We recently completed an update of our former print periodicals reading area and transformed it into a popular reading lounge for students, staff and faculty to connect with recreational reading to enhance their academic experience. Like many libraries, committing to environmental sustainability is part of our strategic plan, so the changes you see may not seem dramatic. Instead of replacing the furnishings, our staff and the Trinity facilities team carefully considered how we could update and reuse items that we already had. In cases where we opted to buy new, we bought items of high quality that we hope will last as long as the original furnishings.

For other libraries undertaking similar projects, here is an overview of the features of the project and how we re-envisioned using what we had in the space.

Shelving

• The space once held print periodicals and periodical back issues (note: we still have some print periodicals but they are now in another area.) Instead of replacing the shelving units along the walls, we were able to rearrange the shelving to better highlight the popular reading titles.
  
  
• One of the newest innovations was to create high top seating, which was completed using what had previously been a low, freestanding periodicals shelving unit. The original unit was a beautiful example of woodwork that we wanted to preserve by updating it for the modern needs of the library. Our contractor stabilized the unit so it was secure for seating, lowered it to bar height and added popup plug ins for laptops and cell phone charging. We did purchase new chairs from a furniture supplier specializing in furniture for high use in public institutional settings. This new seating has been very popular with students so far!
  

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Other seating options

• We recognize that high top seating is not accessible to everyone, so the space also includes regular height seating. From the original opening of Graham Library in 2000, the space has featured these comfortable chairs that are beloved by many. They were beginning to look worn after the last twenty-three years, so we were able to have them refinished and reupholstered. We have also retained a larger table for those who want to work within the space, though we may look at further improvements to this area later.

Wallpaper images from rare and special collections

• Immediately facing the popular reading section is our rare and special collections exhibit display cases. The visual concept of the wall murals was to unify our rare books and special collections exhibit area with the popular reading collection.
  
  
• We were also inspired by biophilic design,* or the idea that by bringing living and non-living design elements into our indoor spaces, they can invoke the experience of being in the natural world and engender a greater sense of wellbeing and rest. We selected images from one of our rare books: La botanique mise à la portée de tout le monde, ou, Collection des plantes d’usage dans la médecine, dans les alimens et dans les arts (previously profiled on this blog).
  
  For printing the images, we selected a supplier who prints on wallpaper rather than vinyl, so at a future point if we want to change the theme, the images will be easily removable and recyclable.

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Thanks to one of our student assistants, Minh, a talented graphic designer, who helped prepare the image for our vendor! I also want to thank our Outreach Technician, Daniela, who installed the wallpaper herself (it probably doesn’t hurt that she was a set painter in a previous career).

We recognize that we are very fortunate to have begun this project with high quality and long-lasting furnishings, but hopefully this provides some ideas about the possibilities of reusing materials on hand to meet the needs of current library users. I want to express our gratitude to our Friends of the Library who funded this project and were a major funder of the original library; also to our former director, Linda C. for her foresight in selecting beautiful furnishings in the first place.

*For anyone interested in reading further about biophilic designs in libraries, see E. Doucett, 100+ Ideas to Inspire Smart Spaces and Creative Places, ALA Editions, 2020.

post by K. MacDonald