Hello AT,
I'm a new librarian and want to fix my library up to be an exciting/happy yet calming place to visit by first to fifth graders. The walls are plain. Have any suggestions???
Thanks, Patria
(Photo: Lida Rose)
Dear Patria,
We absolutely WISH you had sent us a pic, but we try our best anyway. Having worked in schools for seven years, we know that what you can do may be seriously hampered by the powers that be, so we'll keep it simple.
Libraries are for concentration, calmness and mindfulness, so your goal should be to avoid needless stimulation, keep the room uncluttered and add a little inspiration.
- Paint the walls in a soft, cool off-white color as cool colors are calming.
- Add some artwork (not too much) that is quality and inspires the act of reading. Since books deal with our memories and past thoughts, old or antique scenes are good, scenes from famous books or events are good and old papers or artifacts are good. Keep it specific. Hang art that children will get close to and "read". Avoid cheap poster or silly prints of famous actors sitting with books to prove that reading is good for you.
- Display good books! Constantly changing the lineup of recommended books (and showing off their book jacket art) will bring freshness and liveliness to the room.
- Keep the books organized! Since a library is mainly bookshelves, which become the strongest visual element in the room, it is important that they are kept neatly. When children enter the library, they should get the message on all levels that books are to be respected and taken care of.
- Have a globe. So much of reading is about travelling to far off places. Having a globe in the room will not only be an attractive focal point, it will get children looking up the places in the world they are reading about and make them a bit more familiar with the world outside of school.
Anyone else?
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
My favorite thing about school libraries and libraries in general when I was little was feeling like I was tucked away hidden in the stacks..little nooks and crannies in the library to sit and read would be great-- adds to the whole concept of entering another world with a book!
If you have blank spaces over doorways or glass windows, you could get those "grafitti" stick-on things with quotes or pictures from children's books.
What about some sort of low-contrast, color-on-color application of large text graphics of lines from books? Anything from Shakespeare to Doctor Seuss...
There is probably not some huge wall that doesn't have books, but if there is, in addition to the globe, or instead, perhaps one of those huge world map wallpaper mural things that are supposedly removable. Seems like they're shockingly affordable considering the impace they make, and how colorful and educational they are. It's a wonderful way to expanding a child's horizons, literally. When I was about 3 years old, I had a Rand McNally "Children of the World" map, which showed little figures of children of the world next to where their countries were, and my mom remembers having only said some of those countries out loud once to me, having heard me showing them to a visitor, and saying their names, because it apparently really captured my imagination. I think it was hearing a 3-year-old say "Czechoslovakia" and "Thailand" that really made her do a double-take.
About the globe idea: I love the library at my son's Montessori school, and so does he. At his school, when kids get to a certain point(Second half of the last year of 3-6, equivalent to kindergarten)they are allowed to go visit the library by themselves during the school day. It's a big deal, and some kids find it daunting to go on their own. My son told me that he went the on the first day that he could just to explore the giant, floor standing globe that is the main focal point of the room. You can see it from the hallway, just calling you in. Irresistible.
Libraries usually have chairs and tables but it would be great to also have a couch / coffee table set up so people can curl up with some books.
not so much decorative but -- back when I was a kid (when was that?) my school librarian used to post recommendations from the children on books to read. She had index cards, pencils and a cardboard drop off box at the checkout counter. If a child liked a book and thought other kids might like it the child would write on the card his/her own name, the book title, the book's author and the reason that he/she liked the book. If adult help was needed the Librarian would assist. Depending on the age of the child the reason would often not be fancy, sometimes things like "the pictures were nice". The child would put the card in the box. Every 2 weeks the Librarian would pick a recommendation and post it for all to see. She didn't just post the index card but re-wrote it in large letters so it was easy to read and it was posted in an area designated for the subject. She made it decorative with little pictures. It was a great idea as it made kids more involved with the library and more involved with the books -- even at a young age it got us sharing our opinions about books.
love the sofa and arm chair idea.... make it like a great bookstore coffee shop!
Have the kids do art work based on the books you read - book jackets, favorite parts - fill the walls with their work...
If you can't rustle up a couch -- my public elementary school librarian created the same effect by putting a colorful rug in one corner (front of the room, near her desk) with big floppy pillows.
My old library had a corner with a big colorful rug and lots of floor pillows and bean bags, too! Also, I'd recommend more lights since the ceiling industrial lights are often so harsh and not that great for reading. Colorful lampshades or hanging paper lanterns aren't too expensive and could really jazz the place up.
I am interested in similar issues for a clinical/research medical library. I have been charged with making the library more 'appealing' and 'inviting'. Everything here dates from the last renovation in 1984 -- very traditional and high quality. I already know I can't replace the carpet, which is worn out and almost uncleanable. We are looking at new or re-upholstered lounge chairs and maybe some throw rugs to reduce the stark contrast between new furniture and old carpet. Moving stacks, etc., will leave big marks and probably unfaded color patches behind on the carpet, so that is probably out of the question. The library was not originally designed with public PC's in mind, so they have been shoe-horned in over the years, and there is little flexibility in this long narrow library. I have no pretensions to interior design, and frankly I like traditional things. But what we have is getting old and worn looking. Thanks.
How about a fireplace in the story gathering area? I wanted one for our new jr high library, and the local electric company donated one that plugs in and is gorgeous. I also got some flower shaped armchairs and some bean bag chairs in multi-colors. Two pieces of art showing fantasy storytellers bring in all the colors and accent all the colors of the books on the shelves. Live flowering plants like geraniums are wonderful in the windows.