Reimagining School Libraries: How We Transformed Our Space

•

1 like•269 views

The story of transitioning and transforming our library from a dark, dusty cave into a vibrant maker hub. Also, some examples of how we use and support a variety of technology to enhance student learning. For a panel at FETC Executive Summit 2017.

Education

REIMAGINING SCHOOL LIBRARIES:
How We Transformed Our Space
Diana L. Rendina, MLIS
January 24, 2017
1:00-1:45

About Stewart
• Public STEM Magnet Middle School
• Hillsborough County Public Schools
(8th largest district in USA)
• Grades 6-8
• Near downtown Tampa
• Title 1 - 75% of students on free or
reduced lunch
• 30% Black, 33% Hispanic, 30%
White, 7% Asian and Multiracial
@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Stewart Circa 2010
• Dark, cluttered
• Collection massively out of date
• Tech hadn’t been updated in years
• Where’s the STEM?

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Stewart Circa 2010
• Lots of excess furniture
• Layouts hinder traffic flow
• Check out that Mac!

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Stewart Circa 2010
• Heavy wooden tables hindered
flexibility and collaboration
• Horrible setup for instruction
Projection screen on a wall with no outlets

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Stewart Circa 2010
• No STEM other than a few
displays & the 500s

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
The Transforma8on
• From “Dark Cave” to Vibrant
Maker Hub

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
The Transforma8on
• January 2014 - Started our
makerspace program

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
The Transforma8on
• Makerspace Planning Committee
• Corner transformed into
Makerspace
Before…

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
The Transforma8on
• Weeded collection to remove un-
needed shelving
• Grants for paint and furniture
• DonorsChoose for supplies
• Student & parent volunteers
During…

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
The Transforma8on
• Interactive, collaborative, hands-
on Makerspace

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
The Transforma8on
• Instruction space before

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
The Transforma8on
• Moved whiteboard from copy
room
• Short-throw projector through
Title 1
• Presentation stand through
fundraiser
• Tables & chairs through grant

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
The Transforma8on
• Bad sightlines from desk
• Bulky monitors
• No comfy reading spaces

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
The Transforma8on
• Shifted shelving to create nooks
• Gradually updated computers
over several years through
donations of monitors & Title 1
funding

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Suppor8ng Tech
• Table with outlet and usb ports
• Charging devices
• Power for maker tools like
sewing machines, hot glue guns

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Suppor8ng Tech
• Wall-mounted charging station
for student device charging

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Suppor8ng Tech
• Short-throw project &
whiteboard set-up
• Instruction
• Video conferencing
• Student presentation

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Maker Tech
• iPads available for student use in
library
• Robot Petting Zoo
• Sphero
• Dash & Dot
• LEGO Mindstorms

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Maker Tech
• Electricity & Electronics
• littleBits
• SnapCircuits
• MaKeyMaKey

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Maker Tech Projects
• STEMGirls Circuit Bracelet
Workshop

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Maker Tech Projects
• Collaboration - learning the
Design Process through
designing phone stands

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
Maker Tech Projects
• Stewart Maker Fair
• Annual events where students
share projects and teach
Maker skills to parents and
community

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
• BLOG: RenovatedLearning.com
• SOCIAL: @DianaLRendina
• E-MAIL: diana@RenovatedLearning.com
• RESOURCES:
DianaRendinaPresents.wikispaces.com
August 2017

Design challenges have the power to encourage creativity in your students – by providing limitations and guidelines, students can actually become more creative. Learn strategies for creating design prompts, running challenges, and incorporating the design process into projects with your students. We’ll discuss several specific design challenges and offer examples of prompts that can work in these challenges. This presentation will help you find inspiration and feel equipped to lead your students through design challenges that will spark their creative genius.

