Greetings from Caledonia Public Library! Caledonia, MN

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The Caledonia Public Library’s vision for their Small Libraries Create Smart Spaces transformation is truly multi-generational and multi-use. Through participation in this project and community input, library director Ashley Dress has developed several ideas of bringing active learning to the library. Open mic nights and poetry slams, a space for creating and displaying art and a smart board for community presentations are just a few of the ideas she came up with. According to Dress, the goal is to create a space that will be used by patrons from all generations. “We hope to allow for meetings or presentations from our business community, have a designated space for story times, create a space where teens can play games and where adults can sit in comfortable chairs and have conversations around a variety of topics.”

The 15 small and rural libraries participating in the Small Libraries Create Smart Spaces project are hard at work transforming their chosen spaces into ones that incorporate active learning and meet the needs of their communities. To share their progress, we have imagined postcards that participants might be sending to their communities. Take a look at the great projects taking shape!

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Small Libraries Create Smart Spaces

Fifteen small U.S. public libraries were selected to participate in the Small Libraries Create Smart Spaces project. The selected libraries are:

Caledonia Public Library, Caledonia, Minnesota

Cornwall Public Library, Cornwall, New York

Glenns Ferry Public Library, Glenns Ferry, Idaho

Greenwich Free Library, Greenwich, New York

Honey Grove Library & Learning Center, Honey Grove, Texas

Hot Springs Library, Hot Springs, North Carolina

Ignacio Community Library, Ignacio, Colorado

James Kennedy Public Library, Dyersville, Iowa

Madison Public Library, Madison, South Dakota

Norelius Community Library, Denison, Iowa

Punxsutawney Memorial Library, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania

Ronan Library District, Ronan, Montana

Town Creek Public Library, Town Creek, Alabama

Tucker Free Library, Henniker, New Hampshire

Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library, Wilton, New Hampshire

This two-year project is made possible by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and is implemented in partnership by WebJunction and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.

Read more about the Smart Spaces project here.