School Libraries Make Room to Learn

The Capitol Hill public-private partnership employed local architects who donated their time to redesign and renovate the three school libraries. The schools got close to 12,000 new books, wireless technology, new computers and printers.

"The school libraries project is not just about new paint and bookshelves," said Suzanne Wells, a co-chair of the project, in a statement. "We believe that the modern school library should be an extension of the classroom."

The shelves in the Veola M. Jackson Library at Stuart-Hobson were custom-milled by Catholic University students, who sought input from the middle school parents, teachers and students on how the library should look.

There are three main sections of the library, or "pods" -- the fiction pod, which can double as a juice bar with a serving area so students can sell drinks and snacks; the center circulation desk pod, with a book drop and a variety of storage options; and the non-fiction pod, which has low built-in benches and higher countertop surfaces.

For one group of eighth-grade students who recently poured into the library to research topics for their history project, the changes were apparent right away.

The students were tasked by their social studies teacher, Amy Trenkle, to use the library's online card catalogue to find at least one book. They peeled off in different directions across the brand-new carpet. All around them were new blond shelves holding books. They sat down in front of new computer terminals and typed in search terms for their research topics: Buffalo Soldiers; the Cultural Revolution in China; Saladin, the 12th-century Kurdish Muslim general and warrior.

Jevon William, 13, of Capitol Hill sat at a new computer terminal and considered the dramatic changes in his school library since last year.

"I like it now because it looks new, and I can use the computer," he said. "That's a big help."