This is a rough floor plan of my school's learning commons, created using floorplancreator.net. I really struggled with using this program- I just could not get the software to do what I wanted and the shapes were limited. Please click to enlarge and ignore the dimensions - they are incorrect.
What works well: centrally located in the middle of the school, ample space for students to work, ability for the space to be used for a few purposes at once, space for storage in workroom and teacher librarian office, the fiction and graphic novel shelves and all the work tables and chairs are on wheels, except the armchairs and bar tables, so it's easy to change the space. We are blessed to have a huge space- it's twice the size of my apartment. Two classes can fit comfortably to use the computers and tables, along with some study students. If there is a guest speaker, tables could be moved to host 3 classes. Our staff of approximately 80 people has staff meetings here.
What doesn't work well: acoustics are a nightmare in the teaching area and sound carries across the space (lots of echoes due to high ceiling), conference room at the back is sometimes under utilized and contains the teacher resource collection, which is not accessible if there is a conference happening in the room, mobile cart needs to move in and out of the space multiple times a day and there gets to be a bottle neck between the desks and fiction when the cart is going through.
References:
Pierce, Dennis. “3 Ways Mobile Technology Is Transforming Learning Spaces.” The Journal, Infrastructure Solutions Group, 25 Aug. 2015, https://thejournal.com/Articles/2015/08/25/3-Ways-Mobile-Technology-Is-Transforming-Learning-Spaces.aspx?Page=2. Accessed 21 April 2022.
Christy:
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah! I think your floor plan looks great! I'm sorry it was so difficult to put together but I think the end result is wonderful. Your library has so many wonderful sections / spaces for students and staff to work. Seeing your space makes me realize how truly small and dated the library is at my school. There is just so much more that can be done when you have the space to do it in. I also think it is excellent that your space can be reconfigured as necessary since the furniture is on wheels. It sounds like it can be a pain to access the teacher resources when there is a conference in place. I wonder, could the conference room remain the same, but the teacher resources get moved to the health and safety location? If the health and safety room isn't used regularly it seems a shame to have it take up space in the library. Perhaps that could be moved elsewhere and the teacher resources could go there. This obviously won't work if there is no other place for health and safety but it was just a thought.
Thank you Christy! The health and safety room is odd- I don't actually know the whole back story on what happened with it. When I first started at my school, it was a quiet work room with computer stations for students. Then, for reasons I'm not aware of, the room was closed for most student use, apparently for health and safety reasons. I don't know what would have to be done to the room to make it more useable or if teachers are even allowed in. I like the idea of moving the teacher resources, though. The photocopy room on the other side of the teacher librarian office might be able to fit them...
ReplyDeleteMoira
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat space you have there! It seems like it has a lot of potential to be a really neat space. I wonder how you could utilize the conference area to its full potential; it seems like it could be a valuable area...
For the noise - have you considered installing panels off of the ceiling to help reduce the noise? I'm thinking something like this: https://www.kireiusa.com/blog/effective-noise-control-solutions-for-high-ceiling-spaces/
Fabian
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice large space with lots of variety. Does the space work with having most of the books around the edge of the room? I suppose the focus is on the muti-use of the space, more Learning Commons than traditional library? I really like the idea of the section in the middle for fiction resources. I am intrigued by the 'health and safety' room, it might be worth just asking why it's been closed? A sound booth and green screen area? Such luxury!
Bear in mind that the green screen is a thick green fabric hung on curtain rods (it looks quite professional, though) and the sound booth used to be a closet for a giant Christmas tree and old book dollies. The TL was so genius when she made it- she ordered all the sound foam pads online and installed them herself with the help of the digital design teachers and had the district install a window. Now it looks really professional! I used it when we recorded voice overs for the grads. I think the space works with the books around the edges. The TL also does focussed book pulls, so if the teacher tells her in advance, she'll make a special shelf for a specific topic on dollies so it's easier for students to find what they need. The added bonus of the book dollie is that the teacher can bring it back to their classroom if the LC is booked and the students need extra research time.
DeleteFound out more information about the room that I labelled Health and Safety. It is now used by the BASES department for storage and some student activities, so it would probably not be able to be converted for library use.
ReplyDelete