Gerard B. McCabe Planning For A New Generation of Public Library Buildings The Greenwood Library Management Collection 2000

Planning for a New
Generation of Public
Library Buildings
Gerard B. McCabe
GREENWOOD PRESS
PLANNING FOR A
NEW GENERATION OF
PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDINGS
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Planning for a
New Generation of
Public Library Buildings
Gerard B. McCabe
THE GREENWOOD LIBRARY MANAGEMENT COLLECTION
GREENWOOD PRESS
Westport, Connecticut London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
McCabe, Gerard B.
Planning for a new generation of public library buildings / Gerard
B. McCabe.
p. cm.(Greenwood library management collection, ISSN
08942986)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 0313305927 (alk. paper)
1. Library buildingsDesign and construction. 2. Public
libraries. 3. Library architecture. 4. Library buildingsUnited
StatesDesign and construction. 5. Public librariesUnited
States. 6. Library architectureUnited States. 7. Library
buildingsAustraliaDesign and construction. 8. Public libraries
Australia. 9. Library architectureAustralia. I. Title.
II. Series.
Z679.5.M44 2000
022'.314dc21 9932004
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright 2000 by Gerard B. McCabe
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 9932004
ISBN: 0313305927
ISSN: 08942986
First published in 2000
Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.greenwood.com
Printed in the United States of America
TM
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.481984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Preface vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1. Beginning the Plan 7
2. Data for Planning 21
3. Location: Finding a Site 27
4. Interior Design 35
5. Furnishing and Equipping the Library and Its Environs 41
6. Other Views 57
Using Small College Library Planning Techniques in Public
Library Facilities Planning by James R. Kennedy 57
A Place to Call Their Own by Rebecca M. Wenninger 63
7. The Library Building Program 67
8. Reference Services to Special Collections 77
9. Childrens Services to Meeting Space 85
10. Architectural Details 95
vi Contents
Appendix A. Joint-Use Libraries in Australia 113
Appendix B. Management Checklist 116
Appendix C. Furniture and Equipment Options for Public Libraries 119
Appendix D. Drawings 126
Appendix E. Safety Procedures Handbook 128
Appendix F. Conversion or Renovation of Other Types of Buildings 130
Appendix G. Library Building Program, Checklist of Contents 133
Appendix H. Sample Survey Forms 136
Selected Bibliography 151
Index 159
About the Author and Contributors 167
Preface
There are many books available on library design and construction. This one
pulls together ideas from many of these sources and merges them with the
expertise of a librarian building consultant. Gerard B. McCabe has many years
of experience working with architects, contractors, library board members,
elected ofcials, and librarians involved in the renovation of older buildings and
the development and planning of new ones. He has been called upon to evaluate
sites, analyze communities, and make recommendations leading to the successful
completion of a project.
In this book McCabe has organized a variety of comments and references
into chapters that could well be used to develop the project outline for the novice
and a checklist for the experienced. He acknowledges the expertise of his col-
leagues and draws liberally on their works.
Chapter 1 begins with the decision to do something and the parties who should
be involved. In chapter 2 McCabe discusses types of data to be gathered and
used in the development of the written program. Formulas, demographics, and
potential service needs are all useful as the consultant begins writing. The third
chapter discusses site location. McCabe includes some wise commentspro and
conas guidance in this early phase.
Chapters 4 and 5 deal with interior design, furniture, and equipment to fulll
both design elements and functional needs. One important but brief paragraph
discusses assistive equipment. Chapter 6 presents the views of two other librar-
ians in two papers: James R. Kennedy, in the rst, discussing transferring small
viii Preface
college library building planning techniques to public library building projects,
and Rebecca M. Wenninger, advocating serious consideration of the needs of
young adults, in the second.
In chapter 7 McCabe describes the elements of the building program and
begins to dene specic spacesentry way, circulation desk area, workroom,
storage areas, and other common spaces. Chapter 8 covers the reference area,
functions, and accommodations for special materials and equipment.
Chapter 9 covers the childrens department in some detail. This is followed
by adult services, meetings spaces, and collections accommodations. Chapter 10
goes into more particular architectural building components: load-bearing cri-
teria, safety glass, lighting, climate control, and other building elements.
There are eight appendices; among them are a building program checklist, a
list of furniture and equipment, and a few drawings. This is a practical, inclusive
volume. The individual reader will determine how much will be useful in a
specic situation.
A selected bibliography provides titles that can be a purchasing list for those
who expect to continue to work on library construction projects.
Bernadette Storck, Administrator
Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, Inc.
Largo, Florida
Acknowledgments
My thanks are offered to Dr. David R. Dowell of Cuesta College, San Luis
Obispo, California; James R. Kennedy of Buena Vista University, Storm Lake,
Iowa; and Bernadette Storck of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, Inc.,
Largo, Florida, for reading the draft manuscript of this book and making many
helpful suggestions.
