Library Design HacksOn a Budget

http://tinyurl.com/os4lpcn

About Us + Francis W. Parker School

We started at FWP in July 2014 knowing the library was in a stagnant place and needed new life. We were grateful to start our positions at the same time and have summer hours before the start of the school year which allowed us to begin weeding, removing shelving units, organize, and paint.

There’s LOTS of student freedom at FWP which means at any given time students can utilize library space.

FWP is an independent JK-12 school in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago. The school was founded in 1901 on the progressive education

principles of John Dewey. We have a student body of 930.

Annette Lesak, 6th-12th Librarian@annettefarmeralesak@fwparker.org

Mary Catherine Coleman, Jk-5th Librarian

@marycatherinec1mcoleman@fwparker.org

Our Space Before● One librarian, JK-12, for 30+ years

● Collection size of over 63,000 volumes

● Card catalog system still in use● Average collection age: 1989● Underutilized space (10,000 sq. ft)● Fixed schedule for JK-5● LOTS of large, heavy pieces of

furniture to create division of space.

Our Space BeforeAccording to Shulie, Elliot and Lydia

“It was really cluttered and there wasn’t a lot of

space.”

“For the most part, it was fairly empty.”

“People would never really say, like,

‘Oh, I’m going to the library.’ ”

Atmosphere & Policies

Open Doors

Open 7:30 am - 5 pm

Students are welcome at anytime

Allow food and drinks

Students can move furniture around

Make peace with (some) noise

Have students establish library norms

The Collection: Quality Over Quantity

Weed!

Incorporate reference into circulating collection

Weed!

Make your collection user friendly! Genrefication, ditching Dewey

Weed!

Ditch your back issues of periodicals if your community doesn’t use them.

Furniture: Have Options! Multiple seating options

Bean bags

Reclaimed couch

Quiet room

Wiggle chairs

Comfortable seating

High and low tables

Interactive: Let Patrons Make Their Mark!

Writeable surfaces

Analog Light Bright

Corkboard

Lego Wall

Magnetic Board

Games

Google Trivia

Decorations: Set the Mood!

Painted Book carts

Albert Einstein poster

Painted bookends

Card catalog planters

Programs: Fill the Seats! Bookend Painting Party

Book “Up-cycling” Party

Parker Reads signs

Minecraft Mondays

Finals Week No-Stress Zone

What Students are Saying About the Library Now...

Open space

You can have food and drinks!

Google Trivia Question

Lego Wall

6th Grader Tassos

What We Bought and What It Cost● CLEAR THE CLUTTER OUT! (free!)● White board tables, walls, shelving endcaps (Rustoleum brand at Home Depot-$10)● EXPO markers (we go through them a lot!)● Painted and duct-taped carts w/chalkboard paint for special collections (Rustoleum

brand Home Depot-$10)● Bookend painting lunch parties (free labor!)● Corkboard squares or rolls (4/$10 on Amazon--beware gluing and what surface you’re

using)● Lightbright pegboard (Pegboard from Home Depot, foam from Amazon, golf tees from

Amazon-total cost $75)● Custom Albert Einstein poster from Kinko’s ($130) and ModPodge ($5)● Giant memory foam beanbags (aka Fatboys) from Overstock ($140 each)● Lego Wall-super glue and Lego boards ($240) Legos (Craigslist and Garage sales!)● Upcycling-old card catalog drawers as planters, old books used to create bookmarks,

stationery, jewelry, notecards, etc ($30-40 from Michael’s)● Minecraft Edu server ($350)● Green screen fabric (Amazon $15)

Library Redesign ProcessInitial meetings with Trung Le from Wonder by Design for their firm to get a sense of our

school community

Jeffersonian style salon dinner with Parker community members and a few provocateurs

Design workshops with faculty/staff, students and parent community

Architectural plans incorporate our community touchstones

The Third Teacher: 79 Ways You Can Use Design to Transform Teaching and Learning by OWP/P Architects, VS Furniture, Bruce Mau Design thirdteacherplus.com

Recommended ResourcesDesign Thinking for Libraries

Toolkitdesignthinkingforlibraries.com

“A toolkit for patron-centered design” from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and IDEO.

Pinterestpinterest.com/marycatherine01/library-design-ideas/

pinterest.com/chuso69/bibliotecas/

Let’s Chat!Questions?

Comments?

What’s working in your space?

What are you doing in your space to encourage students to hang out?