How to Run an Awesome After-school Makers Club

Diana Rendina

Whether you already have a thriving makerspace or are just getting started, forming an after-school group is ideal for diving deep into projects and building up a culture of making in your library. It's often difficult to get students into makerspaces for in-depth projects during the school day, so starting an after-school club can be a great way to jump-start your program and get your students engaged. Learn strategies for how to get started, including tips on advocating for an after-school club with your administration. Learn about setting norms and procedures for your students, balancing design challenges with free exploration and creating a reflection and sharing piece for students. I'll share about my experiences with our Stewart Makers Club over the last two years. No matter where you're at, an after-school Makers Club can be an amazing way to bring the Maker Movement into your school.

Making Your Library Epic: Creating Innovative Spaces for Student Learning

Diana Rendina

School libraries are no longer the quiet dusty rooms where students sit at heavy wooden tables and read silently. We’re using modern technology and teaching strategies – now we need to update our spaces to match. In this session, attendees will get ideas and inspiration for transforming the physical space of their libraries to make them innovative, student-friendly learning environments. Learn how to apply educational design theory to renovate your library no matter what your budget is. Learn strategies for changing up your space that you can apply as soon as you get back.

Makerspaces 201: I've got cardboard. Now what?

Diana Rendina

Learn about the MakerSpace program at Stewart Middle Magnet School over the last two years - starting with just three bins of K'nex and a vision, and transforming our library into the STEAM hub of our school. You'll learn to set up your MakerSpace, build a Maker culture in your school and learn strategies for involving your community, connecting with other schools and sharing your students' creations through social media, and how to provide design challenges to get your students' creative juices flowing, optimizing storage space for supplies and projects, and other useful tips and tricks.

Design on a Dime: School Library Edition

Renee Rogers

Presented by Kathleen Galarza and Renee Rogers at the NJASL 2013 Fall Conference, October 5, 2013. Join Kathleen and Renee as they share simple strategies and unexpected sources to take your school library from drab to fab with little to no budget. See dramatic school library transformations through before and after pictures. Learn simple strategies that not only changed the way the libraries looked, but also improved the ways the libraries (and the librarians!) were perceived and used by the school communities.

Creating Engaging Middle School Maker Days In Your Library Makerspace

Diana Rendina

Finding ways to get our middle schoolers into our library makerspace can sometimes be challenging – especially in a pandemic. Last year, we expanded our existing makerspace programming into afterschool Maker Days twice a week and it’s been a huge success. This year we’re continuing to grow by incorporating maker activities into the 6th grade science curriculum. Learn how we created design challenges and found fun activities that engaged our students in design and creativity.

How to organize UXcamp Europe

Stefan Freimark

Makerspaces & Libraries: How to Bring Some STEAM Into Your Program (Updated 7...

Diana Rendina

Updated 7-17 workshop version of my Makerspaces & Libraries presentation Makerspaces and the Maker Education movement are quickly taking hold of the library world. In this session, you can learn what the Maker Movement is and find some ways to get started bringing Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics into your library program. This presentation includes practical tips and examples of activities and programs, as well as a chance to explore Makerspace design challenges hands on.

Updated version 6-18 The Maker Movement is taking the education world by storm and many teachers and librarians have been excited to create makerspaces in their schools. But once you’ve got the supplies and the space, it can be difficult to figure out how to keep the momentum going. In this session, you will learn about how the makerspace program at one middle school started with just three bins of K’nex and a vision. After three years, the makerspace transformed the library into the STEAM hub of the school. I’ll share my experiences from what I’ve learned in my own makerspaces and from visiting makerspaces across the country. You’ll learn strategies for setting up your MakerSpace, building a Maker culture in your school, involving your community, connecting with other schools, optimizing storage space for supplies and projects, and other useful tips and tricks to take your makerspace to the next level.

Reimaging Library Spaces Workshop 2019

Diana Rendina

This document summarizes Diana Rendina's presentation on reimagining library spaces. It describes her transformation of the library space at Stewart Middle Magnet School from a dark, cluttered space to a vibrant makerspace. It then discusses her work redesigning the library space at Tampa Preparatory School. The presentation provides advice on how to rethink library spaces, including documenting problems, visiting other spaces, and making easy changes. It includes examples of small and large scale transformations of library spaces.

