ASLA XXIII Biennial Conference - Dr Hilary Hughes - Designing a new school library offers opportunity to create innovative learning spaces for the whole school community. Drawing on recent research, this paper shares the experiences of teacher librarians/IC managers concerning the process and outcomes of school library design. Their insights provide an inspiring evidence base for future learning space initiatives.

1. ASLA Conference 2013
What makes an innovative school library learning space?
Teacher-librarian perspectives
Hilary Hughes
Derek Bland, Jill Willis
Children and Youth Research Centre, QUT

2. Your thoughts …
What makes an innovative school library learning space?

3. TLs
interactions
ideas
creativity
learning
collaboration
cooperation
problem
solving
decision
making
consensus
flair
attention
to detail
imagining
reimagining
learners
teachers school
community
designers
expectations
knowledge
aspirations
time
admin
support
MoneyMoney
values
professional
expertise
trade
skills
artistry
materials
colours
fittings
pedagogy
inclusivity
curriculum
designing
planning
This makes an innovative school library learning space …
safety
company
privacy
identity
designing
resources
techno
logy
sharing

4. http://www.reimaginingspaces.edu.au

5. Researchers:
Derek Bland, Hilary Hughes, Jill Willis
Research Assistants:
Raylee Elliott Burns, Andrew Gibson,
Kylee Andrews, Fiona MacArthur

6. 7 schools ~ multiple perspectives …

7. Imagine your ideal school library …

8. Imagining:
initial thinking and conversations ~ designing
Transitioning:
preparing and moving ~ physical and emotional dimensions
Experiencing:
using the new learning space ~ learning and teaching, social interaction
Reimagining:
evaluating, ongoing renewal of the learning space
Creating a new library …
Creating a new school library …

9. There is a vision. We all
understand that vision and that
we are all a team progressing
towards achieving that vision …
[We were] interested in allowing
children to be creative and to be
collaborative and to be able to
communicate. .. They needed a
space that was flexible enough to
allow for different groupings and
to allow for children to be
collaborative. They needed a
space that was open enough to
allow for groups coming and going
and flexible arrangements of
teaching and learning.
Teacher librarian, School 7
Imagining …

10. The big picture of libraries and what could happen in design … we were taking note of
what was happening and where libraries were going and pedagogy and information
technology Teacher librarian, School 3
The principal understood the TL’s professionalism, her understanding of a library. So he
said to her, it’s your project ... He had to sign off but he trusted her implicitly
Acting TL, School 4
There’s no point complaining that space doesn’t work if you didn’t have an input into
the way space works … get in there before they start planning your workflow
Teacher librarian, School 1
It’s not enough to have a pretty building or space, it has to work as well
… a happy compromise Teacher librarian, School 2
More imagining …

11. Anything that hasn’t seen daylight
for seven years can go, and
anything that looks grotty goes.
Teacher Librarian, School 2
A number of teachers gave their
time to set up the library during the
first and last weeks the school
holiday
Teacher Librarian, School 4
Transitioning …

12. There was a lot of ‘wow’, checking out all the environments, asking what they were for …
there was the novelty to start with; everyone was here; but that hasn’t really worn off.
It’s become a new place to come to Teacher librarian, School 4
They'll read in the pit. We get a lot of kids reading. …. The girls like to come and sit along
the window because especially in the winter, you get a bit of the sun,
so it's nice and warm. Teacher librarian, School 2
The new library has made a huge difference, not only in a physical sense but also in how
the library is perceived … Previously the library mostly attracted the very bookish
characters. Now, the library’s more relaxed atmosphere with computer games and other
activities is opening up to more than one personality type. Teacher-Librarian, School 6
Instead of a hushed environment, the library has become a quite noisy place: If the noise
is productive and they're talking about what they're creating or reading – that's okay
with me. Teacher-Librarian, School 6
Experiencing …

13. Something that's different from the classroom, the furniture,
provides more flexibility, there's more space … there are the
little pockets, little areas where … they can feel as though they
have their own space Teacher librarian, School 5
Because we have wireless connectivity throughout the college … the information you're
gathering electronically – so if you're not needing the books from the shelves you
probably don't have to be here. Perhaps you're here because it's a great space where
you can comfortably work … you can work quietly somewhere; you and your group can
work together; and you know that you've got assistance. Teacher librarian, School 5
Their physical setting and position is quite symbolic of how they feel about the library
and the school …. and they felt that … their place was in the library at the centre of the
school. Teacher librarian, School 6
More experiencing …More experiencing …

14. Create Challenge
CollaborateConnect
Mem Fox
Brain Gym
Café Connect
PORTAL
Respite centre
for teachers
Central engine
Learning hub
First port
of call
Gary Crew
Refuge
Experiencing names…

15. To me, the space is about learning.
It's about maximising, it's a real motivator
TL School 6
Pedagogy of IT
TL School 6
Wall of awesomenes
School 5
Trucks and shoe racks
School 4
Admin at the hub of learning
School 7
Recommendations …
Recommendations …
Experiencing pedagogy …
Experiencing pedagogy …

16. the BER was a wonderful opportunity for libraries generally in schools TL School 2
If we had to do it again I would have liked to have been able to have more input when it
comes to actually configuring that internal of the library. That would then have given me an
opportunity to tell them that you still need storage for this, this, this … TL School 2
I think my addition to the team has helped them realise their vision … As a team I think that
we are focused on the end result and we are focused on what we want and we are always
making steps towards it. TL School 7
Reimagining …

17. [I feel like] Alice in Wonderland TL School 1
We came to a better place … It’s welcoming. It's like a real sunshine sort of thing TL School 2
To come to a place where … we are sharing the same mentality and outlook and vision is
extremely satisfying to me. I am quite an enthusiastic, energetic, passionate educator I
suppose and also quite progressive and to be able to walk into a place that suits my way of
teaching and to be working with people who have the same outlook as me, is extremely
satisfying … I know I am very lucky. TL School 7
More reimagining …

18. Peacefulness
Connectedness
Adventure
Technology
Reimagining continues …

19. 17 recommendations for future action:
o creating and designing
o transitioning and reimagining pedagogy
o leadership
o policy
Overall, best results occurred where there was:
o consultation
o collaboration
o room for creativity
Recommendations …

20. What do TLs bring to designing new library learning spaces?
expert knowledge and experience to …
o ensure space meets potential to support contemporary learning and teaching
o identify literacy and equity priorities
o foster collaborative, creative approaches to learning space design
o imagine, transition, use and reimagine … innovative, agile learning spaces

21. http://www.reimagininglearning.edu.au
h.hughes@qut.edu.au
Thank you …
Questions? Comments?