Designing (and Doodling) the Future of K-12 Libraries

When invited to act as “provocateur” at an event, you accept on the pure allure of said title. And then you walk around trying not to be too obnoxious by saying “Why yes. I’m going to Atlanta to be a provocaTEURRRRRRRRR”.

Twitter is what got me there. I tweeted this after seeing the video vision for a new kind of K-12 library:

@StacyWeitzner: Taking K-12 libraries from "shhhh" to "wow". nextchapter.reimagine-ed.org/ (via @brainpicker @nancygiordano + makes me think of @ChristianLong!)

Little did I know that good friend Christian Long was already part of the Reimagine:ED leadership team coordinating the Next Chapter national design summit. When we talked more about the genesis and the goal of the event, I was smitten by the good intentions and good will of everyone involved. A meeting here in Austin with Jeff Sharpe, the Creative Director of Reimagine:ED sealed the deal. I would join an eclectic and engaging group who would be speaking, challenging, facilitating and presenting to an assembly of librarian educators who were coming to Atlanta to get loud on behalf of a new kind of library for kids.

The fact the attendees would be challenged to learn and use new ways of thinking inspired me to take on a challenge, too. I did not travel with my usual graphic recording kit of markers, pastels, and 4-foot rolls of paper. Instead, I decided to only use the whiteboard surfaces that sponsor Idea Paint planned to install all over The Lovett School on which folks could doodle, muse, draw and ideate.

Good idea. And great fun.

We were all greeted on a beautiful September day in Atlanta with the promise of lots and lots of white space. We had the metaphorical blank slate on which to create the library of the (near) future; and the physical blank space of whiteboards everywhere. The organizers planted seeds of inquiry on the accordion-folded wall-of-white that greeted attendees when they walked in. I got to visual-provocateuring and doodled-by-example; inviting people to pick up whiteboard markers and make their mark(s).

This did not prove to be a difficult charge.

Whiteboards came to life in words and pictures, all weekend long. Jeff Sharpe encouraged participants to “tag their environment”, and idea graffiti popped up everywhere in response.

I was in my own happy place of serving as visual reporter, graphic eavesdropper and doodling pied-piper.

And I was surrounded by the kind of educators I would wish for my own children; adults who haven’t forgotten what it’s like to be a kid. Adults who envision the K-12 library as a dynamic space and platform for learning, versus a static container for facts and books. Adults who came up with “do it right now” projects that included learning yurts, interactive dea walls, “flash carts” for literally mobilizing information, libranasiums (think library+gymnasium) and library as global bazaar.

Like any good book, I suggest you check it out: Reimagine:ED Next Chapter.

You’ll find photos, blog posts, tweets and more. Oh - and a whiteboard doodle or two from a certain provocaTEURRRRRRR.

Kudos and thanks to:

The stellar team behind Reimagine:ED, headed by Jeff Sharpe, Laure Deisley and Christian Long.

The Lovett School, for opening their minds and doors to the Next Chapter Design Summit. With extra-special thanks to Robyn Martin, Director of Libraries.

The attendees, who embraced a not always easy design process. I can’t wait to walk into the libraries of your imaginations.

The team of provocateurs, who were indistinguishable from attendees in their passion to affect change. I was honored to be in your midst.

Idea Paint, for giving all of us plenty of space to play. And making sure my markers and paper weren’t missed.