Case Studies
HMYOI Wetherby
A bright, fresh and modern library to help develop positive attitudes towards reading.
Summary
HMYOI Wetherby is a young offender institution in Yorkshire for children and young people aged 15 to 18. The education programme is provided by Novus which supports men, women and young people in over 50 establishments across England and Wales. Their education and training services help learners to gain essential qualifications and develop skills they need to succeed in employment and build positive futures.
The brief
In February 2023, Jonathan Leathley, Deputy Head of Education at Novus, contacted BookSpace to discuss the design and installation of a brand-new library at HMYOI Wetherby. The building where the library was located had recently undergone refurbishment and as a result, a large unused space became available.
“This was the perfect opportunity to reinvigorate the library and create a much nicer space for enjoyment of reading and for research using our virtual campus.” explains Jonathan.
Although the previous library was well used, the shelving and furniture had become dated and needed a revamp. The new space needed to be modern, fresh and colourful to appeal to the children and young people in the establishment.
It also needed to be a relaxing environment with a sense of quiet to enable the learners to browse, select reading material and take back to their residential areas.
“The main aims were to create a positive attitude towards reading, to increase
confidence and enjoyment in reading and to promote a wider reading agenda for the whole establishment.” says Jonathan.
Finding the right library furniture company
Jonathan consulted with the Head of Reducing Reoffending, Mel Walker, and began researching online.
“When we came across BookSpace online and viewed their library design gallery, it was exactly what we had in mind” says Jonathan. “We saw they offered a free library design service and got in touch through the contact form on their website. The response from BookSpace was swift and friendly and the team worked very hard to get us where we needed to be and within our timescales”.
Working in new environments
BookSpace Director, Christopher White, took the initial enquiry and was keen to meet with Novus and learn more about libraries in secure settings. “Most people know us for designing primary school libraries so we were thrilled to be given the opportunity to provide a safe and secure environment for the children and young people at Wetherby.”
During the initial consultation, Christopher met with Novus and Youth Custody Service staff to learn about creating safe spaces for young offenders and to conduct a full site survey.
Our approach
BookSpace designer, Hanna Carlton, paid close attention to the brief when planning the space. The furniture layout needed to maximise wall shelving but allow access to emergency alarms to ensure the safeguarding of every young person and staff member at all times. Shelves that are usually adjustable were fixed in place and mid-floor units had to be low enough to keep sightlines clear.
“The design illustrations gave an excellent insight into what the new library would look like and we had different options proposed for us to choose from.” says Jonathan.
The final library design included 1800mm high perimeter shelving with a mix of spine-out and face-out display shelves. The mid-floor area featured 970mm high mobile curved bookcases, study tables and tub chairs, a curved desk for 2 users and lockable storage. Unused wall space was utilised to display magazines – a popular choice with the library’s users. BookSpace consulted librarian, Fiona Hill, to create a set of bespoke signs for each bookcase. Clear signage is key to helping library users navigate the space and for library staff to keep the books organised.
The result
The library was installed in April 2023 and took just two days to complete. Due to the nature of the site, a full schedule of works including delivery times, risk assessments and checklists were provided to ensure a smooth and safe installation.
“The fitting was impressive and quick. The vast majority of the work was completed in a day and the library was almost ready to go! The installation crew were friendly, helpful and very efficient in their work.” says Jonathan.
The library was officially opened on 10th May 2023 and BookSpace members Hanna Carlton, Alexa Luk and Christopher White were thrilled to attend to celebrate the occasion.
Library Design Service
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