Outside the Box: Transforming Outdoor Spaces to Enhance … · 2018. 3. 31. · Invite People Invite the general public, special service groups or community partners that may be interested

Outside the Box:

Transforming Outdoor

Spaces to Enhance

Library Service

Why Outdoor Spaces?

Encourages Healthy Lifestyles

Opportunities for Environmental Education

Allows for Creative Spaces

Provides Space to Rest & Reflect

Space for Community to Gather

Realize Economic Opportunity

and more…

Scope the Project Your library and your community are

unique. Consider options for a community

venture that will work for your library.

What is special about your library or library

property? Are there areas that you can

devote to a raised bed garden, a flower

bed, bird feeders, etc.?

Are there special community needs that

you can fulfill through your project?

Scan the Environment

Conduct an environmental scan

I know: You don’t have time for such

things, so make it easy…..

What projects are going on locally?

What projects have other libraries done?

• Use the internet to search

for similar projects like this

one!

• Make a list of project

elements that might work

for you.

• Keep track of links or

contact information.

Examples…

Marywood University - Meditation Garden

The Meditation Garden serves as a communal

gathering place for students on campus.

University of California at Berkeley - School of Law Library

The addition to the University of California at Berkeley’s law library

included a rooftop garden above a three-story structure.

Bookyard – An Outdoor Public Library by Massimo Bartolini

The ‘Bookyard‘ was placed in a garden for a

Belgian Art Festival. All books were for sale and

the visitors could bring home a piece of the

artwork by leaving a donation of their choosing.

Know What You Want to

Accomplish

Have big picture goals or a draft mission

statement prepared.

Your project should support your library’s

mission statement.

This is a working document, once you involve

members of the community, your final mission

statement may vary from the original.

Invite People

Invite the general public, special service groups

or community partners that may be interested in

your project.

Have a meeting to introduce the project and

brain storm ideas for making the project a reality.

Discuss the scope/limitations of what you are

able to do. You don’t want to plan a 3 ring circus

if you only have room for a 1 ring circus!

Who’s Got the Money?

What will the project cost?

Where will the money come from for your project?

Be sure to inform the community group of financial plans such as: We already have a donor

We are planning on writing a grant

The community group needs to raise the money for the project

Leading and Following Find the leaders and let them run with ideas

Encourage the worker bees….you need them

too

Giving people ownership of a project makes

them feel invested in the project

As a leader, you can motivate, and

encourage others!

Benefits to the Library and

Community

Consider which PA Forward Literacy that

your project might support

Encourage intergenerational

programming

Educate children

Help the less fortunate in the community

Create an awareness of the library – we

are more than books

The Garden Project

Mission Statement

To develop a garden that will be planned and maintained by

community volunteers and will provide benefits and learning

opportunities for children and adults in the North Pocono

community. We envision this space as a place where

generations can interact, children can learn about how food is

grown, and many people can have an opportunity to work

together toward the garden’s success.

The Learning Garden -- Area(s) of the garden designated for

educational programs and teaching children about gardening

and growing vegetables and flowers.

The Giving Garden – Area(s) of the garden that will be

cultivated by community volunteers to benefit those in the

community that are economically challenged. Harvested items

will be shared with the local food pantry.

The Butterfly Garden – An area on the East side of the library that

includes native shrubbery and flowers to encourage butterfly

visitors. Educational programs will be offered around the

garden species and the butterflies.

The Flower Garden – An area yet to be developed that will

concentrate on the growth of annual and perennial flowers.

Elements of the Garden Project

Butterfly Garden-

established Summer

2016

Giving Garden in

full bloom

Judy’s Garden

Mission Statement

Judy’s Garden, adjacent to the library building and dedicated

in June 2012, developed by family and friends to honor Berwick

High School Class of 1957 graduate and library lover Judy

Chesney, The project was coordinated by her husband Paul

Chesney with creative assistance from Dr. David and Sandy

Campbell, George Remensnyder, and other volunteers and

donors, many of whom were classmates of Judy.

An Opportunity for Giving

Judy’s Garden

was a gift from a

large donor.

The creation of the

garden inspired

others to donate

additional shrubs,

trees, wind chimes,

etc. as memorial

donations

Cultivating Community Good Will

A Programming Space

Teddy Bear Picnic in the Garden

Police Dog Program in the Garden

Filling Pots for planting

Front Landscaping

Peace and Serenity

Tips for Success

Communication is critical.

Keep everyone motivated.

Acknowledge and utilize community

ideas when possible

Show thanks and appreciation.

What Does Your Successful

Project Look Like?