BookSpace

Reading Schools Library Development

🎥 VIDEO TIME 🍿

Downfield Primary School in Dundee contacted us earlier this year to discuss the refurbishment of their school library and we were delighted to help. BookSpace designer, Jonathan Turner, arranged an online consultation to discuss the brief and then created a range of exciting library designs.

The school chose our Flexible Library option which included free-standing shelving and mobile furniture.

The staff and pupils are over the moon with the results!

Check out this fantastic video they've put together to celebrate their new library:

https://youtu.be/7HP87FiUuc4

Reading Schools Library Development

Did you know the percentage of pupils in England with SEN support has increased each year since 2016?

As a result, more and more primary schools are asking us to include SEN-friendly elements into our library designs to ensure these spaces cater for pupils with a diverse range of needs.

With this in mind, we asked our designers to share some of their top tips to create a more inclusive, SEN-friendly library:

1. Create safe, calming areas for pupils.

2. Avoid overwhelming wall and ceiling displays.

3. Provide accessible book display and clear library signage.

4. Find the right colour scheme.

5. Make sure your reading space is accessible to all.

6. Consider adding sensory areas.

Read the full article here: www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/blog/how-to-make-your-school-library-more-sen-friendly/

Feature Walls are a great way to combine three of our favourite things:

✨ Child-friendly shelving with plenty of face-out display

✨ Cosy reading nooks where children can curl up with a book

✨ Eye-catching visual displays that add the 'WOW' factor

Our 'Feature Walls' can also come with cupboards above the shelving for additional storage.

Like what you see? Give our team a call on 0121 246 2777 to find out more.

😍 We love your reviews so this is the perfect way to start the week!

Our designer, Jonathan Turner, worked with staff at Radnor House Sevenoaks to design a child-centred school library with zones for relaxed reading, storytelling and formal study.

"BookSpace were professional to deal with from start to finish. The design team had great ideas and listened carefully to the brief and budget. The fitting service was efficient and of high-quality. I am thrilled with our new library and more importantly, so are the pupils. I would highly recommend BookSpace!"

📷 Here are some photos from a recent visit by author and official World Book Day illustrator, Sophy Henn. It looks like the children had a fantastic time!

If you're thinking about redesigning your school library, we'd love to help. Our free design service includes a consultation with one of our library design experts, a range of floorplans, 3d visuals and a fully-itemised quotation. Give our friendly design team a call on 0121 246 2777 to find out more.

😍 We love it when customers share photos of their new BookSpace library - especially when we see pupils enjoying the space and sharing books with their peers.

If you're looking for ideas and inspiration to promote reading for pleasure in your school, take a look at our library design gallery.

https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/design-gallery/

Add the 'wow-factor' to your school library with furniture that's not only eye-catching but practical too.

Our Feature Pieces provide lots of opportunities to display books of all shapes and sizes (including paperbacks, chapterbooks, picturebooks and larger non-fiction) in a fun and engaging way.

Check out the full range here: https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/school-library-furniture/feature-pieces/

We were thrilled to be given the opportunity to design and install two libraries at Lingey House Primary School which were officially opened this week 🥳🥳🥳

📸Lots of new images added to our gallery today.

Featuring primary school libraries with treehouses, archways, amphitheatre style seating, curved shelving and lots of cosy reading areas where children can curl up with a book.

For more ideas and inspiration, view the full gallery here:
https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/design-gallery/

If you need help planning your school library, give our team a call on 0121 246 2777.

✨FREE resource for primary schools✨

On Friday 4th November, we celebrate 100 years since the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb.

To mark one of history's most exciting archaeological finds, the BookSpace team have compiled a free resource packed with activities for KS1 and KS2 pupils.

Could your class decode a secret message written in hieroglyphs?

How about creating their own 3D pyramid?

The resource includes worksheets, discussion activities, an Egyptian-themed booklist and a fun classroom quiz to help children learn about King Tutankhamun and life in ancient Egypt.

Get your free copy here:

https://bookspaceforschools.co.uk/resource-king-tutankhamun

🌊 🐙 Wow! An underwater themed library 🐳 🐠

We are delighted with the results at Danesholme Junior Academy in Corby. Our library designer, Michelle, created a bold and vibrant 'underwater' themed space which included a feature wall with built-in shelving and a submarine seat, colourful wall decals and porthole style book frames.

If you're designing a new library space for your primary school and need some inspiration, call our team on 0121 246 2777 to see how we can help.

Happy National Poetry Day!

This year's theme is 'The Environment' so to celebrate, we've put together a FREE poetry booklist which explores a range of topics such as climate change 🌦️, biodiversity 🌳 , recycling ♻️ and pollution 🏭

Suitable for KS1 and KS2 pupils, this resource is a great way to encourage children to read and share poetry whilst learning about the importance of protecting the planet 🌍

Get your free copy here:

https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/poetry-booklist-the-environment/

Primary School Library

At BookSpace, we're always on the lookout for new ways to improve the quality of our work and how we present library designs to our customers.

