On Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, Freedom High School’s new library opened. In March 2024, Freedom began conducting renovations to switch the main office and counseling department location with the library.
“Loudoun Public County Schools had an initiative to flip all schools that had a main office that was not directly connected to the entrance of the school,” said Kenneth Christopher, Director of Freedom High School’s Counseling Department. “So for security reasons, they wanted everyone to check in prior to going into the regular school.”
During the renovations, the library was temporarily moved to L604. While this room was smaller than the former library space, the librarians could replicate many of their former spaces, including having multiple bookshelves, a check-out area, reading tables and a green screen room for filming.
“The temporary library move-in went very smoothly,” said Barbara Oliphant, a Freedom High School librarian. “We had enough books down there. Students were still able to come in during study hall, we did one Makerspace down there, maybe two. So I think it went very, very smoothly.”
The new library is located across from the cafeteria. The renovations also altered the library’s layout, adding a workroom, new tables with charging cables and an enclosed classroom/conference room at the back of the library. However, it also features all of the amenities of the former library, including a printing area, a maker space, a check-out area and seating areas.
“I love the new library! It’s definitely more modern, but it’s a very comfortable space and it feels very welcoming,” senior Bella Faenza said. “My favorite feature of the new library is the panels that section off some of the tables. I like that there’s an aspect of privacy in the space without making it feel isolated.”
The renovations have received support from administration, students and faculty. Many students have started studying in the library during early mornings as they claim it is a comfortable spot to complete school assignments. Additionally, teachers have also been working with students on missing assignments and helping them with class at the library before, during and after school.
The school librarians are excited for the new library because there will be many opportunities to engage students in an educational environment.
“We will have information literacy lessons and an opening week makerspace,” Oliphant said. “Then while you’re waiting for them to set up, you can participate in the “get-to-know” the library scavenger hunt, which will enter you into a raffle for free books or candy. We also have an author visit coming in.”
There are also various incentives for students to come to the library. It can be a “third space” for students who want an additional space other than classes and hallways to do work, spend time with friends and work with teachers.
“We have a very diverse collection of books. Come if you just need to distress or chill out. It’s going to be a very relaxing, homey, nice place to be” Oliphant said.
The counseling department and main office’s layout was also altered. With the counseling department, an extra office was added to provide each of the nine counselors with their own office. The main office also centralized all of its needed rooms within the office, with a conference room, copy room, mailing room and break room all in the main office area, and a badge needed to access these rooms. This design was implemented by the county rather than Freedom High School.
“We didn’t really have any say in the layout of the counseling department,” Christopher said. “However, we did ask for an extra room, because at that time, we had nine counselors and they only had eight rooms. So we’ve switched that up now, but the schools did not have a whole lot of say in the design of the flip.”
