Library Makeover - Will James Middle School! Join students and teachers in their quest to complete a library makeover of the Will James Middle School Library. The WJMS Library is used by hundreds of students each school year. The library's current design needs upgrading to create a space that can better support project-based learning, improve access for students, and develop a comfortable central place for students to sit and read a book, hold club meetings, or just have a central, comfortable place in the school to spend time working on schoolwork.

The WJMS library is a unique space that has transformed over the years since the school was built in 1967. Originally in the shape of an ‘L’, two spaces were connected by two 8 foot openings. The largest space held the library collection, work tables and the reference desk. The connecting smaller space opened to the main school hallway and housed periodicals and comfortable seating. To ease overcrowding at Arrowhead Elementary in 2012, the 8 foot openings were closed with wallboard to create a classroom for Arrowhead 6th graders. This change cut off the library from the school hallway. Access to the library was through a narrow back hall, isolating the library from the energy of the school.

In recent years, this space has become the abandoned classroom one walks through to get to the library. We need to reclaim this space for the library, to reconnect it to the physical hallways and classrooms of the school. In doing so, the library will be utilized as an extension of the classrooms that line the halls. This space will enable every class to have a place to go beyond the physical classroom walls to work on both independent and collaborative projects and presentations with the support of the library media specialist. When Will James Junior High was built in 1967, instruction was delivered inside the four walls of a classroom by a teacher standing at the front, lecturing to students sitting in individual desks in rows. Today, the manner in which teachers deliver instruction and the student response are markedly different. Information is no longer housed in one space, rather it is ubiquitous. Teachers are no longer the expert transmitter of knowledge, but more the expert designer/coach of the emergent learning process. Students have access to information 24/7 on personal devices. With the guidance of the teacher, students are absorbing this abundance of information and ideas, and creating new knowledge in more active, purposeful ways. Changing technology and expectations are requiring librarians and teachers to reimagine how we support students in their learning. The design of Will James still supports the 1967 model.

Students from the Billings Career Center Interior Design class visited the WJMS library to develop designs for the WJMS that are within a budget, create a space that is conducive to collaborative learning, and reflects elements that are important in project-based learning. Their voices are student voices, the core audience of this space. In conversations, they expressed the importance of using flexible furniture in the design. Whether students are working in pairs, or small or large groups, being able to arrange/move furniture to accommodate the project is key to the creativity of collaborative learning. For example, some furniture might be stackable to create open space. Tables can be multi-use and modular to connect together into larger tables or pulled apart for smaller groupings. Outfitting this space with multifunctional furniture will provide us with the greatest flexibility for learning needs.

The first step of this project has already been done! The temporary walls have been removed and the space is connected to the library. Teachers are no longer needing to utilize the hallway floors for students to have the space to work in small groups.

The space can also be used for direct collaborative instruction between the classroom teacher and the librarian. This space is being designed to support and facilitate collaborative partnerships in our school. Sixth and seventh grade social studies teacher, Kristin Kailey, sums up the need best, ”We all have old style desks in our rooms, and it is cramped. The library space is critical for our group projects in Social Studies. The kids need to spread out, think together and access the research support of our librarian. It’s a win for everyone.”

The WJMS Library - Collaborative Learning Space Needs - Your gift will help purchase these items!

Cafe Stools 9 @ $129

Adjustable Flip-Top Tables 6 @ $816.00

Smartlink Chairs 24 @ $104.00

Boomerang Sofa 1 @ $2,450.00

Mini Cylinder 2 @ $436

Cafe Tables 3 @ $922.00

Technology : Newline 75" Trutouch Q Series TT-7521Q 1 @ $2,526.09

Will James Middle School Library Collaborative Learning

By Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools

Will James Middle School Library Collaborative Learning

Will James Middle School Library - Creating a Collaborative Learning Space

Team Members