Reimagine Ed: the Next Chapter

Imagine Designing the Future of K-12 Libraries

"Suspend what you think you know. Build on ideas. Dissolve boundaries. Make as many mistakes as possible. Have fun." This quote is the first page of the provocative journal handed to participants at this weekend conference in September 2011.  Our goal was to deconstruct and reconstruct the concept of libraries as we head further into the 21st century.  To be more precise, the language of the organizers suggested, "The ... community will explore the role of the library and its potential as a center of learning and engagement in schools. ..."  And, "We believe the library is the intellectual and spiritual center of learning: a place of discovery, imagining, making and sharing - library as a verb."

We followed the "Design Process" under the leadership of Christian Long and Jeff Sharpe of Be Playful Design, and Laura Deisley and Robyn Martin of the Lovett School. The design process is long and messy, but it does force participants to re-examine every aspect of the topic at hand, a good thing in this context.

The last essay in this free ebook is my personal reflection on the weekend experience.
NEW! School Libraries: What's Now, What's Next, What's Yet to Come
edited by Kristin Fontinchiaro and Buffy Hamilton.
(Smashwords, October, 2011)

http://nextchapter.reimagine-ed.org/
is the home page for information about future events.

https://www.facebook.com/reimagineed?sk=wall
for Facebook comments.