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

jill@jumbleofjill.com