Teaching old shelves new tricks

With our one-to-one laptop program in full bloom, my library comfy chairs were not cutting it as utilitarian pieces of furniture. So I made some messy idea drawings and lumpy cardboard prototypes for a laptop swivel desk:

I bought some chest hinges at the hardware store and marked up a bookshelf into 12 inch sections (I used a roll of cellophane tape as the "stencil" for the rounded corners). Took it home overnight and cut and sanded the pieces. This morning I assembled my tools and materials:

I mounted the hinge on the desk first, then positioned it and mounted it on the comfy chair:

Then flipped it over!

 My library students really enjoyed watching the process and sat right down to give it a work out!