Gresswell Magazine 2021

l l e w s s e r G INSPIRATION ∙ EXPERIENCE ∙ IDEAS ∙ DISCOVER

Magazine

FLEXIBLE CLASSROOMS Discover the results of our research

FURNITURE FOR LEARNING Explore the range…

TOMORROW’S LIBRARIES SOCIO-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Innovative services, innovative spaces

Positive effect on learning outcomes

2021 WWW.GRESSWELL.CO.UK

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Education Group

Your

2021 catalogue...

… Coming soon!

We can’t wait to share the latest Gresswell resources catalogue with you. Packed full of new products, content, resources and innovation specifically for library professionals.

Don’t miss out. Like a copy?

Email: enquiries@gresswell.co.uk or visit wf-education.com/ catalogue-request/

A SITE BUILT FOR YOU GRESSWELL.CO.UK

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reat products, fast delivery, friendly service. Whether you’re looking for ideas for your library space, LRC or learning commons we’re sure you’ll find inspiration from our specialist range of library supplies, equipment and furniture. Browse by range or search by product, you can purchase direct or create a quote from your basket.

IDEAS AND INSPIRATION…

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iscover our blog! We will regularly update you with product highlights and inspiration, our research and whitepapers, articles that interest us, podcasts, videos…

Join our community and sign up for Gresswell e-newsletters today. Go to:

blog.wf-education.com/gresswell-blog

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Latest news LIBRARIES | EDUCATION | RESEARCH

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF COLOUR

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he use of colour is powerful and can indirectly influence our behaviour. To enhance the learning, development and well-being of your patrons or students, here are some points to consider:

• blue inspires confidence and tranquillity, it helps reduce stress and nervousness • orange encourages communication, creating an atmosphere of trust and friendliness • green promotes concentration, by recalling nature; it inspires tranquillity • yellow, an undisputed reminder of the sun, conveys good humour and has a positive effect on memory

DID YOU KNOW? Improved design of the school building can have a positive impact on the learning outcomes of primary school students. According to research and the publication of the study “Clever Classrooms” by Professor Peter Barrett, the various elements that make up the environment in which students study impacts their academic progress by up to 16%. The study shows that colour, light, temperature, air quality, furniture, flexibility, and colour all have a direct impact on the quality of student learning and retention.

16%

1 Barrett P S, et al., The impact of classroom design on pupils' learning: Final results of a holistic, multi-level analysis. Building and Environment, 2015. 89: p. 118-33.

Red should be used in moderation as it can be perceived as an aggressive environment if used excessively. Likewise, white must be accompanied by coloured accents, as it gives little relief and does not encourage creativity. On the other hand, pastel tones are preferred for cognitive learning or fine motor skills.

PLANNING FUTURE-FIT LEARNING SPACES

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he ‘space’ – where teachers teach, and children learn has an accepted impact on the wellbeing of both and the improved learning outcomes of students. At WF Education and Demco we believe that curious students should have the freedom and means to invent and control their learning journey.

WORKING WITH DEMCO

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resswell’s sister company supports the need for teaching and library staff to be able to tailor the learning environment to allow for short-term changes of layout and use. This means movable, flexible, or modular furniture that allows spaces to be rearranged with ease to reflect the curriculum requirements.

To discuss your next learning space project, contact the Demco team…

demco@wf-education.com

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Tomorrow’s Libraries

INNOVATIVE SERVICES, INNOVATIVE SPACES

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e are not necessarily talking about technological or digital innovations here, but rather innovations in the services provided. In addition to supporting the development of literacy and reading in the community, libraries go much much further.

Libraries have expanded their services (both technological and traditional) and transformed to meet the changing needs of their students or patrons. It is largely thanks to libraries’ culture of cooperation and innovation that they have defied predictions of their imminent demise, becoming important ‘community hubs’.

In a report by Carnegie Trust UK published in 2017, 72% of people surveyed in England thought that libraries were essential to their community whereas only 40% felt they were essential for them personally (Peachey, 2017).

Constantly evolving, libraries are endowed with a force of adaptation thanks to their librarians and teacher-librarians, eager to remain relevant and useful and support the sharing of knowledge and people coming together.

In times of radical change (such as the current pandemic), old paradigms no longer apply. Rapid cultural, technological, and societal shifts are changing how people consume information and use libraries.

