TED Talk-How to make a library that makes kids want to read

Literacy-Libraries

I watched this Ted Talk about some people that were interested in changing libraries in public schools in New York. To get rid of the idea that libraries are musty old boring places. So this guy was bought in to re image so came up with three options 1- a shh free zone Option 2-OWL- rename it Open Wonder Learn or other thing that fits- Option 3-based on read (red) Red Zone-Are you Red?- But needed to rethink these as not many kids didn't even really know much about a library.  He came with this logo L!brary.
However this was not the end of it as then the architect came back and said there is a problem and said there is a gap between the shelves and the ceiling can you fix it? So they came up with the idea to put in pictures of the children above the shelves as mural reading and enjoying themselves. Then other schools wanted more and so they added other art and ideas from the children. They got artists in to come up with ideas and put up materials in this area etc.
This talk made me think about how can we make Libraries more engaging. I have visited schools in Melbourne where they made the library the hub of their learning as it was in the middle of the school usually in behind the office. I liked this as it was often a hive of activity, however you have to consider more than the location of it. Libraries have to look different than they have in the past and the libraries have to offer more than they have in the past. I recently enjoyed the experience of having some people from the Christchurch Library sharing their knowledge on Matariki. This was great and the children were very engaged in the experience and they also were interested in going to the library to learn more about Matariki because of their visit. A library today has to have the resources that help a child to learn and have a variety of different resources. I think this talk has make me think libraries also need to be attractive in order to get them to walk in the door and enjoy. I like the display of some art work in the spaces, as couldn't a library be also a place to appreciate the Arts as these days they often have to be multi purpose buildings.