What would you like to see in our new library?

I asked the Summer Fun kids what they would like to see in our expanded and renovated library. As some of the kids are just starting to write I asked them to draw their ideas, using words if they wanted to. As they handed their sheets in, they all wanted to share their ideas and thought processes. It was quite thrilling to see their excitement in the project.

Some of their ideas were not a surprise:

• more space
• comfy furniture
• more spaces for computers
• more of their favourite book series
• more games and a gaming space (only boys asked for this, I wonder why?)

Others made you think 'why not?' :

• a fish tank
• a more colourful exterior
• an unusual shape for the building (the example used was a frog and her drawing was quite detailed)

One thing I saw over and over that surprised me, was a building with multiple floors with the kids area always on the top floor. The current library has the kids' section on the second floor. I had no idea that the kids were so fond of the setup.

And if anyone thinks kids aren't interested in books, this bunch would have changed their minds. Every single drawing of the interior of the library showed book shelves, lots of them. I made the mistake of thinking they were windows in one person's drawing and he were so upset he immediately labeled them "not windows", so I wouldn't forget :-)

Lets hope I can get at leaset some of these ideas included in the plans.