Furnishings+specialist

Furnishings specialist (Lori)
Regarding the actual furniture options for the library space, I think that all of the current furniture needs to be pretty much trashed. Naturally, it will depend upon what we decide as a group (ultimately) as to whether or not the computer lab should remain in the space. If the computer lab does remain in the space, new tables and chairs will need to be purchased for the nearly 40 computers. To maximize space, it will be important for the desks to be long and narrow. Cords will need to be minimized as well. Chairs should also be narrow, and allow more comfort for the students. Regarding the actual library furniture, there are no places for the students to hang out and read. Bean bags would be an easy and reasonably inexpensive way to establish reading centers and corners. For the young population at this school, it will be important that no fabric be used (only vinyl or leather or leather subsitutes). There isn't a lot of space for furniture in the library due to how the bookshelves are organized. Reorganization of the book shelves will allow for more open space for students to have reading areas. At this time, there is no comfort zone for the kids. They need to have comfortable seating and desks where they can study and read.

Here are some examples of furniture for the space.

In reviewing furnishings and furniture for elementary and other educational settings, I decided to begin with ergonomics -- mostly because I hear about it all the time and haven't really read much about it. I found this article [] that I thought highlighted the issues of ergonmics in an interesting way. The article is a little bit old (written in 2002), but I thought it gave some interesting perspectives about how children need to have the appropriate furniture so they can be healthy. "The University of Rochester, ... asked sixth- through eighth-graders whether they experienced computer-related aches or pains at home or school. A total of 47 percent experienced discomfort with wrists; 44 percent with neck; 43 percent with eyes and 41 percent with hands." As businesses turn to ergonomically correct chairs for adults, perhaps it is something to take into consideration for children.

I also read an abstract of an article (couldn't find the whole article) titled "Comparative study of two different kinds of school furniture among children," by Aagaard-Hansen and Storr-Paulsen and others (France, 1999) []. The study determined that the most important things for pain-free studies included the writing position, the height of the chair, and other subjective factors. "This study demonstrates that ergonomically designed furniture is preferred by the school-children. However, there is no modification of the back pain prevalence and the pupil's physical symptoms at this age." So, that gives us an idea that furniture should probably have some comfortability factors for our back health, but kids will probably choose a cute and colorful chair over one that is ergonomically correct (although that is just my opinion).

I remember during my teaching credential program studying all the "right" and "wrong" colors to paint a classroom. "Color in the Classrom," by Sheri Thompson reminds me of the things we studied. This is a great article about color, and gives some really indepth perspectives on how to choose color for specific design areas and based on the age of the student. (December, 2003) [|http://www.peterli.com/spm/resources/articles/archive.php?article_i...]

Here's an excerpt:

"While the color palette selected for any given school may not seem as important as those other topics of discussion, the choice of color used in schools can either enhance or impair learning, morale and behaviors. Throughout the years, color trends for schools have come, gone and changed. All the while, studies have shown that color affects a student’s attention span and perception of time, and can reduce absenteeism and vandalism." ... "The psychophysiological effects of color have entered common knowledge; generally, red and orange are stimulating, yellow is cheery, and blues and greens are calming. Warm and cool colors make people perceive temperature differently, either warmer or cooler as their name implies. In addition, cool dark colors seem to recede, whereas bright warm colors seem closer — something not lost on designers who need to use illusion to improve a space."