School libraries have been changing for some time. Just as the way society consumes media, libraries have shifted to reflect the very new needs of student populations of all ages. While books remain an essential part of every school library, most have additional needs that are not always recognized within funding shifts.

The New Needs of School Libraries

The biggest shift in a library these days is the new focus on technology. While you might still pull a picture book off of a shelf to read to elementary students, the chances are good that you won’t be pulling an encyclopedia off of a shelf to help a high school student with a research paper. As a result, the library budget often has to focus on something more than new books. Instead, it has to focus on the acquisition of technology and the furniture to support that technology.

Library desks, once little more than study carrels, now need to be fully featured to include lighting and technology hookups, both for internet connections and the power sources necessary to run everything from laptops and tablets to ebooks and smartphones. Today’s library desks even have to include ergonomic options to help ensure student comfort during long research sessions.

Getting The Funding

Unfortunately, updating things like library desks and other library furniture isn’t always a high priority for the board or administrators, despite its necessity. How can you make sure you get the bucks necessary to get those new desks or other furniture pieces that are so supportive of a technologically rich library? This quick guide can help.

  • Set Your Goals Carefully: You have a specific goal in mind – impacting student learning and supporting the staff in your building or district. The more specific your goal and the more tied it is to overall instructional standards in your district, the better the chance you have at getting the money you need most for that furniture. Root your goals in the curriculum standards your district relies on for everything else. Grab the data necessary to prove how helpful this kind of update might be within your library.
  • Align Your Entire Plan: Once you’ve set your goals, make sure your plan is aligned with your overall plan for the year. If you’ve written a mission statement for your library, update it to reflect your new goals. For example, if you’re trying to focus on getting the desks and other furniture you need, you might want to align your technology enabled learning environment goal with other goals in your instructional plan.
  • Market: You’re never going to get what you want without a bit of marketing on your part. Be sure to put your goals out there in the newsletter, on school approved social media, and even through spaces like the teachers’ lounge. The more times you send out the message, the more likely it is to stick. While you probably don’t want something like “Let’s get library desks!” to come across, you may want to push an idea like “Let’s Electronically Collaborate” then push the idea of what you’ll need to do that.

Updating your school library may not be easy, but it is possible. Learn how to make it happen when you contact us today.

Libraries have special design concerns few other facilities have. Not only must there be the right storage space for books and materials, but you also have to consider the needs of the patrons and the librarians as well. Balancing all of it, whether you’re planning for a new library or renovating an older one, can be difficult, but here are a few tips that may help. library design, Carroll Seating

  • Include Enough Seating Space: If you’re designing a public library, you need to go with at least five seats for every 1,000 people within the service area. If you’re talking about a school library, that number will rely on class sizes. Keep in mind that those numbers shouldn’t include the seating you have in meeting rooms. 
  • Don’t Forget About ADA Accessibility: Seating options, meeting rooms, bathrooms, and even your computer workstations must be wheelchair accessible. You may also want to have other accommodations like computer stations designed for the visually impaired and more so you can serve the needs of your entire population. 
  • Electronic Workstations Play Into Design: Don’t forget that you’re going to need plenty of computer workstations throughout your library. Whether to meet online research needs or card catalog demands, electronic workstations should be readily available to all of your patrons. 
  • Consider the Purpose: Nearly every library in the country has a core of patrons with a different purpose. For example, perhaps it’s research at your library. Maybe it’s current topics and titles. The purpose difference means everything to the design of your library. If you’re talking about research, you’ll want lots of table space, as patrons will not only spread out a bit, but they’ll be spending long hours there, too. If it’s the best seller crowd, create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Go for fewer, yet more comfortable seats, maybe even a fireplace, and good lighting. 
  • Don’t Forget about the Staff: If you’re redesigning or building new, offer the staff a few perks, too. There are lots of great features you can build into the new design that may prove useful. Factor in your volunteer staff, or those temporary staff members you add during the busy season, to this equation too. You may even want to add in  dedicated kitchen or break area seating just for your staff members. It may be a nice perk to which they hadn’t previously had access.

Designing the ideal library can be complicated, but there are lots of ways to create a fantastic look that patrons will love.

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