Library furniture: how to choose shelving, tables and displays

Which library furniture should you choose? The short answer: shelving suited to the collection, comfortable places to read and study, displays that put books on show and, if children use the library, an area designed for them. The long answer depends on the space, who uses it and how much the collection will grow.

Since 1990, Culturalis Borgeaud has equipped more than 300 libraries in Portugal. These are the choices that matter most for the final result.

Shelving: the foundation of every library

Shelving takes up most of the space and the budget, so it pays to get it right first time:

• Single-sided shelving against the walls and double-sided shelving in the middle of the room to create aisles.
• Adjustable shelves to hold books of different heights and follow changes in the collection.
• End panels and sides with room for signage, so readers can find their way unaided.
• Shelving on castors that can be moved aside to free the room for events, as in the Algés and Estremoz libraries.
• Compact shelving for stores and archives, where capacity matters more than direct public access.

For archives and reserve stock, see our compact shelving and archives, which greatly increase capacity in the same space.

In every case, shelving must be stable and carry the weight of the books without the shelves bending. In a public library it is used every day for many years, so sturdiness matters as much as appearance.

Tables and reading places

A library needs different places for different uses: reading tables for individual study, larger tables for groups and informal seating for those who just want to browse a book or a magazine. Wood remains a very common choice for reading tables, for its comfort and durability. Next to the tables, it is worth providing power points for laptops and phones, and good lighting, natural wherever possible.

For informal seating, design sofas and armchairs help make the space welcoming. Culturalis represents, for example, Softline, with contemporary design seating, sofas and tables, hand-upholstered in Denmark.

Displays and bespoke pieces

Display units show the covers of new books and magazines and invite people to pick them up. Near the entrance, they turn the library into a shop window.

When a room has unusual shapes, bespoke pieces make better use of the space. At the Lourinhã Municipal Library, for example, curved pieces were made to measure, as you can see in the library's transformation.

The children's area

Children need low shelving, boxes for picture books and seating at their height. Colours, rugs and playful shapes help make the library a place they want to come back to. This area should be visible to adults and away from quiet study areas.

In municipal libraries, the children's area often hosts story time and other activities with families and schools. So it is worth leaving an open area or choosing light furniture that is easy to move aside when more space is needed.

Five questions to ask before buying

• How many books and documents do I have today, and how many will I have in ten years?
• Who uses the library: children, students, researchers, the general public?
• What activities do I want to hold in the space besides reading?
• Are the aisles wide and accessible for everyone?
• Can the furniture be rearranged later if needs change?

With these answers, the project becomes much simpler. Culturalis supports every library from the first study to final installation, with its own team. See our library furniture, the projects we have completed and our complementary furniture.

Request a proposal for your library