How to Reimagine Your Library Space and Transform Student Learning

Diana Rendina

How to Reimagine Your Library Space and Transform Student Learning

Diana Rendina

(Updated version: 6-18) Librarians are leading the way in technology use and modern pedagogy in our schools, yet many of our spaces still look like they did fifty years ago. We need to update our spaces to fit the way our students learn now. In this session, we’ll talk about transforming the physical space of our libraries to make them innovative, student-friendly learning environments. We'll talk about how to apply learning space design theory to renovate your library. You’ll learn how to survey your students, create a focus group, and use design thinking to brainstorm ideas for your space. We’ll talk about strategies to explain and defend why changes to the physical space are needed. And we’ll talk about some budget-friendly changes you can make right away. No matter where you are at, you will come away from this session with fresh ideas and inspiration on how to update your library space.

Reimagine Your Library Space Workshop 7 17

Diana Rendina

Diana Rendina presented on renovating and reimagining library spaces. She discussed transforming her previous school's library from a dark, cluttered space to a vibrant maker hub through fundraising and redesign. Rendina outlined key aspects of learning space design theory and provided advice on hacking an existing library, including documenting problems, getting inspiration from other spaces, and easy changes that can be made today with no budget. She shared examples of inspiring library makeovers and led activities for attendees to design layouts and dream libraries. Rendina encouraged attendees to never stop dreaming about changing their library spaces.

Makerspaces & Libraries Workshop 90 minute version

Diana Rendina

Diana Rendina discusses how to create makerspaces in libraries and schools. She describes her experience transforming the library at Stewart Middle Magnet School into a makerspace. Rendina provides examples of makerspaces and discusses best practices for scheduling activities, setting norms, design challenges, and curriculum connections to help build a maker culture. She emphasizes that there is no single approach and makerspaces should be tailored to individual school needs and resources.

Reimagining Your Library Space: How to Transform Student Learning

Diana Rendina

Many school libraries still look like they did fifty years ago. But our libraries are no longer quiet dusty book repositories. Librarians are leading the way in technology use and modern pedagogy in our schools - now we need to update our spaces to match. In this workshop, you will get ideas and inspiration for transforming the physical space of your libraries to make them innovative, student-friendly learning environments. We'll talk about how to apply learning space design theory to renovate your library. You'll learn how to survey your students, create a focus group, and use design thinking to brainstorm ideas for your space. We'll spend time brainstorming our spaces and making plans for the future. Participants will be able to explain why changes to the physical space are needed and will learn strategies that they can apply immediately, no matter what their budget. This workshop will leave you feeling empowered to make the changes that are needed in our library spaces. (Full day workshop version)

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

Diana Rendina

Many of our school libraries still look like they did fifty years ago, yet they are no longer serve solely as quiet book repositories. Librarians are leading the way in technology use and modern pedagogy in our schools - now we need to update our spaces to match. We'll discuss how to redesign and rethink the physical space of our libraries, including practical and budget-friendly changes that we can implement right away. As schools are moving back into in-person learning, we have an excellent opportunity to reimagine our library spaces. This session will look at how our spaces can help with social emotional learning, community-building, accessibility and inclusion. We'll discuss creative and innovative solutions for our spaces, including interactive environments like makerspaces and spaces for students to de-stress. This session will look at ways that we can bring diversity, equity and inclusion into our library spaces, including focusing on book purchases with a diverse range of authors, characters and experiences. We'll discuss Universal Design for Learning and accessibility and how these can apply to making our library spaces more student friendly. No matter where you're at, you'll get ideas and inspiration from this session.

Reimagining Library Spaces: Transform Your Space on Any Budget

Diana Rendina

Many of our school libraries still look like they did fifty years ago, yet they are no longer quiet, dusty book repositories. Librarians are leading the way in technology use and modern pedagogy in our schools - now we need to update our spaces to match. In this session, we'll discuss strategies for redesigning and rethinking the physical space of libraries, including practical and budget-friendly changes that can be implemented right away. We'll look at examples of a variety of library spaces that went through makeovers and discuss creating interactive environments including makerspaces. Updated version of How to Reimagine Your Library Space - 11-18

The Stewart Makerspace: How We Brought STEAM into our Program

Diana Rendina

This document describes how Diana Rendina transformed a corner of the library at Stewart Middle Magnet School into a makerspace. It provides details about Stewart, an overview of what a makerspace is, and the process Rendina took to establish the makerspace, which began in 2010. The document then gives a tour of the Stewart makerspace, describing the different areas and tools available. It discusses how students utilize the makerspace, including during free time, clubs, and workshops. Finally, it outlines the goals and intentions of the makerspace, and provides questions to consider when starting a new makerspace.

