Management Matters. Maximizing Your Library Space for Optimal Student Learning

How your library is set up can aid your patrons in using the space for both educational and recreational reasons. Your space needs to meet the needs of your patrons and support the mission and vision of your school. While you can’t control where the physical space is located within the building, location signs and welcome messages let patrons know you want them in the space. Thinking strategically about shelving and furniture placement is important to  maximize the users’ experience. And how your online presence is designed also plays a role in creating an inviting environment for your patrons.

Diana Rendina’s KQ blog post “6 Active Learning Spaces Your Library Should Have” talks about how to maximize your physical space by changing the layout to include these spaces: small group, large group, community, technology rich, and quiet, solitary areas. These areas allow for multiple activities to happen—but be sure they are placed where you can see the maximum amount of space at one time. Fred Jones’ “Zone of Proximity”—how close are you to the students determines how on task they remain—suggests setting up the library so that it maximizes easy movement for the teacher/librarian as well as students (2007).

Take stock of what you have around your space. For example, free stuff is nice when you have tight budgets, but ask yourself, do you really need this and do you have room for it? Remove the clutter. Clearing off top shelves can immediately brighten your library. Have lots of wires and cords that come with all the technology? Try tucking those away or have covers to clean up the technology area so students and teachers can place other learning materials there (Arndt 2016).

Dr. Rebecca Morris talks about breaking down the purposes of your library use into three categories: how it aligns with school priorities; your library in action; and ways school leaders strengthen and support library programs (2015). Knowing and being able to communicate these things will help maximize inquiry learning skills, critical thinking, college and career readiness, learning, achievement and growth of your students.

Once you have your physical space organized in such a way that maximizes learning, turn to your online presence. How does your website look? Is it easy to use and navigate? Len Bryan writes in a School Library Journal blog entry, “You should be using your library website and social media to highlight the library collection and your services.” Bryan goes on to say that you need to make sure you know what your website users—the larger community included—need. Doing surveys, focus groups, and interviews will help you better design an online presence that meets those needs. Showcase all the events happening in your library so that you “drive home the point that the library as not ‘just a nice place,’ but vital to the educational mission of your school…and establish your library’s brand” (2016).

Consider spending some of your summer break/vacation time looking at other libraries online or in catalogs from your vendors. Check out the local public or academic libraries to see how they are using their spaces. Look at other school library websites to get ideas about how you can change your online presence and see how other schools are using social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Flickr. If your school division allows access to those outlets, think about how you can use them to increase your patrons’ knowledge of what is happening in your library. Defining your space to maximize learning all begins with an organized space.

Works Cited:

Arndt, Maureen. “Space Planning: Maximizing the Space You Have.” North Texas Regional Library System. http://ntrls.org/ConsultantReports/Maximizing%20the%20Space%20you%20Have.pdf (accessed July 6, 2016).

Bryan, Len. "Take Charge To Maximize Your Library's Online Presence." School Library Journal (blog), May 3, 2016. http://www.slj.com/2016/05/feature-articles/take-charge-to-maximize-your-librarys-online-presence/ (accessed July 6, 2016).

Jones, Fred. Tools for Teaching. 2d edition. Frederick H. Jones & Associates, 2007.

Morris, Rebecca. "How to Maximize Your School Library for Student Learning" (presentation, ASCD Annual Conference, November 18, 2015). https://www.haikudeck.com/how-to-maximize-your-school-library-for-student-learning-education-presentation-PWnDaqNW0z#slide0.

Rendina, Diana. "6 Active Learning Spaces Your Library Should Have." Knowledge Quest (blog), January 27, 2016. http://knowledgequest.aasl.org/6-active-learning-spaces-library/ (accessed July 6, 2016).