Community. Authenticity. Innovation.
Photo by Pontus Wellgraf on Unsplash
I have been reflecting over the last few days about the concept of interconnection within library design. Interconnection of spaces to facilitate moments of authentic connection between members of the school community. To create a space which inspires and demands innovative pedagogy. A space that supports interconnected learning by linking the digital world with the physical library space. I was inspired this week by a video posted by Kay Oddone on her blog post Re-imagining Learning Spaces to inspire contemporary learning – Part One: Models for Change. The video was created by Ewan McIntosh linking the concepts of space in the virtual world with physical spaces.
This really resonated with me. Our students spend so much of their time in virtual spaces, and so to examine the nature of these spaces and then to take these learnings and mirror them in the physical space makes a lot of sense. This student-led approach to design could facilitate a more comfortable, welcoming space for our students. In this approach to design, learnings and experiences in the virtual can play out in the physical, creating moments of authentic connection. When I reflect on my own practice, I realise that while I have created some of these spaces in my library, such as group spaces, others have been neglected. I ponder the concept of secret spaces and how I can apply this. In my library, I always see students sitting on their own at the end of the shelving or in corners, carving out their own secret spaces. I have always felt that with duty of care, I should have everything so visible. Seeing innovative design options such as this presented by Richard Leonard in contemporary teaching and learning meet creative library design makes me wonder how I can add booths, some kind of tired seating or comfortable corners to my future design plans for the library, without compromising on my ability for active supervision of students.
An interconnected space can also support pedagogical innovation. As Sunny South discusses in school libraries as incubators – where good ideas hatch, creating a flexible and innovative space will encourage teachers to trial new pedagogies as the space almost demands this. In my case, I think promoting my library as the liminal space where teachers can experiment with new ways of working in a non-conventional learning environment is an exciting proposition. A connected environment where students can work collaborate in a range of modalities. By mirroring those virtual worlds as explored in the video above, the space is already established to lend itself to those ways of working. In this way, I can be a leader in creating a scaffold for new ways of teaching and learning. I think that sometimes, teachers want to change but are too busy or can’t vision a new way to do things. I think that part of a teacher librarian’s role is, in the process of collaboration, to provide a clear pathway for pedagogical innovation.
Interconnected spaces can also support community. I have been reflecting on how to build my library so that it is more utilised by the whole school community. By embracing a fluid approach to design and utilising more flexible spaces, students will be able to more easily gather, collaborate and hopefully feel a little freer. The aim would be to create a space where student creativity can flourish and a further sense of connection can be forged. And then, if through the design process, feedback is sought from the range of stakeholders, it will hopefully ensure a space where the whole school community feels safe, stimulated, challenged and inspired. This interconnection within the library will not only deepen the sense of community within a school but lead to deeper and more authentic learning experiences.
References
Leonard, R. (2017). Contemporary teaching and learning meet creative library design. Australian Library and Information Association.
Oddone, K. (n.d.). Re-imagining learning spaces to inspire contemporary learning – part one: Models for change. Living Learning.
South, S. (2017). School libraries as incubators – where good ideas hatch. Scan, 36(1).