Q&A with Peters' Library Designer, Mahsa Pakhairzan

September 16th 2021

We catch up with our Library Designer, Mahsa Pakhairzan, who works closely with schools across the UK to redesign libraries of all shapes and sizes. Whether you are a small SEN school, an all-through school or part of a multi-academy trust, we will provide the best design to suit your requirements and make the most of the space you have.

Mahsa shares her tips on maximising your library space.

Q: What advice would you give to a school that is looking for a library that works with children of all age ranges?

A: It’s important to make sure your furniture is an appropriate height for pupils who’ll be accessing the library – if your library is for a range of ages, you’ll need a mix. For KS1, I’d recommend going with a maximum shelving height of 120cm, and for KS2, a maximum of 150cm. Or try our Apto range, which has adjustable shelving giving you the option to display your books either front displaying or showing the spine.

Q: What factors should schools consider when picking the correct furniture for their library space?

A: The size and shape of the room is very important when picking out furniture. Utilising wall spaces can make a big difference if you have a small room, and using the midfloor for low level shelving and seating can also prevent the space feeling too cramped. If you have a larger space, use double-sided display units to fit as many books as possible. If you are an SEN school or creating a sensory room, don't miss our range of tactile sensory soft seating. 

Q: How would you create a multi-functional library, combining seating and intervention areas?

A: A multi-functional library is great when you are short on space in your school. You may have a music room and a library in one space however, by using the right furniture you could have it all looking streamlined together. I suggest using mobile units, such as our double-sided shelving and spinners on castors so you can move them to open up space if you need to. Having tables in your library also helps children and teachers use the area as reading space as well as having small groups or one to one meetings/interventions. 

Q:  What do you most enjoy about your job?

A: I absolutely love travelling to different schools and working from different requirements and briefs everyday. It’s very exciting being able to work with children and teachers to create their dream library using colours and themes of their choice. I hope one day every school will have enough budget to have a library in their school as reading is a passport to countless adventures.

Q: What can we look out for in 2022?

A: At Peters we’re always trying our best to keep up with industry trends and styles. We’re always working hard to introduce new ranges so hopefully 2022 will be a year where we can bring all of our exciting ideas to life, creating inspirational new libraries for all the schools across the UK.

Find out more about Peters' library design service.