This Old Library: How to Revamp, Reimagine and Revitalize Your Library

Diana Rendina

Many of us work in school libraries that were built in the 20th century. Our collections are a hodge-podge of different collection development strategies (or lack thereof) over the decades. Whether you’re taking over a new-to-you library program or you’ve been at your school for years, there are probably neglected spaces you would like to spruce up, programs you would like to create and new books that need to be added. It can be overwhelming to try to figure out where to get started. In this session, you’ll learn strategies for tackling that weeding project, improving usability in your space, changing up your furniture, building collaboration with teachers and more. No matter your grade level, years of experience or the age of your library space, you will come away from this session excited to reimagine your library.

How to Reimagine Your Library Space and Transform Student Learning (2019 update)

Diana Rendina

Updated Nov 2019 Many of our school libraries still look like they did fifty years ago, yet they are no longer quiet, dusty book repositories. Librarians are leading the way in technology use and modern pedagogy in our schools - now we need to update our spaces to match. In this session, we'll discuss strategies for redesigning and rethinking the physical space of libraries, including practical and budget-friendly changes that can be implemented right away. We'll look at examples of a variety of library spaces that went through makeovers and discuss creating interactive environments including makerspaces.

Makerspaces & Libraries: Bringing Some STEAM into Your Program (Winnipeg Work...

Diana Rendina

Design Challenges in Makerspaces: How to Develop Student Creativity

Diana Rendina

Bringing Hands-On Learning to MS Science.pdf

Diana Rendina

Looking for ways to increase your collaborations with your science teachers? Bring your makerspace into the curriculum! This session will look at a variety of ways that you can collaborate with your science classes and incorporate makerspaces and maker activities into the curriculum. I'll focus on a year-long collaboration with my 6th grade science classes where the teacher and I led a different maker focused project each quarter that tied in with her curriculum. This included projects on lab safety, earthquakes and weather detection devices. I'll also share examples of smaller, one-day collaborations I've done with science classes. We'll look at practical examples of ways to collaborate with your science teachers, as well as different makerspace supplies and activities that can help support your science classes. While these examples will be focused on middle school, the concepts and ideas can be applied and adapted to any grade level! If you're looking for ways to get your classes into the makerspace more in a way that ties in with curriculum, this session is for you.

Tips and Tricks to Reimagine.pdf

Diana Rendina

Reimagining Your Library Space: How to Increase the Vibes in Your Library No ...

Diana Rendina

Librarians are leading the way in creating future-ready citizens – now we need to update our spaces to match. In this session, attendees will get inspiration for transforming their library spaces. You’ll learn how to survey students and patrons, create a focus group, and use design thinking to brainstorm ideas for your space. We’ll discuss budget friendly ways to change your space as well as how to find funding. No matter where you’re at, you’ll find ideas for reimagining your space in this session.

Care and Feeding of a Vibrant Library Collection

Diana Rendina

Depending on the age of your library, your collection is likely a mixture of different collection development strategies (or lack thereof) that have been used over the years. For most of us, our libraries could use a great deal of care and feeding to develop them into the vibrant, exciting collections that will have our students clamoring to read more. But it can be so overwhelming to figure out where to start. In this session, we’ll talk about developing weeding strategies and creating a collection development plan that will slowly but surely bring your collection up to speed. We’ll talk about the important of diverse books, graphic novels as well as other current topics like genrefication. Come to this session and get ideas and strategies that will help you tend to your library collection and make it amazing.

