http://demcointeriors.co.uk Demco Limited offers specialist supplies, furniture and innovative design for libraries, study spaces, and learning resource centres http://demcointeriors.co.uk/images/logo.jpg http://demcointeriors.co.uk http://demcointeriors.co.uk/SLA-Library-Design-Award-2013 http://demcointeriors.co.uk/SLA-Library-Design-Award-2013 School  Library Design Award 2013 Shortlist Announced The shortlist for the SLA School Library Design Award 2013, sponsored by Demco Interiors,  has been announced. The six finalists (in no particular order) are: The Burgate School Library, Fordingbridge, Hampshire Nansloe Academy Story Garden, Helston, Cornwall Wyndham Park Infant’s School Library, Salisbury Comberton Village College, Comberton, Cambridgeshire The Cedar Centre Library, Taunton, Devon Carterton Community College, Oxfordshire   The shortlist was selected by a  panel of representatives from the School Library Association and Demco  who judged all the entries  across a set of criteria:  inviting/improved library image; space planning; educational objectives; technology and engagement; consultation.   The panel was impressed by the quality of the entries and admitted that it was a difficult task shortlisting those selected from the high level and quality of entrants.     Representatives of the panel are now visiting each school and the winner will be announced at the School Libraries Celebration day in London and will share the stage with the 2013 School Librarian of the Year Award Winner. The winning school will win the opportunity to select products for their library and there will be additional prizes for the runners up, all donated by Demco Interiors.   The Award is now in its third year and is supported by the School Library Association and sponsored by Demco Interiors, to  highlight the innovation, commitment, flair and foresight found in school libraries across the UK and to set future standards for the recognition of excellence in school library design.   Demco Interiors is  a member of the Demco Europe family of companies, which includes the Gresswell educational resource brand.  www.demcointeriors.co.uk. School Library Association.   17 March 2013   -ends –   Note to editors:   The SLA keenly supports the role of the school library as a place 'to support reading and learning through the key stages and to foster a reading and information culture to promote independent, motivated readers and learners for life'.  As designers of school, academic and public libraries, Demco Interiors is committed to a renewed focus on the ‘school library as place’ and is working with the School Library Association to support, encourage and promote school library design.     To highlight the innovation, commitment, flair and foresight found in school libraries across the UK and to set future standards for the recognition of excellence in school library design, we are delighted to announce the launch of The SLA School Library Design Award 2011.  This is a new initiative supported by the SLA and sponsored by Demco Interiors and will be awarded to the school library that shows innovation, creativity and resourcefulness in its design.  What matters is not how big the school, school library or budget is, but what is achieved with available resources and the challenges that are faced. http://demcointeriors.co.uk/Miriam-Lord-School http://demcointeriors.co.uk/Miriam-Lord-School Continuous provision area turns heads at Bradford school   The Miriam Lord Community Primary School in Bradford called Demco Interiors  to help them with an interesting project – the design and layout of a Continuous Provision Area for children in Years One and Two.   The School wanted to create a space where the principles of Early Years could be brought to students at  Key Stage One.  The emphasis was on creating an environment with resources to  encourage  the ‘inner child’ and not just focussing on formal academic skills.   A holistic approach to learning to compliment traditional learning.   First decision was to find a space for this new area and eyes focussed on the school library.  The Library space hadn’t stood up to the passage of time and in staffs words was ‘outdated’, ‘dreary’ and ‘quite frankly, not used’.  However, a better, brighter, brand new library, also to be designed and furnished by Demco, will be installed in its own dedicated space at the very heart of the school for use with children and families.  The Lab and the new library will be officially launched in 2013 to mark the school’s 25th anniversary.   For now the Continuous Provision Area  is being loved and used by all students.  Michelle Hudson, Business Manager at the school, and Steven Young, Deputy Headteacher, managed the project including the initial building works and, by the time, Demco came into the frame they were ready for some ideas and support: “Demco made it really easy .. to be honest it was a weight off our shoulders by that stage.  They came with ideas and  produced designs and layouts which gave us something tangible to work with”.    The Demco design team rose to the challenge and stepped back to see this as a very different space to a traditional classroom or library.  Jacquie Smith, Library Design Consultant, Demco Interiors said:  “This was a wonderful project for us as the school gave us complete artistic license.  