The brief
Almost 15 years ago, we began working with the NYCC making bespoke shelving systems for small library projects. As the council realised our vast capabilities, the workload soon grew to include projects across the whole of the North Yorkshire region in areas including Harrogate, Scarborough and North Allerton. Over the years, we have provided full reception area fit-outs, reading rooms, IT suites and desking. As times changed and the digital age put pressure on libraries, GB Projects was asked to re-develop North Yorkshire’s library furniture to be more fitting for the modern consumer’s changing requirements.
Our solution
We spent time carrying out site surveys and discussing possible options with the client to make the libraries more suitable for the digital age. We developed a range of cost-effective furniture solutions to create a more modern feel within the library. We made more use of the available space by designing multifunctional reception pods to replace the traditional static reception areas. The reception pods were manoeuvrable, contained secure storage, cash tills and barcode scanning in only a fraction of the space taken up by a traditional reception area. The pods included a Corian worktop durable enough for a busy library environment and were supplied in different heights to accommodate wheelchair users. We also developed self-service book check-in and check-out stations that freed up time for the library staff.