The School Library as The Third Place

By Hannah Byrd Little on 12/03/2015 • ( 0 )

Looking at the school library as a third place for students, parents, and faculty

For over eight years we have developed a Learning Commons environment for our library. One of the big things that we investigated in the planning stages, was the idea of the library as “the third place.” This term was coined by professor emeritus of sociology at the University of West Florida Ray Oldenburg. The idea is that the first place is your home and the second place is your work or school. And then there is that third-place, that place where you “hang out” with friends, collaborate with colleagues, it is a place to go and meet for quiet discussion, or friendly debate. The big question is “how can a school library be a third-place when it is also part of the second place?”

Right now, at this very moment in my career I am at a distinct advantage. Not only have I achieved a certain amount of experience as a school librarian (10 plus years) I also have a built-in “focus group” that eats dinner with me every night (i.e. my very own teenagers.) So, I asked my own teenagers “What can we do to make the school library a great place to hangout?” Thankfully their answers are things we are already doing like:

Donated Keurig machine for self serve station

Coffee – we have a self serve Keurig machine and recently purchased a small coffee pod dispenser
Comfy chairs – everyone wants a comfy place to sit, we stay away from sofas to cut down on PDA
Games – we have card games, chess, checkers, and scrabble — also a Minecraft server
Technology – wireless Internet for students, faculty and guests — and Makerspace/Hackerspace

Other ideas to make the school library the third place

Host PTA/PTO meetings
Have special events at night (debate watch party, parent book club, maker night, coffee house, movie night)
Before and After school hangout for students (host student clubs)
Place for faculty and staff to hangout (have coffee, host in-service, etc.)

Read more about third places:

Ray Oldenburg’s book http://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Third-Place-Inspiring-Communities/dp/1569246122
“Third places are where people congregate other than work or home.” https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-good-life/200912/happy-places-third-places
LIBRARIES WITH LATTES: THE NEW THIRD PLACE – http://illinois-online.org/krassa/ps410/Readings/Third%20Places/Libraries%20with%20Lattes.pdf
Affordable Single Serve Coffee Pod Dispenser – Mind Reader

The public library as a meeting‐place in a multicultural and digital context: The necessity of low‐intensive meeting‐places – http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/00220410510598562

Libraries in the USA as Traditional and Virtual ‘Third Places’ – http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=libit_pubs

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Author: Hannah Byrd Little

Hello, I am the Library Director at The Webb School of Bell Buckle. I use my past experience in college and university libraries to help my current students in school libraries transition into college, career, and life. I am currently the lead Senior Class Adviser for the Capstone Project. I also served at the state level with the Tennessee Association of School Librarians executive board from 2009-2013 and was the TASL president in 2012. I am certified as a Library Information Specialist for PreK-12th grade, have a BS in Communications with a concentration in Advertising and Public Relations, a BS in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Education and Information Systems and a Masters in Library and Information Science.

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