Libraries are safe, trusted areas - these establishments have managed to maintain their attractiveness and even increase their footfall (preCOVID) by addressing a heterogeneous public and offering a wide variety of services, activities and events.

We will continue to see innovation in library spaces with the introduction of maker spaces, workshops, exhibitions, performance, online gaming and the digital experience.

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FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE SPACE

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he organization of these types of events and multi-disciplinary activities requires strong modularity of the space. With space in most libraries at a premium, the time spent and the practicality of rearranging the furniture within it should be considered.

As part of the WF Education Group, Demco has a library design service that will maximise the utilisation of your space, dedicated to user experience and clever use of flexible furniture to define areas.

LOOKING FOR ‘MOBILE’ FURNITURE?

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esigned to be adaptable, our range of flexible furniture on casters is easily reconfigurable. Space can be adapted according to your immediate needs, almost instantly, creating an agile space that adapts to the demands of evolving library space.

FIND SOME INSPIRATION ON OUR WEBSITE:

5 shelf Book Displayer with castors Product code: 4006965

Mobile Spinner Paperback/DVD Product code: 4213706

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Mobile Library Product code: 4243219

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Multimedia Display Freestanding Product code: 4205555

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Join the Culture Club A

Libraries are the perfect location for creating and enhancing cultural hubs and development programmes in a community.

Expanding the offering to include music, arts, digital and dance events can open up library services to an ever more diverse range of children and adults and retaining relevance and connection to the communities they serve.

Libraries as Cultural Hubs enables the development of the concept of libraries as a community space for performance and have a focus on health and wellbeing and the benefits of creativity and culture, whilst increasing footfall and offering a supportive revenue stream for future developments.

A 2-year Arts Council England National Lottery funded cultural development programme for two Dorset libraries in Gillingham and Weymouth demonstrated that events can attract new audiences as 40% of the attendees at a musical concert were non-library members.

Room Settings with ActivSpace™ Range This adaptation should be supported by fit-for-purpose adaptable spaces and staff training.

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WHAT ABOUT SPACE IN ALL OF THIS?

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e often hear that we have to decompartmentalize space, yes but how? Should we think about space differently? Yes, without a doubt. Let’s put the users first, try to understand what they want and need from the space. How do they want to use it? How do they want it to make them feel?

A few themes regularly feature in our educational library fit-out projects: In addition to creating traditional spaces designated for reading and paper materials, new spaces are popular with students: digital hubs, spaces for collaboration, presentation and group work, individual quiet spaces or nooks, relaxation spaces with comfortable seating and ambient lighting, and space to gather and connect.

GROUP WORK SPACES

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void putting them next to each other because any noise will be amplified noise. It is also recommended for obvious reasons not to place them near the reading or relaxation areas so as not to disturb the very function of these Zen spaces.

exible Learning Space (secondary) 243m2– RELAXATION AREAS

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hey are essential for better cohesion between the supervisory team and the students or patrons. The feedback from the French school, Académie de Versailles relates the improvement in relations and communication between students and the teacher/librarian when the latter meet in a more convivial and less formal space. Often the bean bags are the most popular for furnishing this space, and the students also ask for more vibrant colour schemes in these areas.

DIGITAL SPACES

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ither these are nomadic because of the use of untethered devices (laptops, tablets), which gives you freedom in the arrangement of your space, or they are fixed and therefore must be positioned within technical limitations (access to power supply etc…). In this case, they will also be less easily mobile and therefore it is preferable to position these close to shelves or in a space that will not interfere with reconfigurations of the space.

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Flexible Classrooms A

We hear a lot about it, the flexible classroom: a concept originating in North America, widely acclaimed and implemented in Scandinavia and which is gradually developing in the UK and France.

Curious to know more, our sister company Demco France set out to test and experience this new concept live during 2019 and 2020. With access to teachers and students, Demco tested the practicalities around the deployment of a flexible class in two classes in France (CE1 – aged 7-8 and the inclusive ULIS class).

Three teachers from the Joliot Curie School agreed to participate in the adventure.

The Demco team share their insights…

“We discovered the benefits together, the preconceptions, the barriers and the different key stages. Every month, we published feedback on our blog; these did not intend to determine a methodology, a pedagogy, but simply share the developments of the experience and feedback without filters.”

THE BEGINNING...

