A Christmas Tree Made of Books

Yet another way to put discarded books to good use.

For a recent holiday party, the folks at Juniper Books used 800 green books to make an 8-foot Christmas tree. They lit the tree from the inside, so it was glowing nicely through the spaces in the books.

In most schools fire regulations prohibit live trees. Isn't this a great alternative? I'm sure your students would love to help.

It's too late for this holiday season, but start planning for next year.

Happy Holidays!

Toro Lounge Chair

I very much like this lounge chair from Blu Dot. It would be great in a high school library. It's offered in natural leather with white-stained, solid beech frame or black-tanned leather with black-stained, solid beech frame. It's currently on sale for $799, marked down from $999. As good lounge chairs go, this is a reaonable price.

Just for Fun

This is pretty much off the topic, but it's too interesting to ignore. I've often read stories about libraries looking at bookstores and cafes for ideas. But here is something else--a small Espresso Café located on Madison Avenue, in New York City, that  took ideas from a library! I'll definitely be checking this out the next time I'm in New York City. Looks like a great place for coffee-loving bibliophiles. I'm rather sorry it isn't actually in a library somewhere. Oh well, there's a library nearby.

Five Finger Reading Advice Sign

I'm always on the lookout for interest-
ing, creative library signage, and here's one I especially like in the library at the Papanui Primary School in Christchurch, New Zealand. And what a great looking reading area!

Eames® Elephant Stool

In 1945 Charles and Ray Eames designed a toy elephant made of plywood. It never made it into mass production, but it is now available in a plastic version.

This stool could be a great addition to an elementary school library, as a stool or as a decorative item (with your Jean De Brunhoff Babar books?).

Dimensions: 30" trunk to tail, 14" wide and 16 5/16"tall

Price: $290

Available in five colors from Modernseed.

Design Matters!

Does school design affect students? An overwhelming number of teachers in the UK say yes.

A survey conducted by the British Council for School Environments and the Teacher Support Network found that 95.8% of UK teachers agreed that the school environment had an influence on pupil behavior, students’ well being, and academic achievement.

For a long while now I’ve been convinced that a well-designed, attractive and inviting (in the eyes of children and teens) school library will have a positive effect on usage and student behavior. And I’m also convinced that surveys and research such as this one, with a focus on overall school design, apply to school library design as well.

Here is a link where you can download summaries of five additional studies that support the idea that the design of our learning environments affects the quality of education.

Design does matter. And keep in mind that good design rarely costs more than poor design.

Lounge Seating: Pluto Bench

I believe it is important to provide a number of seating options in the library. And since a library probably has more chairs than any item other than books, it is important to choose wisely, as the chairs will make a strong statement and influence one's overall impression of the library interior.
The Pluto bench was introduced by Leland International at the 2010 NeoCon World's Trade Fair in Chicago. These benches can be arranged in a scattered composition to provide personal space, or grouped together to encourage interaction. Constructed using 100 percent post-industrial MDF board (medium-density fibreboard), which is wrapped in CFC (chlorofluorocarbon)-free foam and fitted with a 40 percent recycled steel plinth, Pluto can be upholstered in almost any stretch fabric or leather. An additional layer of interest can be achieved by applying contrasting upholstery to the circular seat pad.
Having a few of these benches in the library I'm certain would appeal to teens. And since students like to sit on the floor, benches, stools and ottomans can double as a work/laptop surface.