Librarians at the Fairfield Area Library in Virginia spotted a problem. "The staff noticed that parents with toddlers or infants in strollers had no easy way to use the library's adult reading room computer workstations. Further, their young children might disrupt the work of others using the library workstations."

The library reached out to architecture firm Quinn Evans to develop a solution. Quinn Evans then worked with Michigan-based TMC Furniture, the largest contract children's furniture manufacturer in America. They jointly created this Fairfield Parent + Child Carrel:

"The Carrel's workstation side has a tall panel offering privacy for the seated parent, while the mid-panel is low, providing sight lines into the child's play area. The worksurface includes a grommet and wire management features."

"The Fairfield Carrel enables parents and caregivers to use the workstation while older children are reading or playing nearby. The inside play space, designed for infants and toddlers up to two years of age, features a mirror at the lowest level and a series of interactive panels above. Library staff can switch these panels out to provide a variety of content which might change for the season, curriculum or other community needs. The exterior panels can feature a variety of TMC-standard ImPrinted designs or a custom creation."

"Maintaining sanitary surfaces was a prime concern. TMC's two decades of work in major healthcare systems around the world gives us leading expertise in sanitary system and material specifications for children's furniture. The vinyl mat is made of healthcare-grade material which can be easily wiped down multiple times a day as needed. Both the mat and the maple finish on the workstation are non-toxic and durable for frequent cleanings. A gate on the play area also simplifies access for cleaning."

The library reports that the carrels have been a hit with parents.