Planning the Ideal School Library | Articles Bold

?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 emphasising the value of first class design of the library as being an essential requirement of the creation of this space.

This planning must begin with careful analysis. It would be simplistic, in this 21st Century, to imagine that the library is just about book storage. Indeed, for many pupils in modern classrooms, the book is the ?resource when all else fails?. The internet and therefore ready access to IT facilities are no longer a ?nice to have? but essential for any library.

However, quantities of books to be stored and displayed form the baseline for any School Library and careful and attractive display is absolutely necessary.

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 metreage 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 fulfil 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.

Want to find out more about library design, then visit Ken Rand?s site on how to choose the best furniture for your needs.

Source: http://articlesbold.com/reference-education/k-12-education/planning-the-ideal-school-library?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=planning-the-ideal-school-library

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