • creating or rearranging a lounge space just for Intermediate students (if you build it, they WILL come)
  • moving the portable shelving units onto an angle (this creates visual interest, as well as possibly easing access)
  • create a space to highlight new books (e.g. follow the model from Indigo and have staff and students "recommend" books via comments on a sticky note)
  • place moveable shelves on an angle
  • rearrange long tables into collaborative spaces
Have some more quick and easy ways to rejuvenate?  Please share!
:-)
Melissa

PS I love to chat about rejuvenation - for those of you working in YRDSB schools, please feel free to email me to set up a time that I can come and visit (just call me Sarah Richardson!)

1 comment:

  1. I've tried a few of the tips list above, the most recent is moving my shelves onto an angle... WOW it has transformed the space!! You walk in and see books, not shelves! Very exciting and the students have responded positively.

    My students also love making book recommendations, I put them on the ends on the shelves, so that others can read a recommendation and easy find the book. Works well and creates meaningful conversations about books!

    Thanks for sharing, Melissa!

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