Again, much appreciation is extended to James R. Kennedy for also preparing
a paper for this book, and to my daughter Rebecca M. Wenninger for her con-
tribution of a paper.
PLANNING FOR A
NEW GENERATION OF
PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDINGS
Introduction
Preparation for this book has been one of my annual objectives for the last
several years. I have read as widely as possible about library buildings and made
site visits to a considerable number. Some of these visits were in concurrence
with attendance at annual and midwinter conferences of the American Library
Association (ALA). Others were done during visits to friends and family mem-
bers. Some were the purpose of a driving trip just to see a new or renovated
library building that had come to my attention. In October 1998, I ew to
Australia to attend the 5th Biennial Conference of the Australian Library and
Information Association, Adelaide 98, Pathways to Knowledge. As part of the
conference I took a tour of the Adelaide areas public library branch buildings
and the State Library of South Australia/City of Adelaide Lending Library, a
joint-use facility. After the conference I traveled to Sydney.
New and renovated American libraries, mostly public and a few academic,
were visited in Arizona, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Flor-
ida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
and overseas in Adelaide and Sydney, Australia. The more recent large libraries
that I have visited include the new San Francisco Public Library, the renovated
and expanded Los Angeles Public Library, the Harold Washington Library in
Chicago, the renovated and breathtaking main reading room of the Library of
Congress,
1
and the remarkable new Phoenix Public Library. If you are visiting
the Phoenix area, the several libraries on the Phoenix and Tempe campuses of
2 Introduction
Arizona State University, the Tempe Public Library, and Scottsdale libraries
should be seen.
My most recent visit was to the new Greensboro Central Library in North
Carolina. This contemporary, state-of-the-art library is well worth a visit for any
librarian traveling in the southeastern United States. This library opened on
October 31, 1998; my visit took place on December 15, 1998. A thorough and
illustrated description of this new building can be found in an article Your New
Public Library, by Donald W. Patterson in the November 1, 1998, Greensboro
News & Record, pages D1 and D2, which includes a descriptive text and a list
of the building contents, space measurements, and costs.
Among other interesting academic libraries visited was Manseld University
of Pennsylvanias very progressive and handsome renovation of a late
nineteenth-century campus building. Public librarians traveling in or near north
central Pennsylvania or central New York, will nd it most worthwhile to visit
Manseld to see the furniture and equipment, which are state-of-the-art and
should be of interest.
In Sydney, Australia, I visited the expanded and renovated State Library of
New South Wales with its magnicent Mitchell Library, a model of restoration.
Among smaller U.S. libraries were two very ne series of new buildings in
Pinellas County, Florida, and in Las Vegas/Clark County, Nevada. In Nevada,
my attention was called to Las Vegas by an article in Architectural Record
(March 1997) describing the joint-use Sahara West Library and Fine Arts Mu-
seum, one of twenty-three branch libraries.
2
Returning to the Phoenix area, the
renovated and expanded Scottsdale, Arizona, Civic Center Library with its out-
standing childrens library, and Scottsdales Mustang branch library are both
remarkable. In Columbia, Maryland, the East Columbia branch of the Columbia
Public Library is another very good prospect.
Buildings to visit can be found in the annual April issues of American Li-
braries, the annual December issues of Library Journal, and in various issues
of Todays Librarian. If a recent building is nearby then a visit is simple enough.
For those librarians who may travel in the United States, buildings featured in
these magazines may prove worth visiting. For the more fortunate who can travel
overseas, magazines published in other countries may be of assistance. The
September 1997 issue of inCite, News magazine of the Australian Library and
Information Association, describes some recent Australian libraries and one in
Sarawak, Malaysia. The Australian libraries are the Liverpool City Library near
Sydney, the Sunshine Coast University Library at Sippy Downs in the state of
Queensland, the Joondalup Public Library in the city of Wanneroo near Perth
in the state of Western Australia, the Midland Public Library in the shire of
Swan, Western Australia, the Mount Barker Community Library (which has the
distinction of being a joint-use library with a technical school) in the state of
South Australia, and last, in Logan near Brisbane in Queensland, the Logan
Hyperdome Library, the fth of a series of new Logan city libraries that were
started in 1992. My Australian travel plans regretfully did not take me to any
Introduction 3
of these locations. In Sarawak, Malaysia, the new state library is the Pustaka
Negeri Sarawak, completed in December 1999. Assistance from the Australian
State Library of New South Wales Building and Planning Advisory Service was
critical to the development of this important new building (inCite, September
1997, 10).