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he children very quickly adopted the new seats, we chose a gentle approach, already tested and approved by many classes beforehand and offered the cushions for the reading workshops.

Spontaneously the children took off their shoes and yet our cushions have a nylon coating so they are resistant to shoe marks. By far the favourite is the giant cushion, it easily accommodates two children aged 7-8 years. Its popularity was later confirmed in other workshops as well.

Why did we first offer this type of seating for the reading workshops? Simply because it is recommended as a first step to support children in choosing the seat that suits them the best.

Gradually, the child becomes more independent and adapts his seat according to his needs.

THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR...

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t is with great pleasure that we met again with teachers and students at the start of the school year. We were delighted to see the continuity of the project and, its evolution. Indeed, the classes we attended are now permanently semiflexible, the concept of autonomy, of the child’s choice of place when arriving in the morning, and undertaking workshop work fully embedded in the school day.

Teachers redoubled their ingenuity, notably utilising the breakfast/bed trays from a famous Scandinavian retailer as the perfect accompaniment to the flexible seating options.

The arrival of the children in the classroom in the morning evidenced just how quickly they had adopted the flexible classroom mode. No more assigned seats, each child chooses his seat and his place, and they have the freedom to move around the classroom during the day according to the activities and the seat that they like.

However, flexibility did affect managing the space and layout of the classroom. The children have to step over seats and bags, lifting the cushions over each other and above the tables ...

It takes almost 20 minutes to reconfigure the classroom for some workshops! We are still far from a reconfigurable class in 5 minutes flat! But the evolution is there and above all, the progress of the students, their growing autonomy and their active participation in our study made for a fascinating insight.

IN CONCLUSION…

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o why not fully flexible? Well, we realize that beyond the material aspect, in particular the furniture, a real obstacle to the complete modelisation of the space, it is also teaching pedagogy that must adapt. Despite the will and determination of all the teachers participating in the project, they too had to adapt. Their advice is not to underestimate the work and the creative thinking that this new class layout represents. It should also be noted that the flexible class compliments the personalization of teaching, with each student able to independently retrieve their exercises in the tray dedicated to them, which makes it possible to offer targeted activities according to the academic progress of each.

Likewise, the flexible classroom encourages the active participation of each child, allowing the teacher to teach lessons in smaller groups and offer quality observation time.

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Emotional and social education T

. he charity Young Minds surveyed children during and after the first UK lockdown.

80% of respondents agreed that the coronavirus pandemic had made their mental health worse.

41% said it had made their mental health “much worse”, up from 32% in the previous survey in March.

This was often related to increased feelings of anxiety, isolation, a loss of coping mechanisms or a loss of motivation.

more complex levels (and the development of “soft skills” or life skills).

The school curriculum seeks to expand cognitive skills and the overall well-being of students. This effort has led to the development of tools to promote emotional and social education to reduce the risk of anxiety and depression, but also to improve school performance and educational outcomes. This is implemented from the youngest age to facilitate progression to

- Understanding of their emotions and the ability to articulate their feelings

Based on the principles of emotional and relational intelligence, it allows, through a variety of lessons/workshops, to obtain positive results which mainly allow: - Developed self-awareness: this helps to increase confidence but also its assertion

- Assist with decision making and problem-solving without aggression but using other more successful means of expression and communication - Improvement of interpersonal skills

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From a practical point of view and in a primary school setting, the setting up of workshops will require the creation of a conducive environment so that the child is relaxed and comfortable. An initial approach based on dialogue and play will allow the child to find their place. Then it is possible to explore listening in a circle and respecting one’s fellow students. This leads to the establishment of trust between peers and teachers. This creates a solid foundation to develop their emotional intelligence.

The impact goes far beyond the student but also on the professional activity of the teacher. And these programmes will become more important and relevant as we continue to assess the long term impact of the pandemic.

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Dynamic foundations... ... ENCOURAGES COLLABORATION.

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t is well-known that sitting still on a chair for long periods will have adverse effects on both the body and mind. Investing in active seating gives you the ability to enable people sitting in your learning environment the opportunity to move whilst remaining seated.

Modular seating including tables, chairs and mobile shelving will facilitate individual and collaborative work but will also enhance well-being, by offering comfortable and more dynamic

seating. Seating such as free movement ‘wobble’ stools and sitting balls will facilitate the change of posture whilst improving concentration and encouraging participation. Furniture must be flexible to meet both collaboration and privacy needs, and ergonomics and comfort.