😁 This year we're VERY excited to be introducing 360 visuals as part of our free design service.

The enhanced visualisation and 'move to' hotspots give you an immersive virtual tour around a BookSpace library and allow you to see every corner of the room as if you were there.

👀 Want to see what it looks like?

Click here: https://yulio.com/qRbMCegfLQ

Primary School Library Virtual Reality powered by Yulio.

Did you know it's National Poetry Day next week?

In preparation for the day, the BookSpace team have been putting together a free poetry booklist with titles that explore this year's theme - The Environment.

Whilst we were working on the resource, we came across some brilliant poems and just had to share our favourites.

This resource will be available for download on National Poetry Day (Thursday 6th October).

Sign up to our mailing list to make sure you get your free copy.

https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/newsletter/

Welcome to the newest member of our team, Hanna Carlton. As one of the BookSpace designers, Hanna will be out and about visiting primary schools and creating lots of exciting new libraries.

👀 We also thought it would be a great opportunity to ask Hanna a few questions and get to know her a little better. Let's find out what she had to say...

https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/blog/hanna-carlton-library-designer/

How can you make your school library a 'go to' place?

Creating a reading space that children WANT to visit can be a challenge for many primary schools.

Our latest case study shows how we worked with Alleyn's Junior School to design an attractive and welcoming space that would entice budding readers in.

"Everyone is delighted with the new library. There are definitely more children coming in at break and lunchtime. We've had up to thirty at one time and it still feels spacious" Mandy Reid, Librarian

Read more here: https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/case-studies/alleyns-junior-school/

If you followed our stories over the summer, you'll know that we were on site at Wygate Park Academy in Spalding installing a new school library. Here are some photos documenting the whole process from initial site survey through to design, manufacture and installation.

Are you planning a new school library this year? Could you benefit from some guidance and advice from a library design specialist?

Get in touch with our design team to find out how we can help make your dream library a reality.

☎️ 0121 246 2777
📥 [email protected]
🌐 www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/school-library-design/

🐝 Encouraging children to browse through a collection of books and make their own choices is a vital first step to becoming a lifelong reader 🐝

Our collection of Early Years furniture is designed to appeal to under 5's by offering book display at just the right height and angle for younger children to reach out and take a book.

Combine with some soft-seating and you have an instant reading corner for your little ones.

View the full range here: https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/early-years-library-furniture/

If designing a new library is on your School Development Plan this year, now is the perfect time to get started.

Not sure where to begin?

We asked our library designers to share some of their top tips to help make the planning stage a little easier.

Read more: https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/blog/hints-and-tips-for-planning-a-new-school-library/

🌞 The BookSpace team have spent the summer researching, planning and working on lots of new ideas for the year ahead.

It's going to be jam-packed with FREE resources and booklists, new library case studies, helpful blogs, fantastic giveaways and an exciting new product range.

Sign up to our mailing list to make sure you don't miss out!

https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/newsletter/

Getting the school library ready for the new year

If you're in the process of getting your school library ready for the new academic year, check out this useful BookTrust article. Alison Tarrant, CEO of the School Library Association, shares some of her top tips to get the most out of your library from day 1.

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2022/august/getting-the-school-library-ready-for-the-new-year/

Getting the school library ready for the new year Alison Tarrant, CEO of the School Library Association, knows exactly what to prioritise when planning for the new school year.

'Children only become good readers if they read for pleasure at home' :: NEWS

It's always a lovely surprise to see articles online featuring a BookSpace library. Here we worked with teacher, David Battersby, at Heywood Primary and Nursery School in March 2020 to create an inviting and engaging reading space.

With very few pupils having access to books at home or the opportunity to visit a local library, the new library needed to offer positive reading experiences and inspire their children to become lifelong readers both at school and at home.

Read the full article here:

'Children only become good readers if they read for pleasure at home' :: NEWS Heybrook Primary and Nursery School reception teacher, David Battersby, spoke to us about opening a new library in his school.

👍 Ending the week on a high!

We love it when our customers tell us how pleased they are with their new BookSpace library, especially when they send photos of the space filled with lots of lovely 😍 books.

"The library space has been transformed from a cluttered, gloomy and unused area into a colourful, usable and welcoming space. The children and teachers are thrilled with the refurbishment and there is now a palpable buzz when you walk into the new library" Headteacher, Thorngrove School.

To learn more about our free library design service, head over to https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/school-library-design/

👀 Check out last week's library transformation! Our installers were on site at Hazlehurst Community Primary School in Bury building a bespoke Feature Wall which included:

- 1560mm high bookcases with adjustable shelving
- A combination of face-out display shelves and spine-out shelves
- Cosy reading nooks with cushions upholstered in heavy-duty vinyl-backed fabric
- Handy storage cupboards with decorative tree decals

We can't wait to see photos once the books are on the shelves!