It was a great opportunity for us to do something different and work with a customer that was so creative and open-minded in their thinking”.   The Continuous Provision Area, renamed The Lab, is divided into  different coloured zones; cook:eat a full equipped cookery area with induction hob and oven; a water play ‘splish splash’ area;  and ‘Lights, Camera, Action’,  a real life stage with coloured spotlights lights  and behind the scenes changing areas.  There is also a, curved, magnetic, whiteboard space where children use their creative skills to complete a task.   Used by classes on a daily basis, different activities are going on at the same time; in one area children could be cooking, in another creative play; in another playing with paints and water while another group could be standing on stage hugging the footlights.   Demco designed the areas and sourced all the furnishings from split level cooking hobs, to wet play furniture to pots and pans and taps.  Units were designed to accommodate children’s heights and access needs.  The theatre was also designed, manufactured and detailed by Demco.  Bryan Harrison, Headteacher says: “The space is different from a formal learning space that the children are used to.  It is a more creative place – a contextual environment where the children  can learn Bryan Harrison, Headteacher in a different way.  It isn’t about academic teaching but about language, discussion, problem solving.  Our ethos is very much about the children developing their own skills to complete a task”.   To show how much the children loved their Lab, Headmaster Bryan Harrison recently issued an ultimatum that if children didn’t keep ‘The Lab’ clean and tidy it would be taken away from them.  The children staged their own protest with hand made banners and chants of “we want our lab back”.  They were given it back and it has stayed spick and span ever since!”   Children, staff, and parent have all left comments on the school blog: “Check out Year Two in The Lab developing their baking skills.  I don’t know what they are enjoying more, their brand new cooking area, or their brand new aprons and hats.  The Lab is turning out to be a great place for children to develop a wider range of creative skills and Mr Harrison can vouch for the quality of the buns they made – beautiful.”   The Miriam Lord School has always demonstrated that it can overcome challenges through innovation, creativity and a strong sense of  belief in its students.   The Continuous Provision Area is a new way of thinking for a forward looking school. In the words of Headteacher,  Bryan Harrison:  “It looks terrific, it has exceeded our expectations of not only how the space could look but how it could work.”       - e n d s -  7 January 2012 Editorial information: Jane Grimwood, 01525 852003 e:jane@grimwoodassociates.co.uk http://demcointeriors.co.uk/loughborough-library http://demcointeriors.co.uk/loughborough-library   Demco worked with the team at Leicestershire County Council to complete the refurbishment of Loughborough Library, Learning & Community Opportunities Service located in the centre of Loughborough, the biggest market town in the county.   Located in a Carnegie Building, with an added on  extension, the library was opened in 1905 and since then has undergone various remodelling projects but this is the first major refurbishment since the 1970’s.   The catalyst for the refurbishment was the relocation of the Community Opportunities service, for people with physical and learning disabilities, from its existing out of town location to the more central library, bringing service users into the centre of their community.   Locality Manager,  Liz Evans, who joined the project after the initial consultations, said “We wanted to bring the height level of the shelves down, generally de-clutter and to use colours to tell you where you are in the library space.  We are fortunate to have such a large floor area so it is important to help users orientate themselves. We also relocated the local studies resources downstairs making it more accessible to everyone and it is now run almost largely  by a team volunteers, supported by local staff.  This means that we are able to increase the amount of time it is open to the public,  which is working very well.  Above all it was to make it brighter, welcoming and user friendly for a variety of user groups.”   The introduction of a retail space was a step change for the library service and they have creatively used legacy slatwall with lighting and signage to create a mini-store in the library, essentially creating a revenue earning space   The superb domed area in the original Carnegie building is dedicated to the children’s library.  With magnificent stained windows this was an opportunity to harness Demco’s creative skills and produce a modern stained glass effect Perspex artwork.  Hand drawn by Demco’s designer Michelle  Estabrook the artwork features landmarks of the region, including the Carillon bell tower, which is located in Queens Park opposite the library, a steam train to reflect Loughborough’s preserved railway, the canal, and even some initials of staff who work in the library!   