Among my general observations in the United States, based not only on actual
visits but also on reports and photographs of library buildings in the professional
journals, is the notice of too many look-a-likes, especially in the 10,000 to
15,000square-foot size range. Just as is sometimes the case with other types
of buildings that achieve some notoriety, very similar features appear in new
construction in other areas. It is for this reason that no photographs appear in
this book. No line-drawing renditions of existing buildings appear. There are no
endorsements of any building or any style of building. The development of
library building concepts should be evolutionary with new designs and features
appearing as the needs of the people they serve change. As the technology and
logical infrastructure of the library changes in response to new needs, to new
ways of providing service, to new material formats, to new developments in the
technology of online services and communications, and as the climatic and ge-
ographic circumstances of the locale may indicate, a particular building will
evolve for specic purposes.
Library buildings are always worth visiting, and my visits included some
buildings that were no longer new, and were in fact several or more years old.
In these buildings, I could observe how adjustments were made as new service
demands arose, how furniture and equipment were holding up, how the public
was using the building. Except for a few instances where the visit was made
before the building was nished, or as part of an ALA conference activity and
the building was closed to the general public during the evening of the scheduled
activity, the observation of actual use was very instructive. In most cases use
of the building was at a very good level. Usually as the librarian reported, service
activity was greatly increased over that experienced in the previous facility. The
general public in every community makes very good use of the public libraries.
I believe this observation may be extended universally. My observations in the
Australian libraries that I visited were identical. Activity statistics given by the
Australian librarians I met were very high in proportion to the population of
the areas served. This is another reason why it is important to plan for any
building project with as much concentrated energy as possible. The building
will be subjected to heavy use once the project is completed, and if there is a
planning failure, it will show up almost immediately.
One of my observations about furniture and equipment in the U.S. libraries
was that all new and renovated buildings were well furnished and well equipped.
A few had to make use of some of the older items removed from a replaced
building or those that were in use prior to renovation. These items usually in-
cluded some steel shelving units, some tables, and chairs. All were in good
condition. In the buildings of several years existence, the furniture and equip-
4 Introduction
ment appeared to be holding up very well. The quality of library furniture and
equipment produced today is quite high. My observations in the Australian li-
braries I visited were similar.
In the series of new and renovated buildings that I saw, I did not observe any
with a lighting problem in public areas. All were well lighted and all had ex-
cellent illumination of reading surfaces and stack aisles. Lighting has been the
subject of more than one program or preconference of an American Library
Association annual conference. As a member of the Library and Administration
Association division, I think modest credit may be taken by its Building and
Equipment Section, the originator of these presentations.
The overall objectives of this book are: to help rst-time planners with basic
information; to serve as a refresher for those librarians who have had previous
planning experience; to help library board and planning group members know
and understand the many issues and matters they will face when planning even
a most modest project; to equip students enrolled in Library and Information
Science programs with a basic core of knowledge and understanding because
eventually they will become involved in renovation or space-planning projects;
and to assist architectural students and interns learning to use computer assisted
design (CAD) software packages.
The average public librarian needs information that helps in understanding
what is involved in planning for a public library building project. This applies
whether the subject is a free-standing independent building, a branch library, or
a joint-use facility with a museum, a senior academic library, a community or
junior college library, or a school library. Reading this book will not turn a
reader into a qualied specialist on library buildings. It is to help librarians and
others learn what should be known about a project so that they function effec-
tively as part of the planning team. There are basic facets of information that
librarians must know. If their projects are to be successful librarians must par-
ticipate and to do so should possess this basic core of information. This is the
intentnot to replace a skilled building consultant, nor a qualied architect, but
to help the librarian in raising the level of information known and so to be
recognized as a full partner in the planning.
The concept of modern libraries is moving toward interactive connections
with information sources far beyond the immediate community. For the contem-
porary public library, this means connection to a network, the federally dened
National Information Infrastructure, and a critical role in addressing the infor-
mation needs of its community. All of the public libraries in the United States
and in Australia that I visited were involved in online information services. The
newest one, Greensboro (NC) Central Library, went so far as to have several
terminals constantly online, connected to the Internet.
In the planning effort for a building project, sometimes basic fundamentals
can be neglected. The librarian may be unaware of the importance of certain
fundamentals, or the librarian may be ignored. A building concept may develop
that will have operational problems when completed. The librarian will be ex-
Introduction 5
pected to operate library services satisfactorily regardless of the effective func-
tionality of the building. It is new, isnt it? In turn, however, the thinking that
helps develop the planning must include realistic evaluation of what has been
traditional practice.
In some geographic areas, and in some other countriesAustralia is one
exampleeconomic factors may require consideration of shared or joint-use
facilities. The Sahara West Library and Fine Arts Museum in Las Vegas pro-
vides an educational and cultural opportunity in one large building. The special
requirements of both types of services are met through the infrastructure of the
building. In some instances, public libraries have combined or are considering
combining with academic libraries.
