It's all about staying flexible
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The vendors who offer furniture and design solutions to libraries are unanimous: library furnishings and spaces need to be adaptable to change. “Spaces need the ability to be repurposed quickly and easily through the day,” says Janet Nelson, Demco’s director of industry and media relations. “With tight budgets and a focus on sustainability, square footage is at a premium and must be used effectively.” School libraries are increasingly being used by communities in the evening, or offering extended hours for families. These new services are also challenging librarians to use space better than ever before. Education through collaboration Nelson says that some of the changes in the public library are being echoed in schools, where librarians and administrators want to create more comfortable and functional environments to support not just collaboration but social interaction as well. “Not only does this make the library a more desirable destination, it also supports current education trends,” she says. “These libraries are working to develop a sense of community through the design of the space. Many are also using programming and the addition of activities, such as gaming, to further these efforts.” “The idea is to create a learning atmosphere while removing the institutional, back-in-the-day flavor,” adds Donna Longo, Gaylord’s marketing communications director. The digital impact The one big thing “Updating seating provides a perfect opportunity to introduce new styles and color into a space,” says Nelson, as can introducing colorful graphics or flexible display fixtures to merchandise browsing collections. Refreshing or adding end panels to shelving can also be used to merchandise or add color or personality. Nelson’s least expensive solution? “Reduce the clutter that has accumulated over the years. Take a look at a space through the eyes of a newcomer… the accumulation of excess materials and equipment is often overlooked on a daily basis but provides opportunities to reclaim additional space or simply make the space more inviting.”—Brian Kenney
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Divine Design
One solution? Casters. “All of our leg-based furniture… can either be ordered with casters or retrofitted to have casters,” says Chris Frantz, director of marketing and sales at Brodart. Casters throughout the library, including on shelving, displays, and seating, “allow the spaces to quickly and easily be reconfigured by the library and students rather than relying on custodial staff,” says Nelson.
“Collaborative learning follows along with the modular idea as well as mobility—furniture that allows for group work as well as individual work—sometimes in the same class period, are a definite reality,” says Frantz.
The rise of digital collections—especially in reference and nonfiction—and the ever-growing need for more technology are both impacting design. But according to Nelson, technological advances—such as wireless access and the increase in laptop usage—mean that libraries don’t need to increase the footprint of the furniture (although they do need to increase access to electricity).Adding more digital resources—and weeding your collection—can also open up space “for merchandising collections and providing more materials that help students discover that reading can be a worthwhile leisure activity. Periodicals, graphic novels, and popular literature have taken on renewed emphasis,” says Nelson.
Short on budget, but want to make a big impact, quickly? Frantz suggests buying products with multi-use functions, such as tables that can serve as laptop/computer desks, come together to make meeting areas, or support individual students. Think also about mobile shelving as another cost-effective way of getting the most out of the space.
