http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

The Magic Boxesby Ioannis Trohopoulos & Dimitris Protopsaltou

Veria Central Public Library, Greece

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

Overview

• Objectives– Why we did it?– The concept

• Design– How we did it?

• The experience– The current situation– Events & activities

• Evaluation– What is the impact– How do we improve it

• Future– What’s next?

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

Objectives

• “Magic”– Brings the emotional and

pleasurable aspects of experiencing creativity

– Fun– Wonder– Excitement

• “Box”– Is a determined space,

that invites people:– to open it – to touch it– or discourages them to

come in contact with its contents.

• A children-centric environment– Open and accessible to all– Aesthetically children-friendly – Provides the means to express creativity and curiosity

The concept

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

The Children area before

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

The design

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

• Colours and materials that engage emotionally in creativity

Design recommendations

• Distinct and impressive constructions– Differentiate children's area from the rest of the library

• Flexible and multi-purpose

– furniture, constructions and

– interactive technology spaces

• Continuously altered

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

the Magic Boxes experience

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

• On continuous beta version

• Study usability issues• Listen to the user:

– Define intuitive feedback mechanisms

• Define performance indicators– Measure activities– Monitor visitors & users– Number of participating

volunteers– Measure dissemination

Evaluation

• The impact– Approx. 20 activities per month– All elementary and primary schools of Veria, approx. 5,000 students

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

The official opening

• The Magic Boxes has officially opened – on April 26, 2009

• By his Excellency the President of the Hellenic DemocracyDr.Karolos Papoulias

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

• Support continuing renewal of activities

• Personalisation• User-based innovation

– Enforce volunteers– Listen to the children

• Ubiquitous technology

• Ultimately, the entire library building – will be transformed into a

big box– A user-centric environment

• that addresses personalised needs

• Interactive, thematic presentations– the “box” with novels– the “box” with biographies– the “box” with – the “box” with general

knowledge books

The future

• Check our activities:– On flickr:– http://www.flickr.com/libver– On our site:– http://www.libver.gr/

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

The library – where we are

http://www.libver.gr The Magic Boxes, Veria Central Public Library

Thank youQuestions?