3
The combination of the modern academic
library electronic teaching center and the public library electronic information
center can be made to work within a common infrastructure dened in a single
building. There are commonalities to the planning of both types of libraries.
Site visits are encouraged. Librarians and their board members should visit
other libraries, regardless of their age or condition. Colleagues are willing usu-
ally to talk about their buildings, tell about their working experience, and give
advice and sometimes cautions about what to consider. The end result must be
a working building, a pleasant environment for staff and public, and one that is
adaptable to the sometimes sudden changes that our rapidly advancing society
requires.
NOTES
1. Andrea Oppenheimer Dean, Library of Congress Washington, D.C., Architectural
Record (February 1997): 10611. This article with some striking photographs describes
the renovation project and the long planning effort required.
2. Karen Stein, Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastles Sahara West Library and Fine Arts
Museum is a World Apart from the Las Vegas Strip, Architectural Record (March
1997): 5561. Stein describes the latest and apparently last addition to the city-county
library system in a project spread over eleven years and nanced through a $120 million
dollar bond issue.
3. Three Plans for Shared-Use Libraries in the Works, American Libraries (January
1999): 2123. The three projects involve academic and public libraries, one set in Cal-
ifornia, the other two in Florida.
REFERENCES
Library Buildings and Design. 1997. InCite News magazine of the Australian Library
and Information Association (September): 815. The issue cover carries a pho-
tograph of part of the new Sunshine Coast University College Library with the
offset caption The design of libraries: A community focus. A series of articles
on library planning begins on page 8. The lead article discusses community in-
volvement in library planning and the other articles discuss specic buildings.
1
Beginning the Plan
Planning begins when authorities recognize that some type of space modication
is necessary: a new building, renovation, or conversion of a building. This must
be developed into a series of goals and objectives and nally into a plan.
THE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION CENTER
In which direction should the planning effort be going? Is there a new role
for libraries? Everyone wants up-to-date library services with online services
preeminent. A great national and international information network is forming
bringing information resources to all peoples. This is now: This is the future:
The choice is clear.
The electronic information center (EIC) is the latest step in an evolutionary
process from the traditional library to the networked library. In the electronic
mode, most library service and support is computer based and human dependent.
Skilled staff are critical for this objective. High techhigh touch technical
skills are basic for both staff and public. Online services for the general public
come through a regional or state library-based network and possibly are limited
because of local constraints such as space and funding shortages. This condition
may be what led to the decision to plan for change. Addressing constraints where
they exist is one planning objective. Another objective is offering services online
without requiring users to visit the library unnecessarily. Every online assistance
8 New Generation of Public Library Buildings
to users off-site saves space and reduces trafc. Libraries may experience high
usage levels without incurring higher costs beyond system operational costs.
Extending its inuence and services at home and far aeld, EIC users, un-
constrained by their location or library service hours, may access and retrieve
some resources immediately, identify some for later delivery, and send refer-
ence/information inquiries to the staff for later response. Essentially, electronic
information resources are always available. Users will access their librarys re-
sources and place requests for materials online, from home, the workplace, or
in the library itself.
THE LIBRARY STAFF
Success of the planning effort depends upon staff who should be involved in
the development effort, included in the formation loop, and encouraged to con-
tribute their ideas. Through training workshops offered by various agencies, staff
will learn improved operational skills and how to update them. Equipment for
accessing electronic resources, gathering and processing data, organizing, and
codifying electronic information resources from various originators requires in-
frastructure and space. Skilled and dedicated staff will make the plan work.
COLLECTIONS
During the evolutionary process for libraries, resources accumulated in print
and nonprint formats of assured continuing usefulness and substantial value,
monetarily in millions of dollars. Most of these havent been subsumed into
online data banks. The attention these formats require include ease of access for
users, provision for removal and use elsewhere, and adequate storage and pres-
ervation. Addressing these needs must be part of the plan.
DESIGN NEEDS
A library building for public use should have certain features and capabilities
supportive of its mission. Some necessary features are conducive to supporting
and preserving electronic equipment and the physical collections.
Environment
Electronic equipment and material collections function and serve effectively
when the temperature, humidity, and quality of air are optimal. Preservation of
all types of materials is critical to successful service (Albright 1997; ANSI/AIIM
1998; Drewes and Page 1997; Ogden 1998; Saffady 1997; Wilson 1995).
Beginning the Plan 9
Furniture and Equipment
Electronic equipment such as microcomputers, printers, disk drives, modems,
photocopiers, microform reader/printers, learning machines, and television de-
vices often requires platforms that differ from the traditional table or carrel.
Additionally, a wide range of other supporting furniture and equipment is nec-
essary.
