School library furniture has to meet a long list of criteria, especially in the current economic climate when school budgets are under increasing pressure to deliver a good return on investment for every pound spent.
For any school, that means robust, hard-wearing library furniture that can stand up to the rigours of being used day in, day out by pupils of all ages. However, it's equally important for school library furniture to deliver on the needs of pupils, ranging from primary level right up to sixth form colleges and even university library furniture.
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing school library furniture in order to create an environment that will support pupils and students in their learning objectives and academic achievements.
Include informal areas
Traditionally school libraries were very formal in design and atmosphere, but increasingly educators are looking to create a calmer, more welcoming environment by providing informal areas similar to the 'breakout' zones you see in digital-era businesses. These are achievable even when space and budget are an issue with the use of low tables, comfortable chairs and even homely touches such as rugs and beanbags tailored to the needs of the age-range of the students who will be using the library. All these options are space-efficient and portable seating choices for the modern school library.
Comfortable, hard-wearing chairs
When choosing school chairs for growing pupils of varying ages, ergonomics and durability will always be at the forefront of the decision-making process.
Trent Furniture’s stackable retro French school chair is inspired by the school chairs of the early 20th century. Of course, today’s classrooms are very different from what was the norm in the early 1900s, however the popularity of this chair, which our customers choose for a wide range of settings, is testament to its enduring comfort, practicality and aesthetic appeal. Indeed, this chair is so popular that it is available in a range of different coloured frames with bulk discounts available on quantities of 20 or more.
Safety first
Safety is obviously of paramount importance in school furniture, which is why it should always be built using the sturdiest of materials and designed for maximum stability. This is a particularly important factor when choosing shelving for school libraries as there should be no risk of the shelving falling over or accidents being caused by students trying to reach for books that are stored out of reach.
Occasionally it may be necessary to use the library space for other purposes. This means that chairs must be designed to interlock for safe and efficient stacking when they are not in use. A chair trolley is also a must to ensure staff can safely move stacks of chairs if they ever need to clear the space for events such as open evenings or drama performances.
Meeting your furniture needs
To find out more about Trent Furniture’s extensive range of high-quality, durable furniture, please get in touch and we'll be happy to help.