Spaces should also be equipped with technological solutions, giving rapid access to various information for active learning, and also digital signage tools to encourage participation.

WHY EQUIP YOUR SPACE WITH IT?

In short, the dynamic foundations are:

The importance of offering a choice of seating will equal or even exceed that of the 4-legged chair. Whether we are referring to flipped classes or pedagogy, learning methods are evolving and in-order to facilitate collaborative levels, furniture and in particular, seating must adapt.

We often talk about a flexible class, here again, dynamic seating has been proven, some students need perpetual movement to concentrate, dynamic seating responds to this need and allows the period of attention to be extended.

• Ideal for group workshops as they promote discussion and creativity.

• Promote perpetual motion to maintain attention.

• Allow you to remain seated while moving in your chair.

• Promote autonomy and empower the child.

Please note that they are not suitable for learning to write and for lessons requiring assiduous discipline.

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The OneLeg® stool is an alternative sitting method that helps promote good posture and posture. Its original shape makes it perfect for any environment, whether at school or in the office. The OneLeg® Stool comes with a black non-slip foot cover.

Coloured non-slip silicone seat covers are available separately.

Several models (different heights) to choose from. Sold individually. See more information and prices online. Ref. Product: 4230-195.

OneLeg® stool The sturdy and durable Moov stool has a flexible core that allows free movement while sitting comfortably. Its 350 mm diameter seat and wide base ensure great stability. Several colours to choose from. Sold individually. See more information and prices online. Ref. Product: 4230-239.

Moov st

ool

MooreCo™ Hierarchy Height-Adjustable Grow Stool. Height-adjustable stool with wobble action promotes good posture and helps expel excess energy.

ol

MooreCo sto

DID YOU KNOW ?

Remaining seated in class without moving is a barrier to learning for the majority of students. The movement generated by dynamic sitting encourages the use of certain areas of the brain, which results in a noticeable improvement in concentration, understanding and collaboration. Physiological studies have shown that the movement created by this type of sitting is comparable to walking.

This allows the child in different situations, such as individual reading or working together on a project, to combine the best possible conditions for success, but also to promote well-being.

This type of seat is easily set up in the school environment and fits perfectly into the flexible classroom approach.

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Bean Bag Spaces CAN THE USE OF BEAN BAGS OPTIMISE A CHILD’S CONCENTRATION?

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ttention, behaviour and motivation are critical to successful learning. Flexible environments and zoning can provide a superior learning setting to a traditional classroom or library layout.

Concentration is essential to ensure optimal learning outcomes. Without their full attention, it is difficult to captivate them during lessons or to engage them to participate in an activity over a longer period.

University of Salford’s study on classroom design found ‘Learning environments can affect a child’s academic progress over a year by as much as 25%.’

FLEXIBILITY. ERGONOMICS. AESTHETICS’. OUTCOMES. What if the use of flexible seating, such as bean bags and soft seating, in the classroom or in the library was the solution to creating a relaxed environment for listening and enhanced learning in the school environment?

An awkward position or one that requires special effort to maintain is a distraction and can quickly lead to a decline in focus and comfort. So being comfortable contributes to improving the quality of learning.

Different activities require different configurations. Writing tasks require a desk and a chair, or a solid writable surface but some activities such as reading, thinking or meditating are optimised with a more comfortable seat to avoid distractions.

Using alternative seating such as bean bags or floor cushions, indoors and outdoors helps improve posture.

Pupils and students not having to focus on their position, become more relaxed and engaged in their task.

Gresswell commissioned a whitepaper from the marketing and product engineering teams of our partner Eden Learning Spaces. They conducted qualitative research drawn from the findings of 15 educational site visits and interviews with 40 educational professionals and approximately 60 pupils with extensive user testing.

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“We use them in our library and every break time students are to be found snuggled up with a book.

They have worked particularly well as they provide a comfortable place to browse for those students who are less motivated readers.”

- Laura Ballantyne, Subject Leader for Literacy, Beccles Free School

“The variety of colours allows children individual choice and they [bean bags] are used regularly for reading and as part of their own imaginative play activities.”

- Hazel Scott, Head Teacher, Ringway First School

They carried out initial research into the Abbeyfields School in Morpeth, Northumberland and made some rather surprising discoveries.

