Thanks for the ideas.
Re boys area - there is a rotating bookstack for fiction - I'm intending to set it up by author's aimed at the older children - hoping to catch some eyes and interest (and make it easier for the more impatient to pick a book).
We have bright cushions and stools, but at lunchtime the children appear to be actively discouraged from staying in the library and reading, it appears that they are expected to change their book quickly and go outside. I need to talk to staff/lunch time supervisors to find the truth and reasons. I was in the library this afternoon, and during lessons it seems to be a go to library, change book, go back to class system.
Bright colours - I have permission to change the wall displays - so will try to make them informative, eg include "how to borrow a book, use the library, things linked to the current "term topic" (whole school studies around one topic each 1/2 term), and things children will be encouraged to produce.
Themes - will be linked to current "term topic" (if we have books on the subject!)
Everyone goes through the library several times a day, which is why I want some visuals to attract their interest, as I think they've gone "blind" to the library and just walk past on their way to somewhere.
I'm useless at diagrams, but think a square just beyond the entrance hall, with three of the corners being doors or corridor accesses, all library stuff along the walls, and just one corner. They go through to get to classes, loos, the hall ... We can't have any "groups" there as we would cause an obstruction.
Will talk to staff about "wrapped books".
They have 8 librarians, from years 5 and 6. They each do library duty for 1/2 hour per week at lunchtime, with one person doing duty on two days. I've arranged with the staff for them also to work on library projects for 1/2 hour per week during one afternoon. Not sure whether this will be seen as a "reward" or not!
Reading challenges are already undertaken in each class, so can't steal that idea.