As with the rest of the library all furnishings in the library are on castors so can be moved around to house different events, which is seens as an increasingly important use of the facility.  A recent initiative was a Ladybird Reading event in the children’s library and local drama students performed a cameo of Sue Townsend (who herself is from the region) and her novels for their end of term exams.  Workshops, storytelling, African drumming, craft fayres and creative workshops have all taken place in the new space.   One of Demco’s designers, Steve Beasant, worked with the team to evolve a space that is open, modern, bright and fresh with the flexibility that helps the library deliver a modern, relevant library service.   Liz Evans said:  “Bringing three services together was no mean feat and we felt very supported by Steve and the rest of the Demco team throughout the process.”   Finally in the words of Nigel Thomas, Head of Service for Leicestershire Libraries: :  “This is the best the library has ever looked”.   www.demcointeriors.co.uk - e n d s - 11 March 2013 http://demcointeriors.co.uk/new-appointment-kevin-hubbard http://demcointeriors.co.uk/new-appointment-kevin-hubbard Demco Interiors welcomes Kevin Hubbard as Library Design Consultant for the east central area. Kevin has a breadth of experience in the interiors, furniture and education sectors, having held positions within organisations who all operate with a similar business model to Demco. Latterly, he has been working for T.S. Booker, having secured and managed some of their Academies projects. Scott Grant, General Manager, Demco Interiors said:  “Kevin brings a huge amount of energy, experience and perspective with him.  I am very confident that he will be a great asset to the team and play a major contribution in our planned expansion and development.”  The appointment marks another growth step for Demco who have continued to build the brand across the public and academic library sector.  Recent projects have included the shared services, Wigan Life Centre and award winning, The Hive, in Worcester.    Kevin is a resident of Newmarket, Suffolk and is married with 2 children. http://demcointeriors.co.uk/jubilee-row-phil-costello http://demcointeriors.co.uk/jubilee-row-phil-costello    Phil Costello, Library Design Consultant, at Demco Interiors was involved in a piece of history when he rowed with the Wraysbury Skiff and Punting Club at this year’s Jubilee Pageant. The crew rowed 14 miles from Chiswick Bridge to Millwall cheered all the way by the crowds determined to ignore the bad weather.    Phil says that it was an event he will never forget:     “The day was spectacular;  I’m used to rowing long distances on the non-tidal Thames, so the 14 miles of tidal river was great fun on the day in such majestic circumstances!  We had lots of preparation and detailed briefings beforehand but, on the day, it was the crowds, the crews, the boats and the atmosphere that kept you going.   The wet and cold was quickly forgotten.  It’s a memory that will stay with me forever”   http://demcointeriors.co.uk/design-award-2013-entries http://demcointeriors.co.uk/design-award-2013-entries   The School Library Association is reminding interested school libraries that the deadline for entries for its 2013 library design award is 18th January 2013.     The organisers will be looking for inspirational and creative library design and are offering prizes for the winner and two runners up.  The finalists will be  selected by a judging panel after an in-depth assessment of all the outstanding submissions across a set of design guidelines including innovation, creativity and resourcefulness, followed by visits to all the shortlisted schools and interviews with the school librarians.    The winning library will be announced  in conjunction with the SLA School Librarian of the Year Award at the School Libraries Celebration Day in Autumn 2013.   Julie Ricketts, Business Enterprise and Hub Task Group Co-ordinator at The Duston School, 2012 winner said: “We didn’t really have that many students through the door before the re-design, and now we have more than 3,000 student visits every week!  It has had a huge impact on how the students use the space – the redesign has been amazing. Winning the award gives recognition to the team that worked on the redesign of the library.  The students are really enthusiastic about our library and will be delighted to know that we have won this award for one of the best designed school libraries in the country.”  Entry forms and guidelines for the 2013 Awards are available at www.sla.org.uk.  Citations and images for each of the three 2012 finalists can be found at www.sla.org.  Vox pops of the finalists talking about school libraries can be seen at www.youtube.com/demcointeriors.   -e nd s –   For editorial information please contact: Jane Grimwood 01525 852003 e.  jane@grimwoodassociates.co.uk m. 07711664336 http://demcointeriors.co.uk/sla-design-award-winners-2012 http://demcointeriors.co.uk/sla-design-award-winners-2012 The winner of the SLA Library Design Award 2012 is The Duston School The SLA Library Design Award is sponsored by Demco Interiors   The winner of the SLA Library Design Award 2012, is The Duston School, Northamptonshire, a Business, Enterprise and Science Specialist College of  1,300 students.  