SCHOOL FURNITURE
Library Furniture +
A library is often at the heart of a school’s learning resources and can also be a showpiece for students and parents alike – so the quality of your school library furniture is important for setting the right tone, projecting the right image and providing a durable and, above all, practical solution.
Tecomak Furniture Solutions are experienced in designing and supplying high quality library furniture for schools, intended to make the best use of space and include a wide range of functionality.
School Library Furniture Requirements
A school library is, in many ways, a microcosm of the modern educational landscape, reflecting all the different changes and developments in education over the last 20-30 years. Consequently, a modern school library needs to provide a lot more than a quiet space with shelving for books. And these different requirements all translate into different types of furniture and fittings.
Traditional Storage – Books are still a mainstay of all school libraries, along with other printed materials appropriate to the age and curriculum. For instance, primary schools will need low level bookcases with deep shelving to accommodate large children’s books, while universities and colleges may need to store specialist academic journals. While most storage will be fitted, there is often a need to provide some degree of mobile storage, perhaps to allow flexible use of space within the library, or to allow book selections to be moved around the school.
Display – Furniture needs not only to store books, but also to a greater or lesser degree, display them. For younger students being able to display a selection of books face forward helps to make the library an attractive place to be; while older students can benefit from having a selection of books on display relating to a particular project or theme.
Multi-Media Storage – Most schools make use of interactive learning resources on CD or DVD. In some cases these are accessed just as often as physical books and require the same type of storage and display options, but adjusted to the particular size and format of the media.
Community – The school library has often been used as a focal point for the school community, sometimes being a meeting place and frequently being a prime place for putting notices, leaflets and other general information. This may mean a need for a variety of furnishings such as noticeboards and racking. The library is also often a place to show off objects relating to the school’s history and achievements, so lockable glass cabinets housing trophies, shields and photographs may also be required.
Study Areas – Desks and seating need to be provided to allow quiet study. This can vary from large tables to accommodate groups, or individual study booths. This may include provision of equipment to allow multi-media access (DVD players and screens). Where the media involves audio, listening booths with headphones allows the study of audio media (e.g. for languages, music or other interactive resources) without disturbing other library users.
Internet Access – Most schools now need to provide internet access as a learning resource for pupils. So in school library design there needs to be furniture to provide space for computers and appropriate seating, with provision for power and network cabling. This can involve open plan benching or individual booths, as appropriate to the age of the students.
Librarian Area – All libraries will require some level of admin to allow books and other media to be borrowed and returned. So there will need to be a space allocated to manage this. This can be a simple desk area with space for a computer, or a fully separate area with appropriate security.
DDA – Just as for all areas of the school, the library needs to be fully accessible to all and meet all applicable DDA requirements. This means considering the height of desks, counters and shelving, along with the width of doorways and walkways between furniture.
How Tecomak Furniture Solutions Can Help
We can provide for all the varieties and combinations of school library furniture mentioned above, taking into account the specific needs of your school or college.
As established school furniture suppliers, all our furniture is fully compliant with all relevant regulations (e.g. fire safety, stability etc.). As part of our library design service we can ensure that there is good flow and/or separation between different zones within the facility, while also ensuring full DDA compliance.
Depending on your needs we can fit furniture into an existing space, or carry out a full refurbishment involving minor building works, perhaps to enlarge the library, install partitions, raise or lower ceilings or floors and address issues such as lighting and window fittings.
School Library Furniture – To find out more about how we can help, please contact us today with your requirements.