Previous by Date | Next by Date | Date Index
Previous by Thread | Next by Thread
| Thread Index
| LM_NET
Archive
| |
Hello All, Thanks to everyone who took the trouble to respond to my query about the best shape for tables in the library. Here are the responses: * I just had the opportunity to buy all new furniture for my library. I gave up half of my rectangular tables and replaced them with round. I was asked to keep some of the rectangular ones for board meeting arrangements. I think the round is more inviting. I will say that they are always the ones that fill up first so they have some appeal. I believe it also softened the lines of the LMC. I also added a casual reaching corner, couch, loveseat, chair and end tables. That has been the real hit. So far it has not caused any problems but the students keep stopping in to tell me how much they like them. They are always full. * Round tables are good for students who want to spread out, but they don't work at all for students who need to collaborate or to make a panel. Rectanguar or square tables are the most flexible for different types of arrangements. * Rectangle gets my vote. The circular tables in my library always seem to draw the crowds of talkers who try to squeeze in extra people and what you might think is extra elbow room is lost room for books and writing paper. IMHO * I have found that the round tables work better. All the students can easily see or handle what they are working on. The rectangular shape makes it harder for them to see and work plus, they tend to group more than four at the rectuangular tables and the ones on the end have farther to reach, see, etc. * First question: how often do you have your tables filled? If not very often, then don't worry about it. If often, then consider more tables. Second question: how much stuff do your kids spread out on the tables? Round tables do give you lots of elbow room, but not much room for stuff. Rectangular tables have more room for books, papers, etc. Third question: do you ever need to put tables together? Round tables don't line up very well. * We are in the process of beginning a major remodel, and all the literature (and my personal preference) advocates 42" square. You can make bigger tables out of them by pushing them together; they give you more flexibility in arrangement. A negative that I've seen about round tables is that they can't easily be pushed together to make larger work areas if needed. I too have rectangular tables, and will be pushing for square when it comes time to order furniture (hopefully)! * I will be looking for furniture for my library. Right now we have round tables that fit 4. At lunch students bring over chairs from other tables. I try to limit this because of the noise factor. * In our very small library (seats 36) I have all square tables + one rectangle and I MUCH prefer them to the round tables at the grade school. While not as many can be seated at a square, there is far more workspace per person and the Junior High kids are less likely to mess with each others' projects. Also they're much more flexible--they can be combined easily when groups want to sit together, say, 8 to a table....and all sorts of formations can be made when we have meetings in the room. * I opted for round in a new building and wish I had gone with square. For small groups, round is great-but a lot of meetings are held in the library and it would be so nice to be able to do a rectangular or U shape arrangement, and I cannot do that with round. * Depends on what kinds of activities go in in that area... Round does give a little more elbow room, but in a pie piece shape. Round does not go together at all to make a larger seating area. So, if you pull tables together for meetings, group work, etc. round won't work. Personally, I'd prefer individual, sound-proofed study carrels everywhere, but that isn't practical. 2nd choice would be all 3x5' rectangular. * Circular tables are the worst. Architects love them, but students have difficulty collaborating around them. Try it yourself, esp. with a book or papers between you and your partner. I'll take the square or rectangle tables any day. * I would LOVE to have rectangular tables. I'm at a high school and our small round tables (about 42" across) are way too small to accommodate students with work spread out. And it encourages a more "social" climate. In fact, I only allow 3 students (or less) to sit at the tables. The 4th chair is for book bags. I want at least square tables--more elbow room and the potential to be arranged in a variety of ways to fit the circumstance (longer tables, etc.). Round tables are very limiting. * My immediate thought is - make sure they are big enough - whatever that may be for your space. Ours are square, and a little bigger than card table size, so that in itself promotes visiting and games. Students need space to spread out their books and supplies. Our tables don't provide that. * We hate circular tables! They take up too much space but they don't give kids enough space to spread things out and work. Round tables look nice, but can't be put together for a larger group. We like squares or rectangles. * I vote for the rectangle for more students to be at the tables. BUT, we have the rectangle tables in our lunchroom, and the students are closer together, therefore are apt to visit more. Depends on what your goal is, more students or less visiting! * I think it depends what the tables are used for. I have square, circular, and rectangular tables in my library. I like each shape for different reasons. The rectangular are great when teaching or group work. You can keep your eye on more students at once. I like the circular ones for group work also because as you said you can fit many students around a table in a little floor space. I like the small square tables because I think they limit the socializing. You can only fit 4 people and that somehow encourages schoolwork. I have teachers who request to work in different areas of the library because they prefer one kind over another. * Think about how you want the tables used. Round tables encourage talking and discussion so they are useful for group projects. Rectangular tables work for for individual work and when materials are shared. I like to remove the chairs from the end of the table so there are four at the table without anyone at the end. EAch student has 1/4th of the table. Study carrels may also serve a need. * I am currently at an elementary school, but when I was in a HS library, I noticed that most students would pick the round tables first when they arrived (we had about a 50/50 split round/rectangle. This was true no matter where the round tables were moved. A few students always chose an individual study carrel. I would recommend a mix of choices if you have an opportunity to get new furniture. I like the "look" of round tables, but never like to sit at them at a library. I have always preferred to sit at a rectangle table for some reason. * I think the round table have less work space, maybe mine are too small, but I don't have enough space for larger ones. What I do have is a mixture of shapes; 2 square, 4 round, and 6 rectangle. The rectangle are my "classroom" and the rest are scattered in little nooks. Regards, Robert Robert Hiebert Librarian, Golden Secondary School www.sd6.bc.ca/gss/library/ Fax: 250 344 7116 rhiebert@sd6.bc.ca =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors: http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=