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Library Revolution

By cookie | L Redesign your school library with new spaces for community groups

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At Curie High School there needs to be a renovation of the library, "Media Center." Some of the main reasons for why it needs this change is beacuse hardly no one really uses it. At the Media Center there really isn't something interesting that makes students come and use the resources they got. Also the students who do come they come to relax, do homework,use the computer. or read book. But sadly there isn't that much books display so you can read because they are unable to looked at. Another thing is that at the back of the Media Center there are many computers, but we, students, can't even use them. To all to this there always classes inside the Media Center and they make a lot of nosie, which kills the silence that it's suppose to have.

One way I can do to change this is by first, making it more presentable so many more students and community groups can come and use it. What I can also do is put in more shelves so students can check out more books and use the computers. So it can make it seem more like a library. Finally I would do is design more of a closed space for when classes is in session.

Comments

Very Good Description of the problem.

By pmjoanes, Educator at 08:48 am, 12 October 2012

Collect Instructions

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Gather more information about your existing school library by taking photos, sketching, conducting interviews, and doing additional research.

Think About:

  • What are all the different functions / activities that currently take place in your school's library?
  • Do you enjoy working and reading in this room now?  Why or why not?
  • How is the library different than a typical classroom?
  • When you study at home, where and how do you read? (On the couch, on the floor, on your bed, outside, at the kitchen table, at a desk in your bedroom?)  Could similar comfortable places be designed for your new school library?
  • Will you redesign the interior of your existing school library or will you build a new addition for these spaces?
  • How do students collaborate around technoloyg with other students?  Where do you do this now?
  • In what ways could your school building become a small community center for residents after school hours?

Try This:

  • Take photos of your school's library, the media center, the study hall, or any other space where students are hanging out.
  • Measure the overall size of your school's existing library.  Is it crowded now or does it have empty space?
  • Measure the number of linear feet of book shelves in your school library.  Ask the librarian if they feel your library should contain more or less space for bound books?
  • Take photos of where students are studying at school - either independently or in a small group - throughout the school day.
  • Ask your school's administrator about any types of community groups that may already use your school building in the evening.
  • Interview your school librarian and several classmates.  What do they think about the existing library?  What changes would they make if they had a choice?
  • Make a list of all the different functions / activities that currently take place in your school's library.
  • Make a list of all the things you like about your library.  Ask several friends and your teachers their opinions.
  • Several new public libraries have opened recently around the world.  What can you learn from these?  Investigate... (links to come)
  • Some of the most impressive historic libraries provide an awe-einspiring place to learn.  What can you learn from these?  Check out...(links to come)

cookie's work for the Collect Information step:

Summary
These pictures show the interior and exterior of the Media Center.
It shows the entreance of two classes, that are at the back of the Media Center.
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This picture shows the huge area that at the back of the Media Center, theat's not really put...
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Another area of at the back of the Media Center, there's several laptops set up for a class to...
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This is the center of the Media Center, where there is coaches for people to sit down and relax.
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This is the entreance and exit of the Media Center.
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This is the survey questions, that I did to get a clear understanding on what students want to see...
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Brainstorm Instructions

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Develop preliminary sketches to help you puzzle through new ideas and solutions.

Think About:

  • Many libraries just have rows of book shelves and a few tables and chairs for students.  But is this the best way for students to access, learn, and share information today?
  • How does collaborative learning occur in a library?
  • How can you provide both quiet and noisy learning spaces in a library?
  • Does the library have a separate entrance so community groups can enter/exit in the evening without having to walk through the entire school building?

The library will need to include four big types of spaces and furnishings:

  • a reading room / study loungue (tables with computers, chairs, couches, etc)
  • book storage and a circulation book check-out counter (shelves, work counters)
  • librarian's office and workspace
  • meeting rooms (tables, chairs, technology options)

Try This:

  • You'll need to decide where will this new library be located in your school.  Are you redesigning the exsiting space or building a new addition?
  • Walk around the exterior of your school building and take photos of your existing library and / or a possible location for a new library addition.
  • Use Google Maps to view and print out an aerial photo of your school.  Identify a location for the library.
  • Contact your school's building or maintenance department.  They may already have a floor plan of your school to use as a reference.
  • Sketch bubble diagrams to figure out the spatial relationships between the various rooms and spaces in your new or redesigned library.  Which spaces will be next to each other?  Which spaces should not be next to each other?
  • Make lots of sketches to get your early ideas down on paper.  Learn from each different idea.

Your design or redesign of a new library might include the following types of sizes of spaces.  These are just suggestions.  Feel free to revise this and incorporate other spaces you think may be needed.

Library space planning rules of thumb:

space 800
students in your school		 1200
students in your school		 1600
students in your school		 2400
students in your school
Reading Room / Study Lounge with computers
 1,400
square feet		 2,100
square feet		 2,800
square feet		 4,200
square feet
Book storage and book check-out counter
 1,400
square feet		 2,100
square feet		 2,800
square feet		 4,200
square feet
Librarian's office / workroom 120
square feet		 120
square feet		 240
square feet		 240
square feet
Meeting rooms 1 room at
250 square feet		 2 rooms at
250 square foot each		 3 rooms at 250 square foot each 4 rooms at 250 square foot each
TOTAL 3,170
square feet		 4,820
square feet		 6,590
square feet		 9,640
square feet

cookie's work for the Brainstorm Ideas step:

Summary
These are some sketches that show how the Media Center should be.
This picture shows my perpose idea on how the Media Center should look like.
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This image shows how I think the Media Center should look like so everyone can be happy.
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This picture shows how the Media Cneter currently is.
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Another image that shows how the Media Center should distribute it's area.
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Here one can see how I think the Media Center should distribute it's space towards the...
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Develop Instructions

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Now's the time to take what you've learned from the steps above and develop your own solution for a new or redesigned library.

Try This:

  • If possible, build a rough physical study model of your library.  You can't really understand the building's shape until you make a quick study model.  Don't worry about making a fancy finished model at this time.  Instead, use cardstock, scissors, and tape to quickly create a large 3D form.  See how it looks.  Break off different sections, add new pieces, and try out new ideas.
  • Take a photo of your model and upload it to your student user account here.
  • Sketch or use software such as Google SketchUp, AutoCAD, or Revit to get your ideas out of your head to share with others.

cookie's work for the Develop Solutions step:

Summary
In ehe developing solution I'm showing how my project is devloping each day as time goes on, and gets better.
This picture shows how I'm starting to design the library, and way it's being used up,...
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This image shows where the conference room is located and how the computers are planning to be set...
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Here one can see how I'm using different tables for the conference room. And how the books are...
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This picture demonstrates how I'm putting more computes in the center of the library.
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One can see how the library looks like when you enter the place.
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This interior shot shows how the conference room would look like. One difference is that there are...
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Final Instructions

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cookie's work for the Final Design step:

Summary
As I progessed thoruhgtout my project, I able to solve the problem that I presented in the beginning of my project.
This is the floor plan of the Media Center,which is the aftermath of what I'd design. As you...
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This is the floor plan before I started to design it, and there are dimension
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This is a shot of the meeting room, that's been incorporated into my design. Also you can I...
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In this picture, it shows how the Media Center would look as someone walks into the library.
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It's another shot of the interior and it demonstrates a part of the where students can come in...
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This is another picture where is shows the books are, and another closed room. Which is the...
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In this image shows another view of the Media Center from a different location.
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