A LIBRARY CONSULTANT
When the supporting organization authorizes initiation of planning for a li-
brary building project, the librarian should recommend (indeed insist on rmly
and politely) the employment of a qualied library consultant. This is essential
for any type or size of building project. In some states such employment is
strongly recommended or even required by the state library, the usual conduit
for state funding assistance.
The Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA), a division
of the American Library Association (ALA), publishes Library Building Con-
sultants List, usually prepared within its Building and Equipment Section. This
reliable publication is the best current source for identifying consultants who
are experienced and who meet at least minimal standards. Many of these people
have multiple qualications and can assist when a joint-use facility is the ob-
jective. Some consultants who arent listed rely on word-of-mouth referrals and
should meet the same minimum criteria. A variant is pursuing a complete design
proposal through the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) and requesting
bids from architectural rms for a full-service design approach including a li-
brary consultant. In this instance, the RFP should state that the consultant should
meet the criteria for the Library Building Consultants List cited above.
Whether employed through an RFP response or oral or contractual agreement,
the negotiated fee for a qualied library consultant is money well spent. This
person is current on trends in library building design and the requirements of
new technology. Even the smallest project has many aspects, and with profes-
sional assistance, errors that may prove costly later will be avoided.
The Head Librarians Responsibility
The planning process requires substantial information. Following are descrip-
tions of some of the required information. All of this information should be
obtained as early as possible in the plan development process.
Demographics
Critical to planning especially for small buildings, population data serves sev-
eral uses. Among these are as a guide in determining an appropriate size for the
building but not the nal determinant. Knowing the projected future growth of
the service area, and the potential usage the community may generate, helps in
planning certain service areas. The local governments planning ofce will sup-
ply this data, often supported by basic data from the states planning ofce. This
data should include population age ranges, distribution by sex, income ranges,
number of families, percentage of children living in a home environment, per-
centage of elderly living in retirement centers, and a projected growth rate for
twenty years. All of this data is very useful to the planning process. If a geo-
graphic information system is used, as discussed in Chapter 3, this information
is critical to the process. In some cases, to more precisely identify the charac-
teristics of the proposed service area, a private research rm may be employed
to prepare a detailed analysis of the area. The consultant will use this information
effectively in preparing the project.
The Bureau of the Census will begin issuing The American Community
SurveyYour Communitys Key to the Future starting in the year 2001. The
plan is to collect the same information as collected by the decennial census
every year. This information will be useful for many community purposes. One
of the purposes will be to: Locate facilities in the parts of town where they
can do the most good (U.S. Census Bureau 1999, n.p.). The survey will begin
with larger population areas and each successive year will add another popu-
lation grouping: rst year, 250,000 population; second year, 100,000249,999
population; etc. This survey will assist in library planning.
Taste and Cultural Interests
Knowing the reading and cultural interests of the areas residents is helpful,
and if any doubts exist, a community survey may be useful. For a new branch
library, a survey may be very helpful. Capturing service preferences very early
will assist in dening the scope of services and space requirements. Knowing
the ethnic makeup of the population will inuence material selection and cultural
and educational programming.
Services and Annual Report
The full scope of the librarys existing or proposed services to the community
should be available in written form. Among the inclusions should be a descrip-
tion of the extent of services for all age levels or age classications; any outreach
services, such as childrens library services extended to day care centers and
book deposits at retirement centers; frequency of story hour programs with typ-
ical attendance; educational and cultural programs offered or wanted; and a
statement of community wishes for improvements or expansion in and of library
services.
A good manager should have an annual report containing activity and collec-
tions data. The consultant uses this information to plan collection space and
project collection growth, and couples it with population data to determine pro-
posed space allocations for the service areas.
Roads and Highways
Local highway, road development, and public transportation plans are very
important. The city, county, and state highway and transport departments have
future plans for road and highway construction that will have an impact on the
present or future location of the library building.
Maps
A map of the area showing existing 100- and 500-year ood plains is critical
to the process. No one would want to place a library on a ood plain. Again,
the local governments planning ofce should have this information. A transport
map is another necessity, and especially important is the possible routing of new
roads and highways. If a geographic information system is to be used as dis-
cussed in chapter 3, this information is pertinent to the process.
The First Meeting
After a consultant is selectednot an easy thing to do because of demand,
so scheduling may be a problemthat individual will expect to meet with the
library board or planners and librarian several times depending upon the proj-
ects scope. Once work begins the consultant will advise on many aspects of
the project. This initial meeting should be with the full board or the full building
committee. Local ofcials who may have inuence on the project may be in-
volved early as well. If any board members or local ofcials have expressed
any negative feelings or indicated any serious concerns, these persons should
be included at the start of these meetings. The consultant will use this oppor-
tunity to address any issues that may be raised. This is important because at
some point one or more of these people will raise an objection and early reso-
lution will prove benecial. Many details affecting the projects outcome must
be known and considered. As implied earlier, the librarian and the planning
group should have their ideas, and any suggestions gathered from the community
clearly in mind ready for presentation to the consultant.