📣 This week we thought we'd give a shout out to our amazing fitters who are busy installing lots of new school libraries in time for September.

With almost 20 years' experience working in schools and public libraries, we've lost count how many times we've been told how helpful, friendly and professional they are!

Our fitters are highly-skilled and their attention to detail is second to none - ensuring the products we supply are finished to an exceptional standard ✨

"Throughout the day, they checked at each stage to see if we were happy with how everything looked. They were very professional!" Norwood Primary School

🌞 Happy summer 🌞

We've had a fantastic year creating lots of inspiring libraries for primary schools across the UK. In fact, the BookSpace team have designed over 200 reading spaces since September last year!

Take a look at some of our 3D visuals to see what our designers have been up to. We'll also be sharing lots of newly installed libraries over the summer so watch this space.

Wow! 😮 We are in love with the library at Alleyn's Junior School in London.

✨ Design tip: using curves and angles creates a more free-flowing layout that will draw children into the space and add a sense of discovery.

If you need help designing your school library, contact us on 0121 246 2777 to find out about our free library design service.

There's no better way to create a buzz around reading than getting children talking to each other about books.

These 5 unique book display units are designed to encourage children to share their personal reading experiences and help to develop more confident readers:

Emoji Reads 😍 😡 😢 🤔 😮
Postbox 📮 ✍️
Caught Reading 📸
Like, Try, Why ❓
Me-to-You 💬

Check out the full range here: https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/school-library-shelving/reading-features/

Five games for children to play in their school library

We love ❤️ this idea of using game-based learning to engage children in reading.

Check out the full article at BookTrust where Education Consultant Sarah Pavey shares some of her favourite games for children to play in the school library.

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2022/june/five-games-for-children-to-play-in-their-school-library/

Five games for children to play in their school library Education consultant Sarah Pavey shares five brilliant games that primary school children can play in their library.

Tips to get boys reading | Bookspace

Research consistently shows that boys are more likely to struggle with reading compared to girls and that boys spend less time reading outside of class everyday.

At BookSpace, everything we do is the result of years of research into presenting books to children in a positive and engaging way.

So this month we thought we'd share with you 6 top tips to get boys reading:

https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/blog/tips-to-get-boys-reading/

Tips to get boys reading | Bookspace Research consistently shows that boys are more likely to struggle with reading compared to girls and ‘only 1 in 4 boys read outside of class everyday’. Here we share some of our top tips to make your school library more appealing to boys.

Children will love ❤️ posting their ideas and reading recommendations with our Postbox.

This eye-catching unit is compact and sits neatly on a desk or can be mounted on the wall in your school library, classroom or corridor.

The postbox comes with 3 different postcards:

💬 Suggestions for new books children would like to see in the library

💭 Ideas to make their library or reading space even better

👍 Recommendations to classmates on what to read next

Research shows that getting children involved and providing opportunities to voice their opinions improves engagement and attitudes towards learning. Read more about our Postbox here: http://ow.ly/axph50JxkrX

-and-share

✨Create an instant reading corner in your school library or classroom with our Storage Seats.

Practical yet comfy, these units are the perfect combination of seating and storage. Designed to be free-standing, they can be easily moved or reconfigured to suit your space whatever the size or shape.

Pair with the 3-Tier Picturebook Unit to create a larger reading area with additional shelving. These units have 3 shelves which are angled to provide plenty of face-out display and make it easier for young readers to reach out and pick up a book.

✔️ Seat bases are made from high-quality MDF to withstand knocks and bumps in a busy school environment.

✔️ Cushions are upholstered in a heavy-duty, vinyl-backed fabric which is stain repellent, bleach-cleanable and fire-retardant.

Read more here: https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/childrens-library-furniture/storage-seat/

🚛 All BookSpace products come with free delivery to mainland UK.

Feedback doesn't get much better than this 👍

"The library looks absolutely fabulous!!! Your team have done an incredible job and the children's faces were a picture. They are sooooo excited about using it."

Hilton Spencer Academy, Derby.

Kingsley Special Academy in Kettering wanted to create a SEN-friendly library that captured pupils' imaginations and inspired a love for reading.

Read how we transformed their old library into a more accessible, engaging space with a unique castle feature, cosy reading nooks and lots of face-out book display.

https://www.bookspaceforschools.co.uk/case-studies/kingsley-special-academy/

Last month we went back to Kingsley Special Academy to have a chat with teachers about their new BookSpace library and captured these beautiful moments whilst we were there ❤️

Our design team just love creating inviting library spaces that captivate children's imaginations and bring excitement to the reading experience. If you need help designing your school library, give our team a call on 0121 246 2777.