Nooks and Crannies: Claim Every Square Inch of Your Library Space

By Julie Brem

WHAT A STRANGE AND UNIMAGINABLE YEAR IT HAS BEEN.

Many of our library spaces went from being abuzz with the familiar life and laughter of students to feeling stilted and unfamiliar, with plexiglass dividers and ubiquitous disinfectant. Of course, we adapted and rose to the occasion, working alongside teachers and students to remove and minimize barriers to learning and maximize access to high-quality resources for digital learning experiences. But what about our physical library spaces? In this time of flux, as districts roll out new tech and change strategies to reach learners, we must have a clear, communicated, and intentional vision for each and every nook and cranny of our library learning commons in order to remain student-centered in the transition back to “normal”.

Back in the pre-pandemic era circa 2017, I lived a librarian’s dream - I opened a school! My principal kept saying “you are going to love the library!” When she showed me the floor plans, I was surprised and pleased all at the same time. Surprised that I saw spaces labeled “A/V Storage” and “Periodicals,” but pleased at the size and location of the space: big, and truly at the center of the school. The plan was adapted from a school that had opened several years prior in another part of the state. Because of this, there were vestiges of libraries past. Who has media retrieval systems and large collections of media when most of our content is online? Who subscribes to and stores periodicals still? (No offense if you do and this works for your patrons.) I saw many little offices along the perimeter of the library. Immediately, my mind went to work with ideas for each of these “nooks.”

Of course, since I did not yet know my patrons, I instead drew upon my years of experience working with teens in general. As I got to know my patrons at Weiss and assessed their wants and needs, the “nooks’’ have evolved. The A/V storage room became a “quiet/ calming sensory room” that can also be booked for group study, with dry erase walls, filtered light and color-changing lamps, the “periodicals” room became our A/V production studio, and now that our district has gone 1:1 with devices, I hope to turn the computer lab into a “student life room” for clubs to meet.

So how can you claim every square inch of your library space for learners? Get out or roughly draw up your library’s floor plan. Walk around your space, including all the storage areas. Let your patrons’ voices be heard and have ownership over the changes by conducting an informal needs assessment via a Google form. Faculty getaway or PLC meeting room (i.e., opportunities for collaboration)? Eating zone? Do you have students (in a “normal” year) asking for a quiet space? Do you have students asking to eat in the library? Do you need a space for board games? What about a makerspace? Although we were extremely busy this year supporting our learning communities, our fallow spaces provided time to clean out and fresh eyes to think of the possibilities as students return. Bring in (virtually or in-person) thinking partners for fresh ideas for your space (colleagues, your PLN, etc.).

Once you have determined various desired zones, invite your learning community in on the process. Are you designing a sensory area? Perhaps your

special education team can give tips, or students can vote on sensory items like bubble lamps and rainbow lights, that bring them calm. A kindness rock or meditation garden? Ask around to see if student clubs or organizations would be willing to take on the project for community service. I’ve had two green screen walls painted by Eagle Scout candidates and an outdoor table area constructed by a Girl Scout for her Gold Award.

Be ready to overcome doubts, naysayers and problems as they arise. Don’t let the risks keep you from this venture. After we created the quiet room, students quickly found a corner of the room we could not see from the circulation desk. A convex mirror (strategically placed) solved this problem. The dry erase wall became very popular for student artwork, doodling and quotes...and then came offensive words and images. We then made the dry erase markers for checkout only at the circulation desk to better track usage. In our A/V production studio, students got into the button maker and jammed up the machine. We then created a QR code leading to a Google form for students to sign in and out to provide greater accountability.

Lastly, publicize these exciting changes through school newsletters and social media. Order or print attractive and professional signage. This is really important. If an administrator walks in looking for an office for a testing coordinator or parent liaison, but he or she sees a sign that this office is a student podcasting/green screen studio and set up as such, they may be more hesitant to commandeer the space.

You might be thinking to yourself, “Well, this all sounds great, but there are other school staff officing out of the library space. I can’t kick them out!” My advice would be watch, wait, and plant seeds. Some staff would be beneficial to share the space with - your school social worker, for instance, or your instructional coach. You can work together to plan programs for students and teachers. Others are not so convenient. For instance, a couple of summers ago, my administration snuck the testing coordinator’s office into the office where our tech help resided. This has not been ideal as I have been, by default, sucked into a much larger role in testing, and the library space has been closed more for testing ever since. However, there is some movement on the horizon, and I booked some time with my principal to make the case for the testing coordinator and social worker to switch offices. I laid the groundwork by talking to my colleagues and if all goes well, it will be a win for everyone.

Most importantly, students will view the library as a resource for more of their needs - literacy, enjoyment, and social-emotional care. So don’t give up! Wait for an opportunity and have intentional conversations with all involved. Advocate for your learners. When the tech office was taken away, I spoke with my administration and was given a closet across the hall. This turned out well because the “stuff” could go away and the spaces within the library could be used for students. Don’t be afraid to walk the building and ask your administrators for a closet for “remote” storage just as they sometimes try to “sniff out” areas within the library. Have fun reimagining your spaces as we look forward to post-pandemic library life. Clear out those offices and closets and carve out interactive, multipurpose areas to amplify your library’s role as the hub of your learning community. Reconfigure and rethink your space to invite every type of learner to find their

“spot.” Name it and claim it!

Julie Brem is the librarian at Weiss High School in Pflugerville ISD.