The Whitebox formula, like the Blackbox formula, is based on principles from retail and marketing. The Whitebox formula has been developed by the Overijssel libraries, Probiblio and design agency Jos de Vries The Retail Company. This formula, which has a light primary colour (RAL 9006), makes a clear differentiation between the different target groups. For example, for children there’s a gaming corner with Fatboys. There’s also plenty of room for computers that customers can use for free.
The retail formulas have proved highly successful: libraries that do a redesign with a retail concept gain an average of 20% more visitors and lending.
Thematic experience worlds
The retail philosophy is reflected in the thematic experience worlds of the Whitebox formula. For adults these include Love and Life, Exciting and Active and Literature and Culture. For young people the three worlds are divided into age (0-8 years, 8-12 years and 12+).
Central catwalk
The catwalk is central to the Whitebox formula. It is the main route through the library, on which all the main features and worlds are to be found. The customer’s attention is drawn using strong visual focal points corresponding to the experience worlds. Popular materials are presented on the world display tables.
The catwalk divides the library into two, with the experience worlds for adults on the one side and the themes for young people on the other side.
Frontal presentation
Bieb Systems has participated in the development of new bookcases for the Whitebox formula. In these bookcases, part of the collection is frontally presented to customers, with the covers displayed prominently. This way of presenting invites books to be taken and looked at. The frontal presentation, combined with the power displays on the catwalk, ensures that people like to come and browse in your library.
For all types of library
The Whitebox formula has been developed for the main types of libraries: for the service library, for Vinex, village and district libraries and for central town libraries.
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