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Ellie Rice, Staff Reporter
Originally published January 15, 2019
Julian Whitworth
“I want this to be a space that students love to go to, I want this to be a space where they feel comfortable, they feel like they’re always welcome. I also want them to feel like this is a place they go to get their work done…I want to make sure it’s not just a ‘shhh’ zone, I do want to provide a space if students need a ‘shhh’ zone, though,” said Chambers.
A group of chattering teenagers next to a student absorbed in their textbook is an unlikely duo, but somehow they have found a way to exist in harmony. With the direction of the library’s new librarian, TuesD Chambers, and librarian assistant Lindi Wood, the library has been converted into a safe space for collaboration and creativity.
Since the library was awarded a $100,000 grant award from Farmers Insurance in 2017, the library has undergone major changes. With the money from the grant, the library saw the addition of more electrical outlets and computer stations.
Over the summer the Seattle School District removed the bank of computers from the middle of the library because they were outdated and they were not updating them anymore.
The grant was initially written to remove and replace the computers in the library, but after the District removed them for free, it allowed the library to use it for other purposes. Currently, most of the money is going towards buying furniture and new technology.
“Students hated them, and I don’t blame them,” Chambers said. “The computers in the middle of the room made it nearly impossible for teachers to teach. They had to scream through them.” The District then purchased new laptops to replace the old computers.
The space where the computer bank was is now filled with a wide variety of choices for flexible seating. There are donated pieces from interior designers and new tables for computers.
The team of librarians also added wheels to the bottom of all the tables so classes can move them to maximize opportunities for collaboration.
“We also have bean bags, which I love and hate,” Chambers said. “I love them because students love them but I hate them because students love them…They are so comfy students think it’s sleepy sleepy time. No! It’s get to class time, yo. But they don’t always agree with me…They’re awesome in terms of collaborating and hanging out, they’re not good for getting work done.”
Chambers hopes classes will use the resources provided to learn, and the library will not just be a place to check out books.
“I want this to be a space that students love to go to, I want this to be a space where they feel comfortable, they feel like they’re always welcome. I also want them to feel like this is a place they go to get their work done…I want to make sure it’s not just a ‘shhh’ zone, I do want to provide a space if students need a ‘shhh’ zone, though,” said Chambers.
They have added more technology for students to use such as virtual reality goggles, a 3D printer, and drones. Students are able to use these in a new MakerSpace where they can go to learn and create with different types of technology as a part of the MakerSpace movement that pushes people to get involved and create things with their hands.
“You come here to find out information and sometime that information is hands on, so you can get a book out on how to knit, or you can come to the MakerSpace and learn how to knit,” Wood said.
Chambers’ enthusiasm and dedication to transforming the library also got the district to put in new carpeting and Wi-Fi hotspots. As for future changes, she is hoping to get new lighting from the district and is buying new furniture, too. With any money left over, she hopes to repaint the library and add posters to organize the library by genre.
“I never want this space to feel like it’s empty, ever…I want it to be the heart of the school,” Chambers said. “In my mind this is the place where all the action happens,”
Students are also using the space before and after school, along with at lunch.
“I eat lunch here everyday,” Said Sophomore Mollie Buchinger. “The lunchroom is very calming and the library is very calming,”
Currently, classes have found ways to utilize the space by using resources such as the interactive projectors and communicating with flexible seating.
“In Biotech we come here with our groups and have this big cohort with 50 people and use the beanbags and tables to work cohesively with each other” Buchinger Said.
“Students need to figure out how to use their time and space,” said Chambers. She hopes students will see her vision and properly utilize the resources to make the library the hub for productive learning and collaboration.
