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I CAN’T REACH ITShelving and Layout in the Children’s Department
Presented By: Jill Burket Ragase
WHY SHELVING MATTERS
GOAL: CAMPFIRES, CAVES, & WATERING HOLES
Campfire Cave Watering Hole
CHALLENGE: COMPUTER & TABLET STATIONS
• Are workstations designed for children?
• Are chairs appropriately sized?
• Where/how do young patrons wait for an available workstation?
COMPUTER & TABLET STATIONS: NO COST
• Look at your computer and tablet stations with fresh eyes.
• Child sized seating
• Seating Options for caregiver/child collaboration
• Seating for multi-child collaboration
COMPUTER & TABLET STATIONS: LOW COST
• Are there opportunities to incorporate fun?
• Do you incorporate technology into programming?
• Do you have space for a summer or weekend technology lab or camp?
• Can you add fun furniture?
• Colorful tables, chairs, or stools
COMPUTER & TABLET STATIONS: LARGE BUDGET
CHALLENGE: SIGNAGE
Is your signage clear & free of jargon?
Does your signage meet the needs of:
• A small child accompanied by an adult
• A pre-reader or emergent reader with limited text decoding skills
• A beginning or early reader who is newly independent
• An elementary age child
SIGNAGE: NO COST
• Utilize simple, colorful computer generated signage
• Adjust signage to be at eye level for the intended user
• Be sure signage is free of typos, misspellings, and stains
• Check sightlines- is signage available at the first point of contact? Can directional signs be seen from high traffic walkways?
SIGNAGE: SOME COST
• Use a free to low cost graphic design program like Canva to create customized signage
• Use office printing services to create foam-core signs that can be refreshed regularly
SIGNAGE: LARGE BUDGET
• Invest in flexible signage
• Consider multipurpose display/furniture pieces that incorporate signage
• Custom signage
CHALLENGE: USING SPACE CREATIVELY
• Does your children’s area allow for typical child noise levels?
• Does your library provide an area for children to work quietly.
• Is there space for collaboration and work on group projects?
• Are there underutilized spaces? Space with bottlenecks or overcrowding?
USING SPACE CREATIVELY: NO COST
• Move/remove existing furniture to repurpose underutilized spaces.
• Spend time observing patrons to note confusion points and bottlenecks.
• Create density maps to determine high traffic areas for promotion and underutilized areas to redesign.
• Clean service desks to reduce distracting clutter
USING SPACE CREATIVELY: LOW COST
• Repaint
• Using different colors for signage and zones can help patrons find their way through your library.
• Maximize Natural Light
USING SPACE CREATIVELY: BIG BUDGET
• Purchase new furnishing and fixtures that fit space needs
CHALLENGE: SHELVING• Is your collection shelved in a way that
allows the average child to select their
own items?
SHELVING: NO COST SOLUTIONS
• WEEDING
• Create a ”power wall”
SHELVING: LOW BUDGET SOLUTIONS
• Retrofit shelving for face out shelving
• Shelf top spinners
SHELVING: BIG BUDGET SOLUTIONS
• Face out shelving
• Shelving on casters provides maximum flexibility
• Display Shelving
TIPS AND TRICKS
• Offer more ways to pair youth with materials
• Change displays frequently
• Be flexible
• New fixtures are not for storage
• Don’t try to change people’s behavior: identify it and design for it.
• Let go of sacred cows, including materials, furniture and beliefs.
• Look for small wins while breaking down larger projects. Track your success through an overall building plan.
• Involve new eyes: people outside of the library can give you incredible insights. Pick people carefully to not be restricted by traditional views of library services.
• Give the space a thorough cleaning. Make sure you include overlooked spaces, such as windows, ceilings, fireplaces and baseboards.
QUESTIONS?Jill Burket Ragase