How to Specify Library Furniture: A Q&A with Agati's Manager of Solution Design

What do libraries already have figured out, and what do they underestimate?

“Library directors and facilities managers understand what their patrons and students want and how the furniture is going to be used. They have already figured out their desired seat count for the space, power requirements, and what they’re looking for in terms of functionality.”

“They typically underestimate the number of choices available to them. Our goal is to reduce decision fatigue by recommending tailored options that align with their vision for the space.”

Most teams arrive with the fundamentals settled. What surprises them is the size of the menu. That is the work of a solution design team, narrowing thousands of product, fabric, and finish combinations down to a handful of options a team can decide between.

Kids at almonte library service desk asking questions in a busy library space

Library design floor plan featuring library furniture placement

What does the library furniture specification process look like, step by step?

Abby’s team runs every project through five phases.

Design call: A detailed review of the project covering seat counts, power requirements, traffic flow, and function. “Hearing directly from the client about their vision for the space is an important first step to make sure we’re all on the same page.”
Floorplans and renderings: Layout options scaled to the actual space, plus custom renderings on request, so the client can picture the furniture in the room.
Follow-up design call: Once people see the layouts at scale, new ideas surface. Agati’s interior designer makes live updates on a shared screen while the group works through questions like “What happens if we rotate this 90 degrees and add another piece?”
Pricing: Agati is happy to partner with dealers and installers as needed for a turnkey solution. While our furniture is available for purchase with standard commercial pricing, there are many government and cooperative purchasing contracts held by Agati.
Fabrics and finishes: Multiple options and physical samples, whether the goal is matching existing pieces or building a palette around school colors and branding.

What is the most common mistake in library furniture specs and RFPs?

“Material selection can greatly impact both the durability and appearance of your furniture. For example, we do not recommend specifying a wood veneer top in a high-traffic environment, as it scratches easily and shows more wear-and-tear over time. For long-term durability, plastic laminate is typically the better choice.”

Abby’s follow-up recommendation is the detail most specs miss: pair that laminate with a solid wood edge in place of PVC for a higher-end appearance that still performs well over time.

The same logic applies to upholstery. On the POD, her team specifies vinyl on the seat and back for easy cleaning, and a woven fabric on the surround. Woven fabrics stand up to daily contact from feet, bags, and carts, perform better acoustically, and are easier to maintain. A vinyl upholstery on the seat and back is preferred from both a durability and cleanability standpoint. Additional benefits include an inherent fluid barrier and bleach-cleanable surface.

POD study carrels in serpentine arrangement, close up photo revealing details of fabric, seat and table

Collage of two photos from a library featuring manifest computer workstations next to pod study carrels in the same library space, showing smart usage of public space in library design

How do you decide which furniture goes where on a floor plan?

“When matching a product to a zone, the top things to consider are the flow of traffic, desired seat count, and how the space is intended to function.”

In many public spaces, furniture serves as a form of architecture, shaping how spaces are defined, divided, and experienced.

“Something as simple as adding a table in one area or a run of carrels in another can create natural pathways and visual boundaries, making a larger space feel like a collection of individual zones.”

The Almonte branch of Oklahoma City’s Metropolitan Library System, specified by Steinberg Hart, shows the approach across one open floor. PODs anchor the areas where patrons wanted minimal distraction. Manifest Zigzag workstations handle the computer stations. Custom benches along the window carry display shelving on the back.

See the Metropolitan Library System Almonte installation

When should you start planning for power?

“It is never too late to start talking about power. We can add power to almost any of our furniture pieces.”

“Many libraries are in older buildings that simply weren’t designed with modern power needs in mind. To solve the issue of limited access to power, we can strategically place the furniture so power is pulled from the wall and daisy-chained down the line, enabling access deeper into the space.”

It is important to understand the constraints of a space, since we have learned in our experience that the constraint is usually the building. Products get specified and arranged by how they work in a space. Starting early allows teams to identify the needs and issues early in the design process saving time.

Speak to an expert about incorporating power into your library furniture plans.

Adapt2 tables functioning as computer workstations in a library space

wood library furniture in a busy library space featuring study tables, built in lighting and power

How long should library furniture last?

“Just last week I received a call from a University on the East Coast that purchased wood chairs from Agati back in 2008. The wood frames were still in great condition, but the fabric had seen better days. Thankfully, our furniture is designed with this in mind, so instead of replacing the entire chair, we shipped them new seat pans that their facilities team could quickly and easily swap out in the field.”

Eighteen years in, the chairs went back into service looking new. In high traffic spaces, furniture should be built to last, this is why our furniture is backed by Agati’s 10-year Warranty.

What is your advice for a library specifying furniture for the first time?

“Contact us as early as possible, and we are happy to help you.”

Early involvement across all stakeholders makes for a successful project. Bringing in the Agati team early ensures that specifying sizing, quantities, materials, and renderings meet expectations and needs of the project. By the time an order moves forward, the groundwork is done and procurement runs smoothly.

Abby’s favorite project makes the case. At the Meriam Library at CalState Chico, she and Joe Agati toured the building and heard directly from the interim dean what the library needed. The result spanned four floors and blended standard and custom pieces. It was early cross functional cooperation across organizations that made this project great.

Contact our team for an early start on your library furniture spec project.

Gee lounge chairs by Agati Furniture at CalState Chico Library.

How to Specify Library Furniture: A Q&A with Agati’s Manager of Solution Design

What should you know before you specify library furniture?