Challenge Based Learning in Makerspaces

Diana Rendina

Design challenges have the power to encourage creativity in your students - by providing limitations and guidelines, students can actually become more creative. Learn strategies for creating design prompts, running challenges and incorporating the design process into projects with your students. We’ll discuss how to create open-ended challenges and material-specific challenges in a way that will maximize your students’ creativity, as well as how to create passive design challenges that require minimal supervision. We’ll talk about some of the problems that educators face when running challenges, how to help your students focus, and balancing guided projects, design challenges and open-ended exploration. Whether you’ve had a makerspace up and running for years or are just getting started with the Maker Movement, you will leave this session feeling equipped to lead your students through design challenges that will spark their creative genius.

Library Vibe Squad: Bringing Student Voice Into Your Space with a Leadership ...

Diana Rendina

Want to bring more student voice into your library space? Start a library leadership team! Our Library Leadership Team, also known as the Library Vibe Squad, is made up of a group of students in middle school and high school who meet twice a month to help plan programs, displays, outreach events and just generally work to make the library more awesome. In this session, I'll share about the process of getting started, forming a team, planning meetings, divvying up responsibilities and allowing space for more student voice. We'll talk about strategies for forming a leadership team at your school, what road bumps you might run into, and how to give your students the leadership reigns. I'll also share about future ideas for our library leadership program and talk about the work my students have done since we started. We'll also get the student perspective with testimonials from my students on their experiences in library leadership. Whether you already have a thriving student assistant program or are just dipping your toes into having a student library board, there will be something for you here.

Reimagining Your Library Space: How to Increase the Vibes in Your Space No Ma...

Diana Rendina

Librarians are leading the way in creating future-ready schools – now we need to update our spaces to match. In this session, attendees will get inspiration for transforming their library spaces. You’ll learn how to survey students, create a focus group, and use design thinking to brainstorm ideas for your space. We’ll discuss budget friendly ways to change your space as well as how to find funding. No matter where you’re at, you’ll find ideas for reimagining your space in this session.

AASL Tour Presentation

Diana Rendina

Diana Rendina is a teacher librarian at Tampa Preparatory School who has been transforming the school's library space. When she started in 2017, the library's collection was outdated and there was no variety in learning zones. Since then, she has updated 71% of the collection titles, added new materials like graphic novels and manga, improved the furniture and layout to encourage collaboration, and created a makerspace called the Idealab. Upcoming renovations will further develop different conversation levels and academic support offices to create a more modern learning environment.

Similar to Reimagining School Libraries: How We Transformed Our Space

Makerspaces 201: I've got cardboard. Now what?

Diana Rendina

Reimaging Library Spaces Workshop 2019

Diana Rendina

How to Reimagine Your Library Space and Transform Student Learning

Diana Rendina

How to Reimagine Your Library Space and Transform Student Learning

Diana Rendina

Reimagine Your Library Space Workshop 7 17

Diana Rendina

Makerspaces & Libraries Workshop 90 minute version

Diana Rendina

Reimagining Your Library Space: How to Transform Student Learning

Diana Rendina

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

Diana Rendina

Reimagining Library Spaces: Transform Your Space on Any Budget

Diana Rendina

The Stewart Makerspace: How We Brought STEAM into our Program

Diana Rendina

This Old Library: How to Revamp, Reimagine and Revitalize Your Library

Diana Rendina

How to Reimagine Your Library Space and Transform Student Learning (2019 update)

Diana Rendina

Makerspaces & Libraries: Bringing Some STEAM into Your Program (Winnipeg Work...

Diana Rendina

Design Challenges in Makerspaces: How to Develop Student Creativity

Diana Rendina

Bringing Hands-On Learning to MS Science.pdf

Diana Rendina

Tips and Tricks to Reimagine.pdf

Diana Rendina

Reimagining Your Library Space: How to Increase the Vibes in Your Library No ...

Diana Rendina

Care and Feeding of a Vibrant Library Collection

Diana Rendina

Challenge Based Learning in Makerspaces

Diana Rendina

Library Vibe Squad: Bringing Student Voice Into Your Space with a Leadership ...

Diana Rendina

Similar to Reimagining School Libraries: How We Transformed Our Space (20)