Dedicated spaces for individual and group study. Comfortable, versatile and laptop-friendly furniture. And a refreshed, expanded and diversified collection of books and periodicals.
Those are a few signature elements of a newly transformed library and media center at Providence’s Hope High School. After a renewal project funded by $150,000 from Brown University’s Fund for the Education of the Children of Providence, the space promises to inspire and support academic work ranging from group projects to multimedia presentations to one-on-one tutoring.
The refreshed library and media center opened its doors to students on Monday, June 7, following 11 months of planning, design and construction that involved leaders from Brown, the Rhode Island Department of Education, Providence Public School District and Hope High School, as well as high school students, teachers and families.
An intimate, COVID-safe ribbon-cutting event convened leaders from those organizations and more than a dozen soon-to-graduate Hope High School seniors to celebrate the new space on Monday afternoon. Brown President Christina H. Paxson said the library makeover marks the culmination of one project among multiple Brown efforts to support improved teaching and learning in Providence’s Pre-K-12 public school classrooms.
“A library is not just a place where you store books,” Paxson said at the Monday afternoon event. “When designed with modern academic needs in mind, it’s an inspiring place where students can cultivate important skills like reading, writing and research. The University was thrilled to bring to life students’ and staff members’ vision for a reimagined library that will empower students to dream big and find career success. I look forward to collaborating on many, many more such projects.”
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