Dear LM_Net,
When I first started working in a middle school library in 1982 the floor
was tiled. It was the worst surface for a library. Every time a student
moved their chair the grating sound echoed off the walls and could be heard
throughout the entire library. And with 70 chairs the noise was constant,
making it difficult for any child to research and study.
Within my first year the principal was able to acquire federal for energy
conservation in our building. One of the recommendations for lowering
heating costs in our school was carpeting the library floor. With federal
funds the library was carpeted, and there was an immediate change in the
noise environment of the library. The noise level dropped and students
could concentrate on their work. The room maintained its heat so it was
comfortable throughout the entire day. I bought bean bag chairs because
students were lying on the floor reading. Carpeting was the best thing to
happen in that library.
To keep the carpet clean the District cleaned it twice a year. Once during
Winter Break and once during the summer. The custodians vacuumed the carpet
every night, and spot cleaned when there were any spills or gum in the
carpet. After seven years the carpet still looked new, and the students had
a warm comfortable place to work. Best passive library PR I could ever hope
for.
I've seen other hard surfaces used in libraries that were better than tiled
floors - reduced noise in the library, and made it easy to clean up spills.
But then these floors had to be mopped every day, were scratched, and never
achieved the warmth a carpeted floor has for inviting students, staff and
parents into your work space.
--
Peter G. Mohn, LMS
Snohomish Freshman Campus
Snohomish, WA
pmohn2001@earthlink.net
"You live and learn. Or you don't live long." -- Heinlein
On 4/27/06 2:35 PM, "Melissa Techman" <mtechman@K12ALBEMARLE.ORG> wrote:
> I think tile is the best choice for a library. Our library has carpet and is
> shampooed thoroughly only twice a year. When I think about the chocolate milk
> spill that happened yesterday while I was out of the library, I wish we had
> carpet. I don't WANT to think about the kindergartner's shoelaces dragging
> damply across the carpet after bathroom visits....
> My daughter's allergist: "Carpets are the cesspool of the modern building."
> As for the quiet factor, why should the library be quieter than a well-run
> classroom? Every room in the school has had carpet replaced, due to hygiene
> concerns. Why should the library be different? I keep the library quiet, the
> carpet doesn't.
> In fairness to the other side, I did some research and found that IF the
> carpet is allowed time to out-gas toxic chemicals and IF it is cleaned
> regularly with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner, carpet can be OK.
> Many of my colleagues (and my current principal) prefer carpet, but not me.
>
> Melissa
>
>
> Melissa Techman, MLS
> Broadus Wood Elementary School,
> 185 Buck Mtn. Rd,
> Earlysville, VA 22901
> 434-973-3865
> mtechman@k12albemarle.org
>
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