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© 1999 Seattle Public Library
Universal Branch Building Program: Return to UBBP Table of Contents
6.2 Adjacencies 6.3 Design Issues 6.4 Components and Furnishings 6.5 Study Room Sizes and Functions publish date: 14 March 2000
6.0 General Seating6.1 Function
The library provides a variety of seating choices including tables, lounge chairs, small and moderately sized study rooms and a silent area to accommodate varying needs. Individuals will expect to be able to plug in their laptops.
Seating is distributed throughout the library
Seating needs are also addressed in the Periodicals, Young Adult and Children's sections of the building program.
The standardization of as many seating and table elements as possible for use throughout the branch system will increase flexibility and simplify planning.
Tables should be two or four person rather than six person to discourage congregating. Square or rectangular tables are required except for children.
Consideration should be given to individual space demarcations on tables such as inlayed strips or 2"-3" high dividers.
Single or double person tables/carrels should not have high sides and/or backs that block visibility.
Flexibility in use of the tables and access to power and data lines needs to be addressed in planning the facility. All tables should have the ability to be wired for power and data lines.
Table chairs should be sturdy, and comfortable with contoured seats and backs.
Task lighting may be considered, but durability, maintenance, long term attractiveness, and energy efficiency need to be carefully considered.
Benches with low arms to assist in rising should be considered in the large print area.
Four place tables
One or two place tables or carrels
Benches
Two-person study rooms
Four-person group study room
Silent study room
Lounge chairs
Task lighting if needed
Calculate size at 30 square feet per person/seat:
2 person
6 person
8 person 60 square feet
180 square feet
240 square feet
All study rooms should be lockable, have glass windows and doors so they can be visually supervised, be in the line of sight of either the reference/information or circulation desk, be soundproofed, and have power and data lines.
Branches will contain some or all of the meeting room types, depending upon branch size, layout and community need.
Two person study rooms provide quiet space for tutoring and study projects.
The group study room seating six people provides meeting space for small committees or school groups working on a joint project. For training purposes, the room should include a white board and tackable walls.
The silent study room should be designed to discourage any conversation, e.g. containing a counter with seating dividers or carrels.
In the smaller branches, using the meeting/multipurpose room for a group study or silent study area should be considered. If so it will need a window to provide a line of sight from the circulation or reference desk.