One important consideration, particularly for a small community is the matter
of work-in-kind. It is not uncommon to plan a project so that local contractors
will have the opportunity to bid on segments of the project or even to donate
their services. This is a decision to be made at the very beginning of the project.
The library board or planning group should make this concern known to the
consultant and subsequently to the architect. These individuals will respond ac-
cordingly.
The consultant serves as an information source and as a specialist who will
see the project through to successful completion. If the basic information re-
quested as stipulated earlier has been sent to the consultant, a detailed project
analysis may be presented at the rst meeting. This analysis will include an
estimate of the building or project size, possible cost gures, a timetable, and
other items. This serves to put the project into a common perspective for all the
involved persons.
The library building consultant is the rst of several specialists involved in a
building project and should be so. The obvious is not always apparent, but
should become clear as this chapter progresses. The succeeding specialists are
the architect(s), an assortment of engineers whose work is behind the scenes
and mostly are involved through the architect(s), an interior designer either as-
sociated with the architect(s) or as an independent contractor, a fund-raiser when
required, construction contractors, and a construction manager (once named
clerk-of-the-works), typically employed by the architect(s), who oversees the
contractors and their adherence to construction specications. Sometimes in the
case of major public works, this person is employed by the governmental body.
For large library buildings, additional consultants may provide expertise in en-
vironmental control, lighting, signs, and security. The local highway or trafc
control department may provide valuable assistance in planning for vehicle ac-
cess. In the preface to his critical work, Ellsworth Mason comments: There are
more than half a million details in the plans for a library building of a hundred
thousand square feet, (Mason 1980, vii). Regardless of the buildings size there
are many details, and the combination of specialists is essential to the projects
success.
This opportunity to create something so worthwhile creates great enthusiasm;
library projects are exciting and many useful suggestions will come forth from
the community. Euphoria aside, common sense must prevail, and serious think-
ing and much work must happen. The rst meeting is for open discussion,
thorough, frank, and full. The discussion should reveal wishes for the project,
what must be done, dene its scope, and make basic decisions.
One person, the librarian, or in tandem the librarian and the consultant, should
be the communications link through whom all requests for changes, modica-
tions, or simply questions from others pass to the architect(s). This arrangement
should be established at the onset of the project. If the project is controlled by
an ofcial of local government, there should be a review procedure in place so
that the planning group has a voice in communications. The danger is that an
uninformed or poorly informed ofcial may make a decision based on misin-
formation that may adversely affect the future service functionality of the proj-
ect. If this is not observed and anyone can discuss the project at will with the
architect(s), confusion and considerable personal unhappiness may result.
To help librarians and their planning groups, a checklist of major items that
should be described in a building program is used. This may be combined with
a time line or a Gantt chart. This assures that nothing of importance is overlooked
in the early planning. The content will vary if the building is a renovation. Some
optional items may be of interest while others are not. This planning document
gives the librarian and board a better understanding of the complexity of the
project and the options that may be open to their consideration. There are many
facets to a library building and different ways of conceptualizing them (Rizzo
1992, 322). The nal document must give the architect(s), no matter how ex-
perienced, an understanding of what is expected and how the building will be
operated. With this input from the responsible group, the consultant will write
a building program reecting the group consensus. The document need not be
excessively long. Many building programs for small libraries average a length
of about twenty pages, often including bubble diagrams. These are a series of
concentric circles or geometric gures that are used to show interrelationships
of service areas (see Appendix D). For a large building the program will be
considerably larger.
This document describes in detail the service and spatial needs for the library
project. The program is given to the architect(s) who translates its requirements
into schematics or proximity diagrams showing the arrangement and location of
the services and other spaces. Preparing this document requires experience,
which is why the consultant should write it. In addition to spatial requirements,
the consultant will add details that either must be included or considered as part
of the construction project. For another statement on the building program see
Curry and Henriquez (1998, 8384).
Sometimes the program may be sent to another consultant for a critique of
its content. For larger projects, this is a good idea. A neutral consultant may
observe an oversight that could prove difcult later, such as inadequate attention
to local weather conditions. If an architect from outside the area is selected, lack
of familiarity with local weather conditions could lead to a design scheme with
weather-related deciencies.
When the program is ready, the planning group should review it very carefully
to make certain their wishes were expressed. Copies should be circulated among
library staff for their reactions. If anything is unclear or not stated, that should
be made known so that the document will not confuse the architects under-
standing of what is wanted. The program may be cause for a second meeting
for further discussion. In most cases this should be automatic, unless the building
is relatively small and the program has indeed captured the intent of the planning
group. This review is very important and will serve as a timesaver later when
questions may arise due to its interpretation by the architect(s). After any revi-
sions are made, the next step is to employ an architect.