Runners up in the awards were (in alphabetical order); Cheltenham College and Front Lawn Junior School, Havant.    The winning library was announced  in conjunction with the SLA School Librarian of the Year Award at the School Libraries Celebration Day.  The day highlights the impact of a great school librarian and a well-designed library  on learning and teaching.   Representatives from the three school libraries shortlisted for the design award were guests on the day.  Each  made their own presentation before the winner was announced and presented with their award by Brian Selznick, author and illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret.   Julie Ricketts, Business Enterprise and Hub Task Group Co-ordinator at The Duston School said: “We didn’t really have that many students through the door before the re-design, and now we have more than 3,000 student visits every week!  It has had a huge impact on how the students use the space – the redesign has been amazing. Winning the award gives recognition to the team that worked on the redesign of the library.  The students are really enthusiastic about our library and will be delighted to know that we have won this award for one of the best designed school libraries in the country.”   The finalists were selected by a judging panel after an in-depth assessment of all the outstanding submissions across a set of design guidelines including innovation, creativity and resourcefulness, followed by visits to all the shortlisted schools and interviews with the school librarians.    This is the second year that Demco Interiors has sponsored the award.  Scott Grant, General Manager, said:  “So, whilst the ink is not even dry on 2012 awards, I’ll close off by making an impassioned plea to you to cajole your colleagues, friends and fellow professionals, who may be in the middle of the design process for their own library, to seriously consider supporting this award. It is all part of the long an intensive process of championing the library in today’s environment.”   Citations and images for each of three finalists can be found at www.sla.org. Vox pops of the finalists talking about school libraries can be seen at www.youtube.com/demcointeriors.   Entry for the SLA Library Design Award 2013 is now open.  Entry forms and guidelines are available at www.sla.org.uk. 4 October 2012   http://demcointeriors.co.uk/pop-up-shops-for-libraries http://demcointeriors.co.uk/pop-up-shops-for-libraries Demco Interiors has worked with Northamptonshire Council on the roll out of their branded retail ‘Library Shop’ in thirty five of the county’s libraries and is now developing twenty five furnishing units to maximize sales in the shop areas.   Hitesh Khunti, Business Development Officer, Northamptonshire Libraries & Information Service, is overseeing the introduction of the shops and is very optimistic about the opportunities for engaging with library visitors and extending the library offer to create new revenue streams.   Hitesh said: “We are investing in introducing shop and visual merchandising areas in our libraries to enhance the value we are offering visitors when they walk through the library door.  We have coffee machines and café areas in many of our libraries and have recently introduced photo-booths into three libraries. Merchandising is the next logical step to creating ‘destination libraries’ in the region.  We are not talking about a retail renaissance here,  but stretching our existing resources to improve our service to visitors and generate additional revenue”.   For Northamptonshire, the size and layout of each shop varies from library to library depending on space available, the local demographics and potential for demand.  Our design and development team is working with Hitesh on new furnishings that can be adapted to meet the different needs of the individual libraries.  From simple slatwall merchandising display to mobile merchandising units, spinners, lockable display, lighting, signage and branding.   The location of the shop is key and ideally should be located where visitors enter and exit or where footfall is greatest.  Our designers are working on new build library projects where bespoke shop areas are part of the initial design brief and budget allocation.  However, many libraries don’t have this luxury and we are developing new ideas for pop-up type shop areas that are economical, flexible, manageable and easily add-on (or -in) to existing spaces.   Fixtures and fittings need to take into account all types of display from local history books, to greeting cards to stamps and most importantly they need to make the merchandising look good.  Striking a balance in the way items are displayed should make browsing easy and attractive and lead to a sale. As we know, big isn’t always better, and  libraries without a lot of space or lots of stock can make a smaller space look more appealing than a sparsely laid out larger space.   Hitesh understands that the impact of introducing merchandising to a library is more than just adding a few extra shelves and displaying a few postcards.  It’s also about sourcing attractive and appealing stock and ensuring that it is rotated regularly:  “It’s important that stock looks fresh and is clearly priced.  