The first results indicate that the levels of comfort and concentration during the individual reading of children aged 6-7 years are higher when using the high back ottoman specially designed for children in the 1st and 2nd learning cycles (nursery and elementary schools).

“Having an appealing area in the classroom means that children are motivated to want to go and read there. They enjoy the comfort and the informality that it brings, which is relaxing and different from the normal classroom set up – especially in KS2.”

- Gail Mason, Year Six Teacher, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

Bean bags are not just traditional rounded shapes anymore. Using expert ergonomic design, they have been transformed into supportive chair shapes, feature animal characteristics, realistic high definition nature prints, or even have multiple removable covers with different curriculum topics in vibrant colours.

The paper explores the theme in the following contexts: • Ergonomics & Aesthetics for Education • Encouraging Reading • Technology • Outdoor Learning • Bulge Classrooms • SEN & Inclusive Learning

DOWNLOAD WHITEPAPER: GRESSWELL.CO.UK/EDL-BEANBAGS

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Soft seats, essential for the “flexible class” O

ffering different seating options, the flexible classroom allows students to choose the position in which they want to work and listen. They get to know little by little what suits them best, which best encourages their autonomy. Sitting on a rug, curled up in a bean bag, wedged between two cushions, all of this is somewhat reminiscent of the living room at home and therefore has a reassuring effect. This environment allows the development of autonomy, accountability and even inter-student cooperation.

Group exchanges and interactions with teachers are also strengthened. The dynamics of the classroom are transformed when the traditional alignment of tables and chairs is removed.

Everyone is at the heart of this new space without rigidities, flexible and conducive to a relaxed exchange.

In colleges, high schools and even in universities, lounges are created with comfortable furniture (connected sofas, ottomans,

chairs), spaces of great flexibility promoting exchange and sharing.

Ideal for the relaxation area of flexible classes or for the reading corner of the library and particularly suited to attentive but relaxed listening, the low bean bag type seats are perhaps the most comfortable of all the seats offered to children and teenagers.

They make themselves comfortable there, in the position of their choice and can stay there for an indefinite period!

• Helps channel emotions by reducing the impact of environmental factors • Encourages discussion and collaboration among adolescents during collaborative work

• Being comfortable helps children to relax • Promotes concentration and increases the ability to be ‘actively listening’ to information

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BEANBAG FOR THE RIGHT AUDIENCE Read our blog: blog.wf-education.com/bean-bag-spaces

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New technologies

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With the impact of COVID accelerating the issue, the digital education plan has become a reality in colleges and schools. It is part of a comprehensive and sustainable educational strategy designed to develop pedagogical innovation and promote academic learning and student success – in and out of the classroom.

Today, the digital revolution continues its development with the continued use of tablets but also with the installation of digital, interactive and connected whiteboards and the integration of varied digital tools and platforms. Group work done on tablets is the subject of collective analysis and discussion, facilitating and energizing student participation. The tablet complements the interactive digital whiteboard in the digital classroom. A supportive, modern and flexible learning environment is most suitable for using tablets or laptops.

The bean bags by their mobility and their lightness are very suitable for collaborative work in small groups but also for independent learning thanks to their incredible support which offers a more ergonomic posture than a traditional seat.

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Inclusive Classrooms

ith the introduction of inclusive school for all, fighting exclusion has now become essential. By including students with disabilities, we are moving towards success for all.

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Large High Back bean bag pod Perfect for video games and comic book spaces Ref. Product: 4094382

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Giant Floor Cushion Multi-position, multi-use Ref. Product: 4094415

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Student Bean Bag Suitable for reading: better support, higher sitting.

Ref. Product: 4211132

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ttractive and contemporary sensory bean bags help promote inclusive learning for all, children with special educational needs benefit from their use. For example, teachers describe how younger children often need to comfort themselves by gently stroking pieces of soft fabric, and found that bean bags are a useful tool, providing a calming, reassuring and sensory learning environment that all students can benefit from. The bean bags made a proprioceptive contribution to children with autism or those suffering from sensory disorders.

