At Opening the Book, we have studied the way people move through library spaces, which way they turn, how far they go, where they stop.
We apply this knowledge in our designs not only to ensure smooth transitions and avoid bottlenecks but also to create layouts which entice customers into the space with small discoveries.
Our designs offer different mixes of shelving, computer desks, tables and soft seating to meet the needs of different customer groups. We help you to get the right balance of capacity for different activities.
We include flexible spaces which can accommodate events of different sizes within the layout design.
We design an interior layout which is easy to manage for library staff so they can spend more time with customers. We plan the workflow of stock management through deliveries and collections, self-service returns and easy routines for topping-up of displays.
Working with library managers, we advise on the relation of back-office and front-office and the best locations and styles for staff points to serve customers.
Opening the Book offers a wide range of reception desks and small staff pods, all with wheelchair access and bespoke storage.
We can help libraries move to a self-service model of delivery – libraries we have designed have achieved high rates of use of self-service. We supply separate consultancy and training to support library services introducing RFID systems.
At Opening the Book we understand that simply installing the appropriate technology for self-service does not guarantee success. It is the location, the stock management processes built around it and the attitudes of the staff which will make it sink or swim.
We have worked with most of the major self-service suppliers and with both barcode and RFID systems to create well-positioned, attractive and functional self-service units. We are committed to self-service as it offers readers more privacy and it frees staff to spend more time off-counter.
Opening the Book's library interiors are designed to meet every kind of user need, whether people have come to find a good read, look up their family history, or spend time on online reference sites for a college project.
We strive to maintain our high quality of design and visual appeal when building computer desks and we make sure that PC users feel comfortable, whatever their length of visit.
We work with you to fully understand your priority audiences and services. We then design a zonal scheme which gives the right balance between areas for different ages, activities or types of stock.
The size and location of different zones will vary with different library buildings and communities. Zones can be flexible; we advise on how to manage through time as well as space.
