How to Reimagine Our Library Spaces in a Post-Pandemic World

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
REIMAGINE
Diana Rendina, MLIS
Media Specialist, Speaker, Writer
@DianaLRendina
RenovatedLearning.com
Your Library Space
in a Post-Pandemic World
How to

DIANA RENDINA, MLIS • Teacher Librarian at Tampa
Preparatory, 6-12
independent school
• Stewart Middle Magnet
School in Tampa, FL from
2010-2017
• Blogger @
RenovatedLearning
• 2016 ISTE Outstanding
Young Educator
Portrait by Kimberly Yau

Introduce yourself and share
your most favorite and least
favorite things about your
library space.

STEWART’S
STORY
The dark,
neglected cave

About Stewart
• Public STEM Magnet Middle School
• Hillsborough County Public Schools (8th largest
district in USA)
• Grades 6-8
• Urban location near downtown Tampa
• Title 1 - 75% of students on free or reduced
lunch

STEWART CIRCA 2010

CluBered, neglected spaces

Too much furniture, weird layouts

Heavy tables, and too many

The only STEM in our library

Problems the space created
MeePng setups
cluQered space

Safety
hazards

No access to
these books
during book fairs

CluQer, ﬁre hazards
during special events

TRANSFORMATION
From “Dark Cave”
to “Vibrant Maker
Hub”

Our Makerspace was the spark…

BEFORE…

TRANSFORMATION - 2014

TRANSFORMATION
How did we fund it?

LOWES TOOLBOX GRANT: Paint

LOWES TOOLBOX: Tables + Chairs

DONORSCHOOSE: LEGO Wall

DONORSCHOOSE: Hokki Stools

DONORSCHOOSE: Whiteboard Wall

SCHOLASTIC BOOKFAIR:Chairs + Rug

SCHOLASTIC BOOKFAIR: Carts

DISCRETIONARY FUNDS

GARAGE SALE
$20!

TAMPA PREPARATORY SCHOOL

ABOUT TAMPA PREP
• Independent 6-12 co-ed college prep school
founded in downtown Tampa in 1974
• 675 students
• 1:1 iPad, Active Learning Environments, Apple
Distinguished School
• Current building was constructed in 2002
• Library was partially renovated in 2016

Library as lecture hall
Special event &
lecture layout - tables
are behind the curtain

CollecRon needed update

No variety in learning zones

StarRng the transformaRon…

Tables rearranged for collaboraRon

Storage area to study nook

Charging staRons

Out with the old, in with the new

Furniture tryouts from KI

Genrefying the ﬁcRon secRon

The IDEAlab

Maker Mondays

Media.scape = WriRng Center

Academic Support Oﬃces

SeYng a vision for the space
Floorplan & furniture from Mien

What is one idea you’ve seen
so far that you would like try
in your space?

LEARNING SPACE
DESIGN THEORY
AcRve Learning Spaces

SMALL GROUP AREAS
Discussion, brainstorming

LARGE GROUP AREAS
Whole class instrucRon, presentaRons

COMMUNITY AREA
Special events, parent meeRngs, etc

TECHNOLOGY-RICH AREAS
Online research, media producRon

QUIET, SOLITARY AREAS
Reading, wriRng, reﬂecRon

MAKERSPACES
Access to hands-on materials

Discuss at your table which
of the six spaces are present
in your library. What do you
need to work on?
Small Group /
/ Large Group /
/ Community
Technology-Rich /
/ Quiet, Solitary /
/ Makerspaces

HACKING
YOUR
LIBRARY:
Advice for
Rethinking
your space

DOCUMENT YOUR PROBLEMS
You need to idenRfy what’s wrong

VISIT OTHER SPACES
Public & Academic Libraries

VISIT OTHER SPACES
Museums

VISIT OTHER SPACES
InspiraRon can be anywhere

DO YOUR RESEARCH
Study Learning Space Design

DREAM UP POSSIBILITIES
What would your ideal be?

SEND OUT A SURVEY
Include your community

GET PINSPIRED!
Create a virtual pinboard of ideas

GET FRESH EYES
Have a visitor criRque your space

FOCUS GROUP BRAINSTORMING
Visual ideaRon
Edutopia’s Remake Your Class

DRAW UP YOUR LAYOUT
Get the big picture view

Layout CreaRon Challenge!
• 15-20 minutes
• At your table, select one library space that our
will focus on
• Using chart paper, markers and post-its, work
together to come up with a rough dra` of
how the space is laid out
• Brainstorm ways that the space can be re-
arranged for beQer ﬂow
• Bonus: IdenPfy where the six acPve learning
spaces are present
• Be ready to share your space!

SEL, DEI, UDL
Rethinking our spaces and
how our students use them

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Oﬀer a variety of seaRng
Strathcona HS in Edmonton, AB

Create calming environments

Oﬀer diﬀerent noise levels

Community Building Spaces

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Is your library a safe space?
Recommended Resource: GLSEN

Can all students seem themselves in your collecRon?
Recommended Resource:
Library Journal Diversity Audit Course

Does your signage and display spaces reﬂect all students?

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING
Does your shelving create overwhelm?

Can all students access books, power, computers, etc?

Is there too much signage or not enough?

EASY CHANGES
You can make TODAY
(with no $$)

LESS IS MORE
Weed your collecRon & your furniture

MAKE SOME WALL SPACE
Take down shelves you don’t need

PLAY HOUSE
Rearrange your furniture

DIY DECOR
Alphabet Wall at ChrisRe Elementary
Photo courtesy of Jess Malloy

REIMAGINE EXISTING SPACES
Quiet reading room at Santa Fe Catholic
Photo courtesy of Wendy Lopez

SMALL INVESTMENTS
Paint, music, indoor plants, etc.

USE THE DESIGN PROCESS
Students help you dream
The Stewart Storage Cart

What is a change you can
make right away to start
transforming your library?

NEVER STOP DREAMING
Change won’t happen if
you just sit sRll

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How to Reimagine Our Library Spaces in a Post-Pandemic World

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