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Teens and the Library T

hey were thought to be deserters and finally, in recent years, they have become “sojourners”. Many of you have worked to motivate the new generation to visit the library more often. The important thing is to forge a bond, to make the library accessible and welcoming so that they come back regularly. So, for all those who have not yet taken the plunge, here are some of your ideas that we wanted to share:

• Set up a space dedicated to teenagers • Organise video game tournaments • Set up a manga club • Organise a literary criticism battle • Offer a photography workshop/ exhibition When asked, they like to hang out there, sometimes just to sit down, read a book, or listen to music. Other times they come to find a discovery, through a workshop or simply to work there for the next assignment. While the concept of

third place is often criticized, it takes on its full meaning here. So to better welcome them, why not dedicate a space to them? Easily convertible, we advise you to equip it with bean bags, comic book bins, manga towers and high-tech equipment: tablets, video games etc ... Encourage them to come back, encourage them to stay there: ‘ensure that the library remains at the heart of collective life, where its social role has never been more important.

TEENS AND READING

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ast-paced, 21st Century sociological shifts have created a Generation Z of teenagers, otherwise known as the ‘iGen’ who are very different from the X and Y generations. Driven by technology, these digitalites are hard researchers, avid gamers, and social media experts with a desire to be entertained on demand. The world of smart technology, gaming consoles, and social media platforms has resulted in today’s teen being predominantly driven by technology and reliant on swift access to information on the go.

It is well known that reading improves memory function, increases levels of concentration and can relieve stress, but reading also dramatically improves emotional

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intelligence. This can play a key role in supporting young people, their mental health and their path to adulthood.

All teens will go through enormous changes in their body and mind, and many of them will face difficult life experiences. Fiction is an important form of escape for many teens, helping them imagine, relate and can be a great help in dealing with their problems, especially when reading in the first person. Literature offers opportunities to discover and identify with people like them.

As many parents and teachers know, encouraging teenagers to read in the first place can be a battle but how do you maintain interest and build a love for reading once engaged. The learning environment will be one of the biggest engagement tools you’ll have. Whether a public or school library, the way you present your reading/learning environment will have a huge impact on how interested teens are, how long they spend reading and maintaining a desire that keeps them reading regularly.

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Highlight | Showcase | Recommend

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s human beings, we have a natural need to feel comfortable in our surroundings and will be influenced hugely by the environment in which learning and reading take place. The search for familiar comfort and “cosy” furniture makes it easier to immerse yourself in reading. Bean bags offer young adults a comfortable alternative to more traditional furniture (desk and chair). They are an excellent aid in relaxation, optimizing comfort and, ultimately, the time that adolescents spend reading.

Considering the reduced level of “patience” among today’s teens, consider investing in comic book bins and swivel towers in a reading space, this specific furniture is a fantastic way to easily place books in front of readers and will allow them to select and store a book without having to walk the aisles of linear shelving. Space must be taken into account, so there is a need to provide books that are relevant to adolescents and displayed clearly and are easy to find.

It is important to let teens choose their own materials, but it can be intimidating for unconfident readers. There is such a variety of new authors, formats and genres that it is essential to guide and support them in their selection, especially for readers with shorter levels of concentration and patience.

It is, therefore, necessary to bring the works closer to the reader and to draw attention to the scope and variety at his disposal. Why not create a section “Our choice of the week”, “Our favourites”, “Our summer selection”… These displays will be perfect to ensure a rotation of all the collections but also to introduce teenagers titles that are unknown to them or forgotten, or even completely unknown.

LIBRARY MUST-HAVES…

Demco® Spinner Ref. Product: 4236553

High back bean bag Ref. Product: 4094382

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Presentation easels Ref. Product: 4242471

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Small services that make a BIG difference...

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e talk about innovative services, workshops and activities, we talk about the library as a social mediator and community hub. But it is above all an accessible route to culture, to reading and resources – open to all. So those are these little services, which can go unnoticed and yet can make all the difference.

24-HOUR BOOK RETURNS

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large number of patrons cannot access the library on weekdays, during office hours: workers, schoolchildren, students do not have the time to visit the library to return borrowed items. COVID-19 and the need to quarantine materials has meant that book return boxes have become a real asset. Often placed in front of the library, sometimes even on the wall, in the entrance hall, these return boxes allow your patrons to return materials24 hours a day. A real plus, and a service that many users appreciate.

What about librarians? Fears of vandalism were quickly dissipated, the collection of the cart (often full!) to return the returns is done outside of public opening hours and thus allows better management of the collection. Another point to consider if you want to acquire one of these models: some have a locking system for the slot where to insert the returns, so you can lock it when the bookcase is open to prevent the box from being full before the end of the day.

