Blackboard Desk!

My supervisor recently returned from visiting San Diego with a list of ideas to try out around our branch.  One thing that really impressed her was their use of blackboard paint in the library.  I love blackboard paint; I've used it in other branches and I think it's a cheap and effective way to make dead space and blank walls into interactive areas.  

Years ago I had the ugliest mural in the world above my desk.  I hated it.  I desperately wanted to blackboard paint the entire thing and use it to advertise programs at the branch, cool facts from nonfiction titles, silly jokes - whatever interested me about our library at the time.  Sadly, that was not mean to be and the mural survived, haunting (and disgusting) children's librarians for years to come.  

Thankfully, I have a much more up-to-date supervisor now!  And I also have a blackboard desk!  It's been up for about a week.  I.  Love.  It.  The first day it got a little smeary because the kids are used to learning against the desk.  They're getting the hang of it now.  Here are some of the first round of pictures: