The Magic Boxes
by Ioannis Trohopoulos & Dimitris Protopsaltou
Veria Central Public Library, Greece
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

Overview
• Objectives
– Why we did it?
– The concept
• Design
– How we did it?
• The experience
– The current situation
– Events & activities
• Evaluation
– What is the impact
– How do we improve it
• Future
– What’s next?
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

Objectives
• A children-centric environment
– Open and accessible to all
– Aesthetically children-friendly
– Provides the means to express creativity and curiosity
The
concept
• “Magic” • “Box”
– Brings the emotional and – Is a determined space,
pleasurable aspects of that invites people:
experiencing creativity – to open it
– Fun – to touch it
– Wonder – or discourages them to
– Excitement come in contact with its
contents.
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

The Children area before
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

The design
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

Design recommendations
• Colours and materials
that engage emotionally • Distin
ct and im
in creativity construct pressive
ions
– Differ
entiate ch
from the ildren's a
rest of th re a
e library
se
• Flexible and multi-purpo
tions and
truc
– furniture, cons paces
– interacti ve technology s
ed
• Co ntinuously alter
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

the Magic Boxes experience
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

Evaluation
• Define performance
indicators
– Measure activities
• On continuous beta
– Monitor visitors & users
version
– Number of participating
• Study usability issues volunteers
• Listen to the user: – Measure dissemination
– Define intuitive feedback
mechanisms
• The impact
– Approx. 20 activities per month
– All elementary and primary schools of Veria, approx. 5,000 students
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

The official opening
• The Magic Boxes has officially opened
– on April 26, 2009
• By his Excellency the President of the Hellenic Democracy
Dr.Karolos Papoulias
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

The future
• Support continuing • Ultimately, the entire
renewal of activities library building
• Personalisation – will be transformed into a
big box
• User-based innovation
– A user-centric environment
– Enforce volunteers • that addresses
– Listen to the children personalised needs
• Ubiquitous technology • Interactive, thematic
presentations
• Check our activities: – the “box” with novels
– On flickr: – the “box” with biographies
– http://www.flickr.com/libver – the “box” with
– On our site: – the “box” with general
knowledge books
– http://www.libver.gr/
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

The library – where we are
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

Thank you
Questions?
http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library