You have to understand the profile of your audience; introducing themes and understanding trends helps to keep the area relevant and appealing.  It if gets stale then it  just becomes ‘wallpaper’ – it needs to stay dynamic”.   Although now a well coined phrase, ‘retail is in the detail’ becomes increasingly important for libraries where budget and space can be limited.  With libraries introducing more and more services within their library,  careful  space planning  becomes increasingly important. Our library designers can offer a wholistic approach to integrating the retail space into existing services and layouts.    Employing the pop up shop philosophy of creating a shop within an existing space is proving to be a cost effective way of attracting new revenue.   Hitesh is keen to exchange ideas with others who may be embarking on the same route and can be emailed hkhunti@northamptonshire.gov.uk.    To see library pop-up shop concepts designed by Demco Interiors please see   www.demcointeriors.co.uk/pop-up-shop-merchandising   Please contact us if you would like to discuss pop-up shops and merchandising areas.                                                                                       http://demcointeriors.co.uk/sla-design-award-winners http://demcointeriors.co.uk/sla-design-award-winners The Rosendale Primary School Library Bus was announced as the winner of the SLA Library Design Award 2011, sponsored by Demco Interiors.  Runners up were (in alphabetical order) The Elms School, Long Eaton and St John’s School Marlborough.   The winning library was announced  in conjunction with the SLA School Librarian of the Year Award at the School Libraries Celebration Day, held at The Mermaid Centre, London and organised by The School Library Association.   Main image Rosendale Primary School (from left to right):  James Smith (Architect), Rachel Bannermann (Garden Designer),  Andy Parker (Director Sales & Marketing, Demco), Kate Gorely (Design and Project Co-ordinator), Neil Hopkin, Executive Head Teacher   Representatives from the three shortlisted school libraries attended the Awards and each  made their own presentation before the winner was announced and presented with their prize by distinguished author Kevin Crossley-Holland.   Neil Hopkin, Executive headteacher, Rosendale Primary School response to winning the award:  “It’s fantastic, just fantastic for the school, it’s an accolade that will just add further value to the children in terms of their enthusiasm for reading and pride in what’s been achieved in their community”.  He added:  “.. the message is, don’t let money be a barrier to ambition, with the right kind of people and the commitment you can engage children in reading and a love of reading”.   Kate Gorely, Design and Project co-ordinator, Rosendale Primary School followed on:  “I want to thank everyone involved for all their time. The Bus has been so successful, the children just love it.  I want to take it to other schools to tell them about it and how successful the idea has been.”   During his speech Andy Parker, Director Sales and Marketing, Demco Interiors said:  “…. A physical space has the potential to attract, inspire and support us in our activities.  We all know how we feel when we are in a space that does that.  A school library is a fantastic example of this; a combination of all aspects that come together to create a great design from space planning, to materials, to use of colour can have a huge influence on the success of a school library.  At a time when libraries are under significant scrutiny and are evolving at such a fast space we are delighted to be involved with the School Library Association to play just a small part in supporting the school library through our sponsorship of the Award.  Congratulations to the Rosendale Primary School team for their winning school library  and thanks to the SLA, the judges and of course all the libraries for having contributed and to making today so rewarding.  Good school library design is very close to our heart and therefore we look forward to our continued sponsorship of the award in 2012.  “   The finalists were selected by a judging panel after an in-depth assessment of all the outstanding submissions across a set of design guidelines including innovation , creativity and resourcefulness, followed by visits to all the shortlisted schools and interviews with the school librarians.  Citations and images for each of three finalists can be found at www.sla.org.uk/ . http://demcointeriors.co.uk/sla-design-award-finalists-discuss-libra http://demcointeriors.co.uk/sla-design-award-finalists-discuss-libra The three finalists of the SLA Library Design Award 2011 sponsored by Demco Interiors at the Libraries Celebration Day talk here about the importance of good school library design in engaging students. http://www.youtube.com/demcointeriors#p/u/0/wI_jFsDkliQ   The finalists were: Rosendale Primary School, Elm School part of Trent College and St John's School Marlborough. The winner of the SLA Library Design Award 2011 was The Rosendale School Library bus.   To see pictures of the final school libraries and judges' citations, please see:   www.sla.org.uk     http://demcointeriors.co.uk/Latest-News http://demcointeriors.co.uk/Latest-News Latest News and Press Releases from Demco Interiors.