Kellond Library Transformation Takes Shape
By early August, the changes at Kellond Elementary School’s library were becoming much easier to see. Shelves were being reorganized, colorful lights were going up, book-inspired artwork was overhead, and a new floor-to-ceiling “Tree of Library Life” was helping turn a little-used school library into something very different.
The work is part of Altrusa’s ongoing partnership with Kellond staff to help Principal Angela Schiavone realize her vision for the space: a vibrant literacy center organized more like a popular bookstore, where children can browse by interests and more easily discover books they want to read.
Giving the Books a New Home
There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work involved in making that happen.
Elsa Nelson has spent considerable time over the past two weeks removing books previously identified for discard from Kellond’s computer system. But those books aren’t simply being thrown away. They are being donated to Friends of the Pima County Public Library, where they can be sold or recycled to help raise money for the public library system.
Marcia, Elaine Wilder, and community volunteer Noe Gaxiola, the husband of one of Kellond’s teachers, have all helped by taking loads of the discarded books to Friends of the Library.
Meanwhile, Elda Lopez and Gail Dent have been sorting the books that will remain at Kellond into sections such as historical fiction, realistic fiction, mystery, animal stories, sports stories, adventure, fantasy and fairy tales. There’s also an easy-reading section for kindergarten and first-grade students who are growing into independent readers.
Each section is assigned a different colored dot inside the books. That simple system will make it much easier to return books to the correct shelves once students begin checking them out. Over the past two weeks, Pat and Susan Young, Bonnie, Ann, Marcia, and Elaine have all worked on adding the colored dots to books as the new sections take shape.
A Library Designed to Invite Children In
The books are only part of the transformation.
Principal Schiavone wants the entire library to feel colorful, creative, and welcoming. She and Ann strung lights along the shelves, while Kellond staff have also pitched in to help decorate the space.
The fourth-grade GATE teacher has been especially enthusiastic about the transformation, and playground monitors have also joined the effort. Among the additions is a dramatic “Tree of Library Life” stretching from floor to ceiling. Overhead, painted ceiling tiles inspired by books add still more color and personality, continuing a project Principal Schiavone began with older students last spring.
The result is beginning to show what she envisioned from the start: not simply rows of books on shelves, but a place where students will want to spend time.
Familiar Faces and More Work Ahead
The library also has a new assistant, Adrienne Magee, who taught kindergarten and first grade at Kellond for many years. She already knows some of the Altrusa volunteers because she was an Altrusan herself early in her teaching career—a nice connection as the partnership moves forward.
There’s still plenty to do. Intensive work will continue over the next several weeks as Altrusans reorganize the shelves according to Principal Schiavone’s vision and Kellond staff continue bringing creativity and color to the space.
What began with removing outdated books and reorganizing shelves is steadily becoming something much bigger: a school library being rebuilt around the children who will use it.
And judging by the color, creativity, and teamwork already filling the room, Kellond’s new literacy center is well on its way.