Students at Parsons School of Design, New School University, studying within the School of Constructed Environments and the Masters of Design Studies programs enrolled in the class Topics: Furniture Design, in the Fall of 2015 to collaboratively design and fabricate 4 book carts to aid the New York Public Library in its book exchange program within New York City detention centers at Rikers Island and the Manhattan Detention Complex. Starting in the spring of 2016, these carts were put into use by the NYPL in its Correctional Services Program. This book documents the design and build of these carts.
The School of Constructed Environments at Parsons actively seeks to teach our students how to be socially responsible designers. Experiential learning, the learning that takes place by doing, is a necessary ingredient to satisfy that mission.