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An inspirational school library

If you’re looking to give your school library a fresh lease of life, Greenstone Design can help you.

It’s tempting to think the way to encourage children to use a library is by having lots of bright colours, cartoon characters and funky furniture. As this picture shows, what works best is somewhere calm, welcoming and friendly to read and learn. Too many bright colours can feel a bit hectic and distracting, making it harder to concentrate.

Getting the balance right for pupils

School libraries tend to be a bit dark, with tall bookcases and dingy lighting. By opening things up and rearranging books, this important learning space can be made much more inviting and child-friendly. Why not consider an extension to your school to add a new library – you could include a glazed wall for lots of natural light and plenty of hard-wearing, comfy sofas. Flexible seating like this can be moved around for groupwork, meetings and even parents evenings and performances. By combining the library with an exhibition or gallery space, you can create a sense of excitement and pride in the school.

Call us for help in making the most of your unloved school library. It doesn’t have to cost the earth – simply changing lighting and choosing a new colour scheme can transform a space. This library uses muted natural tones of brown, green and blue to echo the trees around it. Take a look at Architecture Week to see some more inspirational school environments.

Whether you want to start from scratch or redevelop an existing library, Greenstone Design is sure to be able to help. Call in or email info@greenstone-design.co.uk now to get started.

An inspirational school library