What color is your paint? How fast is your wireless? Inspirations for libraries.

Writers Writing - What Makes a Library Better

Annotated Bibliography

Bates, Laura. "7 Great Tools for Kids to Make Music Online." Fractus Learning. N.p., n.d. Web.

Laura Bates is a writer with particular experience in the area of education technology. The world of education has been slower to shine the light on the beneficial effects of music, and its creation on learning in the young.  Her summaries of many of the best and latest developments in the exciting new tools in e-learning are useful to any who want to use the tools of music to aid in learning.

Freeman, Geoffrey T. Library as Place: Rethinking Roles, Rethinking Space. Washington, D.C.: Council on Library and Information Resources, 2005. Print.

Lastly, the collection of writings, edited by Geoffrey Freeman, is an invaluable source investigating all aspects of the library and how to look at data and rethink the way that libraries work.  By starting with technology as the catalyst for change, the articles focus on the library as learning laboratory and the paradigm shift of creating a community center along side the place of information and learning.  Through interviews the writers see how to design spaces that encourage study and other places that invite lingering and return.  This collection should be read by all librarians and students of Library and Information Science as a lense for looking at change in our libraries today.

Herdelin, Jamey. "LITERATURE CIRCLES: A SCHOOL LIBRARIAN INITIATIVE FOR ASSISTING  STRUGGLING READERS." Kentucky Libraries Vol. 78.Issue 1 (2014): P24. Web.

Herdelin analyzes what motivates struggling readers and how a librarian or Library Media Specialist can support them by developing literature circles. In the library whether it is the story hour for the young or the book clubs for older children, or even those for adults.  Supported reading helps everyone.

Lesneski, Traci Engel. "How To Design Library Space with Kids in Mind." Library by Design (2012): n.  pag. Web. 

Lesneski, the Head of Interiors at Meyer, Scherer and Rockastel in Minneapolis, gives simple yet sage advice on how to create a library space that works for its youngest users.  Keeping in mind the 10 useful tidbits on design for children, any library can be a better one. 

Schwindt, M., and J. Tegeler. "Preschool Story Time: Fun and Learning in the School LIbrary." School   Library Montly 26.6 (n.d.): 14-15. Web.

Although this article is directed to school librarians, the information given about story time programs can be applied to any library. Storytime for preschoolers is an excellent way to introduce the very young to all libraries.

Tonnelat, Stéphane. "The Sociology of Urban Public Spaces." Thesis. N.d. Atlantis Press, (2010.): n. pag. Web. 

Tonnelat’s paper focuses on urban public spaces, but much of it can be applied to interior public spaces and answers why people do or do not congregate there, what attracts a certain demographic, and why.   Her writing on public space, and democracy, plazas and cafes, respites and communications, contain insightful knowledge on gathering places for people. Her quote “This social dimension of parks makes us consider that, just like the café, they are usually very local places, used and  occupied by inhabitants  of surroundings blocks. But more so than cafes, they are also open to anybody, from poor to rich, from inhabitant to visitor. This social dimension of parks makes us consider that, just like the café, they are usually very local places, used and occupied by inhabitants of surroundings blocks. 

But more so than cafes, they are also open to anybody, from poor to rich, from inhabitant to visitor.” If one were to substitute the word “library” for the word “park” the information would still fit and be useful. 

"Characteristics and Guidelines of Great Public Spaces." Great Places in America Public Spaces. APA American Planning Association, n.d. Web.

The American Planning Association brings together thousands of people; practicing planners, citizens, elected officials, all committed to making great communities happen. When looking at trying to change any place for the public, the advice of professional planners is useful and  their perspective interesting.