Working with BookSpace

Having access to architect’s drawings meant that the school knew how big the new library would be but not how to maximise its potential. The company overseeing the refurbishment of the whole Junior School provided an initial design but it didn’t offer enough book capacity and Mandy felt the furniture was too similar to what they had proposed for the classrooms.

“We wanted to create a library space that stood out in its own unique way while its aesthetic was in keeping with the wider refurbishments taking place in the Junior School. It was time to investigate other design companies.”

Having been the librarian at the school for nearly twenty years, Mandy was already familiar with BookSpace, our library furniture and the free library design service available to schools.

After an initial conversation with the design team, a virtual meeting was set up to guide Mandy through the design process and identify the key requirements of the space. Library designer, Jonathan Turner, provided three design options scaled to a variety of price points – something many schools find useful when planning a new library.

“Jonathan’s ability to turn our discussion into designs for the library was impressive. We were able to see exactly how the space could look which made it easier to choose the elements we wanted.”

After spending time reviewing designs from three different library furniture companies, the school decided to award the project to BookSpace for two main reasons; excellent communication from the outset and BookSpace offered high-quality furniture and shelving that also matched the school’s preferred style.

“From the very beginning I felt that BookSpace stood out. In addition to ordering the BookSpace catalogue we found the website extremely informative and the number of case studies available allowed potential customers to see the commitment that BookSpace makes in order to tailor each project to the needs of a particular job.”

With a few tweaks to one of our initial library designs, the school chose a layout that incorporated a mix of wall shelving and mid-floor curved bookcases with areas for quiet study and reading for pleasure.  They wanted the library to be colourful but not over the top colourful. Choosing a blend of light oak, teal and lime green resulted in a bright, vibrant space that had a sophisticated feel.

The result

The library was the last element of the school refurbishment and opened at the end of April 2022.

“Everyone is delighted with the library. There are definitely more children coming into the library at break and lunch time. We have had up to thirty at one time and it still feels spacious. The face-out shelves are an excellent way for books to be highlighted and the set up for the picture books is especially attractive to the Year Ones and Twos. The bean bags, tub chairs, tiered seat and tables and chairs make the library a ‘go to’ place.”

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