Library Redesign on a $zero Budget

My high school library in Marion is very outdated with poor lighting.  The furniture is old and the shelving is industrial (and not in a cool industrial design sort of way).  The technology wiring consists of holes cut in the ceiling tiles and long cords dangling down the walls.  Computers are placed on a hodgepodge of mismatched desks outlining the side walls.  Overall it is not a welcoming place.  Here are a few things that we have decided to try in order to make the space more inviting.  (The age of the books will need to be addressed in a future post).

Ideas on how to make the space more inviting to staff and students which will lead to increased use.

•  We were told there was no money to purchase conduit to cover the exposed cords on the wall.  
• purchase our own conduit or hold a conduit fundraiser.  $150 plus labor still gets us ugly stuff running on the walls.
• get some ivy or strings of floral items etc from rummage sales and wind it around the conduit to make it at least look artsy
• Find other discarded wires and cords of different colors, hang them on the walls and call it "texture"
• Furniture is from the 1970's
• spray paint the chairs
• contact the tech ed department to see if they could make new tables and chairs 
• gather cool, sturdy comfortable seating from garage sales and staff to make sections of comfy furniture to use
• Lighting is terrible
• Find extra lamps and end tables to use
• take off old plastic
• experiment with different wattage bulbs
• Paint job is terrible
• make graffiti type displays
• plaster up cool photos and pictures on top of paint job

If anyone has some other brainstorming ideas on how to transform a dull, drab, uncomfortable, poorly lit library into a comfortable place for people to read, research and connect, please post ideas here.