The Palo Alto High School library invites students to check out its remodeled interior, filled with carpeted lounging areas, a chalkboard corner and new furniture, according to librarian Rachel Kellerman. – Spencer SchoebenWant to share your writing, post an announcement, or show off your creative talent? The library’s new chalkboard corner is a place to do just that.

The previously bare white wall and divider between the English Resource Center and library entrance are now charcoal black, in stark contrast to the rest of the library walls and furniture.

Over the past weekend, librarian Rachel Kellerman and her husband painted the wall and divider with black paint that turns the surface into a chalkboard, Kellerman said.

The divider is also magnetic.

“We put magnetic primer down first, then painted the chalk paint on top,” Kellerman said. “We can clip all sorts of things to it.”

Having dubbed the newly painted corner “The Wall,” Kellerman said she hopes to add a light blue stripe across the top emblazoned with the moniker as an homage to Facebook.

While the walls are bare now, the librarians envision them soon coming to life with student writing.

Kellerman hopes it will be an area to showcase student work, especially writing. She wants to collaborate with teachers to put their students’ work on display.

After letting the paint set for a few days, Kellerman seasoned the wall Wednesday by rubbing on chalk and then erasing it. Once the seasoning process is complete the surfaces should be ready for use.

“Hopefully it will be ready to go next week,” Kellerman said.

According to Kellerman, though The Wall promises to be a place for creative expression, it is not an open forum. The librarians will keep the chalk at the circulation desk, and students interested in posting something should speak to them.

“It’s not a ‘free for wall’ – we edit The Wall,” Kellerman said.