Oldham Library

The challenge

Oldham Library is one of the busiest in the country, serving a diverse population. Originally opened in 2006, it was time for a refresh of the main library ground floor to meet new needs. The brief was to create capacity for pop-up events and exhibition spaces; add at least 32 byod desks and 30 computer desks; offer spaces for engagement activity and 1-1 meetings; and continue to offer a large central library book collection of 40,000 items. It was also desirable to create a better working environment for staff with practical operational solutions that considered storage, workflows and site supervision. A separate part of the contract was to refit the Oldham Library Shop with stock of around 45,000 items and integrate the Tourist Information offer into the same space. The ambitions were clear. Read on to see how we realised them.

A new welcome

The large double-height glazed atrium at the entrance felt both cavernous and confusing, with a medley of offers dominated by a large reception desk installed in 2014 to replace the even larger one the building was originally provided with. Opening the Book cut the counter down in size and moved it to the side so it no longer acts as a barrier to entering the space. This opened up better sightlines to see the routes through to travel further into the building. It also created more space for shop units with close-up product offers to tempt everyone passing. But before you think that’s solved everything, a further requirement was that all the units in the atrium area had to be moveable. The space is successfully used for large events and the target of increasing income from the shop could not be allowed to clash with the popularity of big fairs and dance performances.

Opening the Book worked closely with our manufacturing partner, Astabridge, to design, prototype, test and refine bespoke units. Astabridge specialises in display solutions and their clients include high-end beauty firms creating displays at Selfridges, Heathrow Airport and Harrods. Working in glass and white laminate, we developed custom display cabinets, balancing quality, flexible merchandising and mobility. Everything was agreed with the library staff who manage the shop as they planned their revitalised offer of cards, gifts, crafts, jewellery, prints and unique products from local artists. The quality of both the layout positioning and the individual units can be seen in the photographs. Costs were saved by re-using the existing counter and self-service housing, with Nick Hurst, our skilled joiner, making them look as if they had always fitted there and CV, our graphics partner, wrapping the old turquoise colour scheme in white to match the new look.

A new approach to finding your way round

Oldham Library is a delightful building but it is not easy to know where to go. Opening the Book’s design combined large scale signage on concrete lintels with eye-level stands at key points in the customer journey.

In the main library space we used a more radical and intuitive presentation than lots of directional signs. This is particularly relevant to visitors who are neuro-divergent, those whose first language is not English, and older folk with memory problems. But it actually benefits all customers as there is lots of evidence that most people, whatever their language or mental state, do not read signs.

We used colours and types of furniture to make the key zones very visible without having to think about it. Fuchsia is used for the fiction A-Z sequence; glacier blue with white for the study area and genre fiction; seville orange with a rich grained oak for the computer area. Bold check fabrics in matching shades are co-ordinated in each section.

When you stand looking in, the computer desks at the right are curved in dark oak while the byod desks are straight in glacier blue and white. The shelving in the middle section is straight like the desks. The main fiction browsing area to the left has dynamic propeller shapes to keep customers bouncing on from one bookcase to another.

Open sightlines and lower mid-floor furniture help staff to see what is going on. There are no hidden corners or dead ends. Even the meeting pod faces out to the direction of traffic; there is privacy but not so much that it can be abused.

Shelving, especially when full of books, is a great sound absorber so we have placed shelving between the desks to help keep noise down. People naturally talk more quietly in smaller spaces. Where there are 30 desks all together, everyone has to raise their volume just to be heard over the people on the adjacent table, just like in a restaurant.

This layout approach works well with the original architectural design of 3 radiating spines. Layouts which work with the building and not against it are experienced as calmer as well as clearer and more logical. Sightlines through to the windows also raise the mood.

Detailed stock planning and merchandising

Oldham Library managers and staff have a great approach to managing the stock into the available space and working towards performance and not storage. Opening the Book worked in detail with the library team to plan how every bookcase would be used. Below are two stages in the process. The details kept changing right up to the library opening! Because the bookcases are mobile, and the shelves and merchandising acrylics are all interchangeable, this layout can easily be changed in the future to adjust to new needs.

This project was supported by the Arts Council England Libraries Improvement Fund.