A Celebration of “A Sense of Place”

 

Book Birthday Meets Library Birthday: A Celebration of “A Sense of Place”

On February 5th, our library didn’t just host an event — it became the event.

Inspired by the themes from A Sense of Place: School Libraries at the Heart of Learning, Connection, and Belonging, we transformed the library into a living reflection of several chapters from the book, especially A Place of Inspiration, A Place to Create, and A Place to Learn.

What unfolded throughout the day was exactly what the book argues a school library can be: not simply a room filled with books, but a dynamic, joyful, creative space where students feel invited to participate.

And by perfect serendipity, February 5th also happened to be the 33rd anniversary of our library. Without planning it that way, the day became both a book birthday and a library birthday — a beautiful reminder that libraries themselves are living, evolving places.

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Turning the Library into an Experience

Rather than hosting a single presentation or formal program, we designed the celebration so students could move freely from space to space, discovering activities at their own pace during lunch.

The entire library was decorated to feel festive and welcoming. The space itself became part of the celebration — a physical example of what it means to create a sense of place.

Throughout the library, we set up activity tables that invited students to engage in different ways:

• A Student Writers’ Table
  Students could talk about their own writing ideas and learn about real pathways to getting published. This table naturally became a place for conversation, encouragement, and inspiration.

• An Easy Writing Activity
  Designed so that anyone could participate in just a few minutes, this station allowed even the busiest students to take part in the creative energy of the day.

• A Craft Station: Miniature “Book Nooks”
  Students created tiny scenes celebrating the magic of books and reading spaces. This hands-on activity brought the theme of A Place to Create to life in a tangible way.

• A Photo Area
  A space for students to capture memories and document the joy of the event.

• Bookish Stickers and Candy
  Small touches that added an extra layer of fun and invitation.

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When the Library Is Most Alive

We typically welcome over 100 students across our three lunch periods, and with extra help in the afternoon, this is when the library is at its most energetic. Students moved from table to table, talked with one another, laughed, created, wrote, and lingered.

This is what it looks like when a library is not just used, but lived in.

The noise level wasn’t a distraction — it was the sound of engagement. The movement wasn’t chaotic — it was the flow of curiosity. The decorations weren’t extra — they were an invitation.

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A Day Full of Meaning

As if the day didn’t already hold enough significance, it also happened to be my parents’ 55th wedding anniversary — and they were able to attend the celebration.

Watching them walk through the library, see the decorations, observe students creating, and experience the energy of the space added a deeply personal layer to the day. In many ways, it felt like a quiet reminder that places of belonging are built over time — through care, consistency, and community.

Libraries do that. Families do that too.

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A Living Example of “A Sense of Place”

The celebration became a real-life demonstration of the book’s core message:

• The library as a place of inspiration

• The library as a place to create

• The library as a place to learn

• The library is a place to gather and belong

Without a formal lesson, students experienced all of these ideas simply by being present in the space.

On a day that marked 33 years of our library’s history, celebrated a new book, and honored 55 years of my parents’ marriage, one truth stood out clearly:

A library’s story is not only found on its shelves.

It is written every day by the people who walk through its doors.