Selecting the Architect
Means for selecting an architect range from competitions to interviews. Major
urban projects mostly are competitive and the competing designs offer great eye
appeal. The desire for handsome civic architecture and external appearances
often outweighs concerns for internal functionality. All is not lost, however, so
long as the winning architect is willing to listen to the people who will be
responsible for making the building actually work. There are some very ne
externally attractive and internally functional buildings that attest to this in keep-
ing with the adage Function determines form, or form follows function.
For smaller projects architects may be invited to meet with the planning
group, or the local governmental authority may have a list with rotation of names
as projects are awarded. The architects may be interviewed in order if the ar-
chitect rst on the list is not selected. In the interview process, care should be
taken to allow the architect to express concepts and ideas, but also to observe
that the architect is willing to listen to the client. Although it may be helpful,
it isnt necessary for the architect to have prior experience with library buildings.
What is necessary is the aforestated willingness to work with the planning group,
consultant included, to listen to their concerns and wishes, and not to super-
impose the architects own ideas over those of the group. Bear in mind that
architects are gifted, talented individuals not unlike artists. Expect to hear their
ideas and encourage their expression; just remember that the building must func-
tion effectively. Sometimes in the interview process, architects will present il-
lustrated brochures and photographs of other projects, usually very beautiful and
striking buildings. As overwhelming as this may be, no one should succumb to
a sales pitch and give an architect free rein simply because of a dazzling display
of talent. The nal outcome will be an externally attractive building and one
that is internally functional, but do not surrender any prerogatives. If an architect
betrays any tendency to defer the groups thinking about the librarys function-
ality, move on to another architect. Some architects solve problems by simply
making space for services but not working out appropriate relationships among
the services. The end result is a design that lacks imagination. There can be
disagreements. Both architect and librarian must listen to each other fairly and
openly. Experience shows that successful architects always have listened to the
people involved and worked with them to achieve the nal result, an attractive
library that will work and function effectively for decades to come. Fortunately,
most architects are receptive to working together with people to bring about a
successful project (Curry and Henriquez 1998, 80, 89).
After reading the building program and discussion with the consultant, the
architect prepares two dimensional line drawings, or even better, three-
dimensional computer assisted design (CAD) projections, or both, which trans-
late the program content into illustrations of what the project will look like in
terms of layout. An elevation will show how the library may look on the site.
With CAD its possible to see how both the exterior and the interior will look
and to show a proposed color scheme. These illustrations will show how the
new building will look inside and outside, the relationship of service areas with
other areas, and, for renovations, how changes or alterations may look.
The availability of CAD software will be appreciated when applied commonly
to library projects. CAD is helpful in planning large buildings and will be useful
for small projects as architects become procient using it. With CAD interiors
may be elevated, and it will be far easier to visualize trafc ow, potential
effects of color schemes, and the relationships among the service areas. The
impression a CAD portrayal makes will be overwhelming, but the objective to
keep is a functional building. Within a short time, many architects will convert
to CAD design for their projects (Novitski 1997, 12932).
Once ready for presentation, the consultant and architect should explain the
arrangements to the planning group. Merits and shortcomings, if any, should be
related back to the program. The planning group should have additional time to
review and ponder the recommendations for the project and then either make
their request for changes or accept the presentation.
If anyone has any concerns or negative feelings, this is the time to raise them.
It is legitimate to question such things as the trafc ow, functionality and
relationships among the service areas, and any other items that may affect good
service. Why is this important? The cost of changes at this stage is rather low
when compared to costs for adjustments requested after blueprints are made. If
the program truly reected the wishes of the planning group and good input to
the planning by the consultant, there should be very little reason for change.
If the program was understood and the architect did not override the planning
group, and site problems or unanticipated factors didnt indicate some deviation,
the presentation should be very close to what is wanted. It is the consultants
responsibility to bring the planning group to a sense of understanding so that
unfair and costly revisions arent requested due to inadequate mental preparation
at the projects beginning. This is why the rst program draft should be ex-
amined thoroughly. By so doing the planning group will save valuable time
later. Architects costs are high. There is no point in prolonging indecision by
asking for many changes. This is not to say that misinterpretation of the program
wont occur, or that ideas not considered earlier wont be introduced. It is to
emphasize that building projects are costly. Funding should be dedicated to
advancing the project, not to repetitive work redoing what should have been
decided early in the process. The architect also wants the best possible result.
