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

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Mira Loma High School has a library that has limited amount of space for only approximately 100 people, outdated, and no community involvement. There is also no real media room, for a typical classroom there are 36 students but the media room only holds about 30 computers. As well as limited storage space, seating and tables. The library is too small to have groups talk and work on projects. Right now the School's Library has textbooks all over the floor because there is not any storage room, there also is not an audio visual room. Mira Loma's Library is really outdated. The librarian would really love if it can be more modernized and if everything could be updated. Overall, Mira Loma's schools library is too small and needs a redesign.

Comments

It is interesting that you bring up community involvement. I would like to see how you can incorporate that element into your design.

By sarahebrady, Architect at 03:20 pm, 08 September 2011

Thank you for taking the time to comment on our design ideas. Our main goal is to have the community involvement. We are planning on having a community garden, daycare center, weekend activities such as movie nights, art classes for all ages, English classes for people learning English, parenting classes, technology classes, and tutoring for anyone who is in need. If you have any suggestion on what we should add please feel free to do so.

By TransformationG..., Student at 11:20 am, 13 September 2011

Those are all great ideas for bringing the community into your library. Be sure to think about how your design will incorporate spaces or elements that will encourage those activities.

By sarahebrady, Architect at 11:46 am, 14 September 2011

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)

TransformationGeneration's work for the Collect Information step:

Summary
To redesign Mira Loma's Library, collecting information involved many different steps.
This is Mira Loma High School's emergency exit and in this area we are planning to expand our...
1 comment
This is the entrance to the library which looks very unwelcoming and crammed as well.
2 comments
In general the library is too small and causes there to be limited amount of seating and space.
0 comments
Due to the space in the library there are not that many bookshelves and because of this many of our...
1 comment
There are not enough computers in the media room and the textbooks are on the ground making the...
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The entrance to the library has a corner that is full of empty boxes, textbooks, and shopping carts...
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The librarian’s desk which is also the check out spot is unorganized due to the fact that there is...
2 comments

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

TransformationGeneration's work for the Brainstorm Ideas step:

Summary
Each of our directors have a special part in redesigning Mira Loma`s Library.
In front of the library there will be a mural of our school mascot the Mighty Matador to represent...
4 comments
The front part of the library would have tinted windows in red and blue to help keep the rooms cool...
5 comments
The inside of the library will have two floors. The top floor will be our big media room. The first...
8 comments
One plan we have is to have the bookshelfs inbedded in the walls with a seating inside for...
8 comments
This is a sketch of what the Community Garden will look like. The brown areas will be where the...
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This is the mural that will be made completely out of tiles and put in the Community Garden.
2 comments

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.

TransformationGeneration's work for the Develop Solutions step:

Summary
Our group has made many changes from our rough draft design, the three main areas we focused on were the following:
This is the first floor of our library. We have made certain changes by adding restrooms and...
2 comments
This is our new study room which is located second floor and will be a quite and relaxing space.
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We have also moved our elevator next to the door where student will enter the library. That way it...
3 comments
This is our media room which is now located downstairs.
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This is our new bookshelves which we will not be building them into the walls and we will be using...
3 comments
This is the library's community center where the community will be able to use during none...
2 comments

Final Instructions

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TransformationGeneration's work for the Final Design step:

Summary
Our firm, Transformation Generation, took all the input we have received from the Librarian, the students, and teachers and combined it with our ideas to create something contemporary and modern at th
Here is an angle view of our final model. Here you can see the garden and the left front corner of...
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This is the front of our library with the garden in fornt of the library.
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And bird eye view of the fisrt floor of the library
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This is the second floor of the library where the study room is located at.
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The ML are murals that will be made out of tiles showing school spirit! We also have a view of the...
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A side view of the libbary's fisrt and second floor.
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The whole building's outside.
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