Imagine sitting on a comfortable seat in the library with a woven texture leaning on plush cushion in a booth, reading a book you enjoy with your best friends.
Is this the ideal furniture in a learning environment?
RHS students who visit the library on a regular basis are experiencing it now and feeling the changes of a new environment.
After purchasing new furniture in some of the Rhinebeck Central School District classrooms, District leaders Albert Cousins, Tom Burnell, and Katie Andersen decided to renovate the library. They purchased new furniture for the library and added a small outside area for reading outdoors.
The money that the school used for the furniture in the library was from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), money granted during Covid for updated educational technology.
Studies show students thrive in environments that are more spread out and relaxed. In Edutopia, Designing a Public School from Scratch, Nora Fleming wrote about the significance of furniture in classrooms. In order to promote social interaction and learning, public school architects incorporate the idea of “flexible seating and writable surfaces” and “easy-to-move furniture.”
Another reason for the newer furniture is that body sizes are different and not all people can fit in the stereotypical furniture of a classroom.
With newer wheeled furniture, teachers can intentionally move it to change and meet the needs of students and to also move furniture depending on the class and activity.
Most students have found that a change in furniture can be much needed and less repetitive.
Most of the sophomores do like the new furniture and say that they prefer it to the previous furniture.
“Fire. [The furniture] makes me want to go to the library more,” said Liam Resnick.
“The booths make it look like a restaurant,” said Greyson Ferber.
Media Specialist Diane Linenbroker said this furniture is “much more comfortable than the older ones.”
But…. there are a few disadvantages with the new furniture
“I do feel more people have been using it as a lounge,” said Linenbroker.
“People need to understand that it’s an academic room and use it as such.”
“The kids really like it,” said Suzanne Faber, library clerk.
If you haven’t done so, visit the library and check out the new furniture.
