Planning the Ideal School Library

Planning the Ideal School Library

"When you walk into this learning resource centre, what immediately strikes you is the stimulating, well maintained and eye catching environment. Its spacious and modern layout, with room for 180 students, is the result of 3 previous teaching rooms being recreated into student working areas. The main learning resource centre has been transformed over time to provide specialist areas for sixth form work, careers work, independent work and ICT research..."

This is a key testimonial featured in the Ofsted report: Good School Libraries - Making a Difference to learning.

The report highlights how critical the library is within the education environment, particularly as a resource for inspiration and learning development. Ofsted's report continues by emphasizing the value of first class design of the library as being an essential requirement of the creation of this space.

Any planning process needs to account for the first, and most obvious item within the library; books. However, to stop there would ignore the change which has occurred and continues which demands the key resources only available through effective IT facilities. These are now essential ingredients for any library.

Book storage however is the key core area for any School Library and presenting the book stock well is really important in any quality design.

The primary step is to assess the amount of space to allocate to books by. This is achieved by taking the total number and dividing by 40. This will provide a fair assessment of the linear meterage required. Dividing the result by the appropriate number of shelves and this can indicate the required wall or central areas to be allocated. The same assessments need to be applied to other resource materials

Notice area for posters, pupil materials and such like are important. Most critical however is the allocation of teacher and pupil space. Seating, areas to read and study, spaces to discuss and teach. Quiet spaces and areas for activity.

Ofsted indicates that many libraries evolve where use dictates the ideals. However, in many instances the circumstances of the space allocation and the existing structures limit the ideal use without root and branch re-assessment.

Providing the perfect space is not a simple process. Design of a library which will fulfill all the functions of the modern school demands and awareness of all the key components: Bookshelves, IT Desking, Reception and checkout areas, seating, study areas, displays, lockers and storage facilities and so much more. Using expertise to achieve a first class result can prove a wise first step in a fulfilling process.

Ken Rand has designed interiors for education, healthcare, retail and commercial premises for 34 years to visit his website and to view the range of furniture available library design ideas. To visit his shopfitting services site see interiors

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_(By Ken Rand).