Saturday, August 24, 2013

My 2013-2014 Library Makeover Pictures {Before and After}

I cannot believe we've already been in school for eight days and I'm not just now finally blogging my library before and after pictures. Although it has been an absolute whirlwind finding my new normal, I am absolutely LOVING my new job! It is so fast paced and the kids are so enthusiastic right now that it makes my day! 

A little info. before you see all the pictures. Our 2013-2014 PBIS school theme is jungle safari, so that's why everything is animal print, leaves and vines. :) Our library is long and narrow, which makes moving things around next to impossible. Plus, all the bookcases, except for one, are attached to the wall. Next year, the paneling will be removed and replaced with sheet rock and we will be getting new flooring. I had help from several friends and family members to make this transformation possible. I couldn't have done it without them!

Here's a sneak peek at one 'after' photo!

Story time area

{Before}

 {Before}

{Before}

 {Before - The red bookcase in this picture had a cardboard box for the back. I pulled it off, piece by piece and you'll see it painted black and holding board books in one of the after pictures.}

{Before}

 {Before}

 {Before}

 {Before}

 {Before}
 {Before}

 {Before}

 {Before}

  {Before - The office I spent so much time on before summer school was messy and moved around when I came back in.}

  {During - Opening all these new books felt like Christmas!}

 {During - New DVD's}

{Before - We have five different student tables with all different colored legs. This is what one of them looked like before my sweet husband painted them black.}

 {Before - Cute shabby table before I painted it black. I loved it distressed, but when I got it to school the off-white color clashed too much with the white SMART Board screen.}


{Before - A teacher was getting rid of this right after I had asked if a new one could be built. I have it painted black now, but it hasn't yet been hung on the wall. It will hold some of our teacher resources.}

 
{After - My mom made this for our lower hall bulletin board.} 

 {After - A glance from the lower hall side door in the library.}

{After - Lower hall doorway}

 {After - This bulletin board will be changed monthly or by the season.}

 {After - Bananas for Books is our reward system for classes for bringing back their books on time.}


This bulletin board will be changed monthly, but it will also hold our Wild About GRRR Behavior chart for classroom behavior rewards.}

 {After -Student supply tubs}

 {After -Fiction}

  {After -Board Books for preschool students and Parents as Teachers}
{After - Non-Fiction}


{After - Lower hall door - My mom made this, too!}

 {After - Humane trophies - stuffed animal heads that our secretary let us borrow for the year.}

 {After - Half of reference, puppets and our pointer collection}


{After - Story time area with futons, carpet and the SMART Board. The cute table from before is now black in this picture. ;) }

 {After - Other half of reference, plus our new books held out until our Teacher Sneak Peek Preview}

 {After - Computer area}

 {After - Circulation Desk}

 {After - A few magazines for the beginning of the year. We just got confirmation that our DonorsChoose project for magazines has been processed, so I can't wait for the kids to have a great variety this year!}

 {After - Library view from the upper hall doorway}

 {After - Diary of a Wimpy Kid upper hall door entrance}

 {After - Just for fun pictures for the hallway. They came from Dollar Tree 2014 calendars.}

 {After - More Dollar Tree calendar pictures for the upper hallway}

{After - More Humane Trophies on load from our secretary}

I hope you enjoyed a little peek into our library! If you have any questions, be sure to ask!

17 comments:

  1. Wow, what a transformation! Now, the question will be how you're going to get children back into their classrooms. They're going to want to spend all their time in the library. What a wonderful problem to have.

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  2. Marlena,

    The library looks incredible! I just love what you have done. It is so inviting and the colors are great! The Humane trophies are so cute too. Just curious as to how you do your library reward system, the one for classes returning books. I would love to share that idea with my media specialist.

    I know you are going to have a wonderful year in your new position.

    Hugs, Ann Greene

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  3. What an amazing transformation! The library looks so warm and inviting. Wishing you a wonderful school year.

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  4. Your "after" pics are fabulous! Theme decorations really can make a space inviting. Good luck this year in the library--I'm sure you'll do a great job!
    Swersty’s Swap Shop

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  5. OH MY!!!! This has got to be the cutest library ever! You did a wonderful job. :)

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  6. I agree with everyone's comments! The library looks AMAZING and all the kiddos love it! :) Of course I miss you in Kindergarten but I am soooo happy for you and glad you love your new position.

    ~ Lisa
    Teaching Kindergarten Kiddos

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  7. Amazing transformation!! Kudos to you and those who helped. That library says- "Books are important and you (the students) are worth our best efforts." Very inspiring.

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  8. This is really cute. I can tell how much time and effort you put into this library. I love your mom's Pete The Cat. It is adorable.

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  9. What a transformation. I feel exhausted just looking at the changes. Everything is gorgeous and I love the spacious feel you have achieved.
    Julie :-)
    Mrs Stowe's Kinder Cottage

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  10. What an INCREDIBLE transformation!! How exciting for you and your new students!
    Karen :o)
    Mrs. Stamp's Kindergarten

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  11. What an INCREDIBLE transformation!! How exciting for you and your new students!
    Karen :o)
    Mrs. Stamp's Kindergarten

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  12. I work in a small elementary school as an LMC paraprofessional and we are looking at doing a complete makeover this year. What beautiful pictures, gives me some great ideas! I wonder if you could elaborate a bit more about your Bananas for Books reward system? Thanks

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    1. How fun to get a complete makeover! We are getting new flooring and getting rid of the paneling in our library next year and I'm thrilled! :) For the Bananas for Books reward system, each class gets a banana (cut out using a Cricut machine) for each class period that they have 100% returned books or renewals. If any student has an overdue book, they do not get a banana. So far, the kids are doing well. After each 6 bananas, the class will get a treat or reward. They will get to choose from things like extra recess, watch a movie, have a game day, etc.

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    2. Thank you so much for the info! I was hoping to get some sort of rewards system set up this year and those bananas look mighty tasty. I love giving out classroom bonuses, when the class earns them.

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  13. This is one of the cutest makeovers I have ever seen! What a difference it makes for the area. I agree with one poster you will have to force the little ones back to their classrooms because they are going to love the library soooo much!

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  14. This is one of the cutest makeovers I have ever seen! What a difference it makes for the area. I agree with one poster you will have to force the little ones back to their classrooms because they are going to love the library soooo much!

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