We offer a wide range of return boxes, do not hesitate to contact us to find out which model is the most appropriate, we can guide you according to your number of users, your opening hours, where to position the box - plenty of factors to consider before choosing your model.

INFORM, SUPPORT, RECOMMEND

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t is important to let your patrons choose their own reading materials, but it can be intimidating for less confident readers. There is such a variety of new authors, formats and genres that it is essential to guide and accompany them in their selection, especially for readers with shorter levels of concentration and patience, as can be the case with the generation Z. It is, therefore, necessary to bring ranges closer to the reader and to draw attention to the breadth and variety available to them. Why not create a section “Our choice of the week”, “Our favourites”, “Our summer selection” “Books about Love” “Stories Tackling race” New Non-Fiction Titles, etc. These displays will be perfect to ensure a thorough rotation of the entire collection but also to help teenagers discover titles that are relative to them, forgotten about or completely unknown – quickly and easily!

CONGRATULATE AND ENCOURAGE

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hether your users are large or small, do not hesitate to offer from time to time a small souvenir from your library, a bag for transporting books or documents on loan, or bookmarks, everyone loves a bookmark! Encouraging reading is important, it improves memory function, increases levels of concentration and can relieve stress, but reading also dramatically improves emotional intelligence. Advocating its practice, encouraging it and congratulating the most enthusiastic little readers is important to maintain the crucial role that reading plays in the development of individuals.

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Mobility: The key

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hen we know that it can take up to 20 minutes to reconfigure a primary school class (see our research on the semi-flexible classroom), we must look for furniture to speed up this transition. So, the first step is to move away from fixed rectangular tables, that are heavy and cumbersome and difficult to store. The more individual the tables, the easier it will be to reconfigure the space according to the needs of the space and the workshops/lessons offered.

Casters speed up the installation and avoid the noise of the tables that scratch the floor as soon as we move them and so space can be transformed in less than 5 minutes.

This speed makes a regular change of the layout possible and deliverable – and infinitely more attractive!

THIS CONFIGURATION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS:

Inicy mobile table

Kappa mobile chair

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Marvellously Mobile F

urniture should not constrain but rather facilitate the activity in your library. Discover our mobile ranges, which will allow you to configure your space according to your needs in the minimum amount of time.

Mobile library Ref. Product: 4243219

Demco Express Display Unit Ref. Product: 4087221

Demco spinning tower Ref. Product: 4213706

Mobile shelving Cantilibra range

Telford Segment Tables Ref. Product: 4225487

Titan Swivel Chair Ref. Product: 4243637

ALL TECHNICAL SHEETS, PRICES AND INFORMATION ARE AVAILABLE ON WWW.GRESSWELL.CO.UK p. 20

Shhh. It’s Library Quiet.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT TROLLEY.

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t may seem trivial to choose the right trolley for your library, however, many considerations must be taken into account to choose the most suitable equipment for your use (frequency), the distance to be covered, the weight of the materials to be transported, the location of loading (book returns bank) and unloading (racks, reserves) etc…

Regular use of an unsuitable trolley could have an impact on muscular-skeletal health. It is important to select a trolley that best suits your needs and budget. In a study by APSAM, taken up by ENSSIB, reported muscular-skeletal disorders were more frequently associated with the following tasks: registration of documents on loan (pain felt in the upper limbs, neck and neck); and storage of documents on the different height shelves (pain felt in the back - dorsal and lumbar region - and in the lower limbs).

Here are the main criteria to take into account:

MATERIAL

WHEELS

Preferably hardwearing metal, which is lighter and more manoeuvrable. However, metal can be very noisy depending on the floor covering. It is imperative that trollies are equipped with noise-cancelling and welded castors, they will be more solid and more discreet. A wooden cart is heavier to transport and the structure can loosen under intensive use (the cart will become less stable and you’ll get rattling).

4-wheel steering is optimum, the cart is more manoeuvrable and it makes it easy to slalom up to the shelves and go through narrow or congested aisles. High friction wheels make it easy to go up a slope, while low friction wheels will be easier to control but require more effort when pushing.

