Big Lagoon School New Library Space

I had to relocate the library space into another room at our school. Unfortunately during the Pandemic, the library was closed down temporarily, and mildew set in and forest critters decided to move in making it unusable. It was a rather old modular and I knew that I would eventually need to move into another building or room. So it was the perfect timing when I came back last fall.

I had no idea what and where to begin, I just knew I had to hurry and salvage as many books as I could. We had decided that Room 1 would be a great place since it was empty, I do share it with the after-school program, but because I work in the library the first half of the days that I am there, it worked out perfectly.

I needed to pick an area to set up the new library, I decided on the corner area that has full walls and less windows so that the bookshelves could be set up against the walls and then I used shorter bookshelves to use as room dividers. It was fun drawing up the plans to decide where to put the bookshelves considering all the different sizes and shapes that we had in the old library.

I picked this area to create and build the new Library Space:

I then had to go through all the books (which there were so many, considering that the books have been collecting for over 50 years!). I kept books that were newer and in good condition and most relevant for the students. I also knew that I was only going to be able to use less than half the bookshelves that were in the old library, since it was a much smaller space.

I created a fundraiser through donorschoose.org and ordered a brightly colored rug for story time, cheerful wall hangings, a functioning book cart and a few books that are of interest to the students. The fundraiser was fully funded within a month!

I am proud to say, I did it and the library is ready for this coming Fall...I finished the planning, the design, the sorting and shelving of the new library space not knowing what the heck I was doing. It was a big project and I am so happy with the new space, and so are the students.

A big thanks goes to the men on our staff, Michael, Ian and Scott for all the hard labor of setting up the bookshelves, hauling boxes of books and a big thank you to all the rest of the the staff, Rosie, Rebecca, Hannah and Amee for helping and supporting me along this journey. And of course a big thank you to the students for their patience as they kept inquiring, "Ms. April, when can I come and get books?"

The new "Library Space":