SHELVING Wide horizontal shelves can accommodate any type of content, however, documents will be less stable and risk falling. Inclined shelves allow better transport of documents, although this can make the reading of the spines a little more difficult. A single-sided cart is a good compromise, it is lighter and more manoeuvrable but has a limited capacity. A double-sided cart offers maximum capacity but once loaded can be heavy and more difficult to manoeuvre. A trolley with additional book supports optimises lighter document stability and would be practical if this was an everyday requirement.

HANDLES Choose rounded bars, they offer better grip and are more comfortable. Forget about trollies without handles, they are difficult to push or pull and very hard to manoeuvre easily.

Likewise, those with a T-handle will be difficult to turn in a tight space.

Discover our entire range of trollies at www.gresswell.co.uk

Demco®LibraryQuiet™Trolley

SLIM, STRONG & SILENT

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Daily Essentials Because we must not forget those little details that keep the library running smoothly, books can be borrowed, consulted, documents stored and filed ... Can’t find what you are looking for? Even more choice on Gresswell.co.uk with more than 1,500 products in stock, we can deliver to you quickly, when you need it most.

Vistafoil ™ HD

Demco® Slip-over book Covers

Tyvek® roll

100 micron polypropylene. Delayed adhesive action.

Ref. 4050371

180 micron PVC with clear gloss finish. Totally reusable.

Ref. 4206325

Ripstop repair tape. 178 µ thick.

Ref. 4056465

Opticon C37 USB hand scanner

Barcode labels

Demco® Movable Shelf label Holder

High-performance laser reader (200 scans / sec).

Ref. 402408101

For better traceability. Customizable.

Ref. 4097363

Heavy-duty PVC label holder.

Ref. 4010243

Acrylic easel

Demco® Economy Book supports

Foldable box trolley

Transparent acrylic 3mm.

Ref. 4012575

Great prices. High quality.

Ref. 4048996

2 castors Ø 75 mm. With cover.

Ref. 4023718

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3 good reasons to equip your library with whiteboards L

A great way to modernize, improve and create a learning space that encourages participation for all is to add writing surfaces such as, whiteboards, scribble walls, glass, tables with erasable surfaces.

Of course, libraries and classrooms are already well equipped with white wall boards, the essential triptych of our childhood. Yes, but students too often consider them as spaces reserved for the teacher or staff member, which makes them difficult to access.

Considered a formal teaching tool, they can pose as a creative barrier. By making whiteboards and writable surfaces plentiful and accessible you can encourage creativity and student participation and they are just plain fun!

THEY ENCOURAGE GROUP WORK AND FACILITATE COLLABORATION

W

hen students work on a common project, it allows them to write and draw their ideas, to explore them, facilitating communication and understanding within the group. It is a key resource, especially for students with visual memory. The writing surfaces allow them for example, to draw the steps of creating a robot, visualize errors in their code and even better plan their project by creating a timeline. Paper indeed offers the same possibilities but it does not have the flexibility of an erasable writing surface, which allows students to easily write, erase, rewrite and gives them more writing and drawing space - big and freer to express yourself.

THEY PROMOTE THE MAKER CULTURE AROUND THE GAME

T

he Makerspace culture, the emergence of Fablabs in libraries and schools encourages people to think about the layout of spaces and the most suitable furniture. Whiteboards are a key part in a design and manufacturing process.

Whether it is for programming, coding or in the planning of a prototype, they allow you to draw and visualize while having fun. On their own, they make it possible to create fun, interactive spaces and encourage project pedagogy. Do you remember the highlight of your schooling? Often our most vivid memories come from projects to which we have actively contributed, which we have carried out as a group. The whiteboard is a key element that allows projects to take shape.

THEY ALLOW STUDENTS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES

W

alls, tables and other writable surfaces can become spaces for students and teachers alike. It strengthens the autonomy of students by allowing them to have a place where they can create and express themselves with few restrictions. Students have used writing surfaces in many creative ways. Some students wrote a question each week and the students added strokes as votes. A student who was passionate about a particular series of books drew fan art for the promotion of their favourite books. Another student would come in every morning to draw a new cartoon he was creating.

FAVOUR MOBILITY?

PREFER FLEXIBILITY?

CHOOSE SIMPLICITY?

Mobile Ultimate Flipchart Easel Ref. 409250101

WriteAngleÂŽ Revolving Whiteboards Ref. 4215587

Write-OnÂŽ Laminate Whiteboard Ref. 4032221

WWW.GRESSWELL.CO.UK

01743 812 204

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