Occasionally, an architect will deviate from the program. If this occurs, it is
the consultants responsibility to point this out. The architect and consultant
should be working together; if they are, broad deviations can be avoided. A
good architect will run by design concepts with the consultant. A good con-
sultant will encourage creativity by the architect. If the project depictions are
too extreme a departure from the program, it is right to tell the architect they
are unsatisfactory. One incentive for consultant and architect to work together
effectively is the possibility of entering the nished building into the biennial
Library Buildings Award Program that is sponsored jointly by the Library Ad-
ministration and Management Association and the American Institute of Archi-
tects.
There are three possibilities that may affect departure from the program. One
is that the architect has chosen to ignore the document. A second is that creative
inclination ran away with design features. The third is that the project work
was done or is being done by an intern, a student architect working under the
senior architect. The intern, a novice at this work, may not have understood the
program. Although this should have been claried at the interview stage, it is
an error to assume that all the project work has been done by the architect
interviewed. Partners in an architectural rm may make a group presentation,
but again it may be other members of the rm who do the actual work. For a
small building, an intern doing the work may be the case. For a very large
project an entire architectural rm may be involved, including interns or ap-
prentices. This is why the consultant will state as clearly as possible what is
desired, not so specic that initiative or creativity is stied, but understandable
even to an apprentice. Once the program draft is reviewed and all agree on its
content, the architect must be held to the program unless there is clearly a need
for change. The building must be functional. Anything that does not appear to
address functionality must be questioned. Understanding this, there is no reason
not to question some design feature if it causes any concern.
Even at the drawing stage, CAD or paper based, it is important not to succumb
to artistic creativity and accept a design simply because the architect is a talented
designer, or the exterior will be beautiful and promises a very striking appear-
ance. The building must work well. If indications are that it will not, reject the
design. If anyone on the planning group has any reservations about design fea-
tures, these should be made known and resolved. Changes made later will be
very costly.
Budget and Cost Projections
With an acceptable depiction of the building in hand, the project now proceeds
in other directions. The next important step is determining the budget for con-
struction. The architect and consultant should be able to indicate an approximate
range for the project costs. The architect should provide an estimated construc-
tion cost, and the consultant can review the estimate and relate it to recent costs
for similar projects. The estimated overall cost will include allowances for fur-
niture, equipment, the percentage for art works and plants for the interior, ex-
terior plantings, ofcial fees, and the architects and consultants fees. The
annual December issue of Library Journal is a good source for this kind of
information.
Costs for a site are treated separately. Sometimes land is donated (more on
this later). Land costs will vary greatly from region to region. Additionally,
preparation costs for roads, water and sewer lines, utilities, and clearing of land
may vary.
Community Involvement
The scope of community involvement varies with preferences and time con-
straints. Some librarians prefer to survey the community through the mail and
obtain written suggestions for the project. Some have used a citizens advisory
committee to solicit and formulate suggestions from the greater community.
Some have tried the charette approach. This involves a community meeting
with the architect and consultant present. Each of these persons may give a
general overview of planning requirements to the audience. The architect will
rough out on a drawing board a possible footprint, roughly the size of the
building on a site. If the site requires the main entry on a certain side, that is
shown. After this the audience participates in the building layout. The architect
and consultant will point out need for staff space and work areas, and the au-
dience will suggest public area layouts. If the audience is understanding, the
results can be very satisfactory.
Dr. David J. Jones, State Library of New South Wales, Australia, makes a
strong case for community involvement in library planning. Reviewing both
Australian and American trends in library planning, he notes the important role
a library may play as a community center as a focal point for community activity
(Jones 1997, 8). Certainly making an effort to involve the people the library is
to serve is going to reinforce the library as an important asset to the community,
one that the people will see as a necessity to their advancement and welfare.
Funding the Project
In some communities public library construction is funded entirely from tax
monies. Local government controls these funds and the library board makes its
case for funding. Sometimes funding is obtained through a bond issue. Other
sources are a combination of public funds, a fund drive, endowment income,
and accumulated savings by the library board. In some instances, additional
funding is made available through a competitive grant process by state libraries.
At least one statePennsylvaniaprovides some funding through a competitive
process using revenue from a real estate transfer tax.
As part of this process, a nancial plan with a cash ow projection should
be prepared. This is very useful when funding comes from more than one source.
If donations and endowment income are included, clearly the cash inow from
them must be projected and coordinated with cash outow, so that the latter will
not outpace the former.
If the library board proposes to conduct a fund drive, then the services of a
professional fund-raiser are recommended. Individuals and companies provide
fee-based services including conducting a feasibility study to estimate the degree
of support and the amount that may be raised, advising on the best time to begin
a drive, training volunteers to help solicit funds, and preparing campaign liter-
ature. The fund-raiser will provide background regarding community informa-
tion that is needed, how the initial study will be conducted, and how volunteer
workers will be trained. Fund-raisers may be found in the telephone book yellow
pages and through referrals from hospitals, churches, or other public enterprises.
In some circumstances, the library board may be advised to employ a half-
time secretary for the tasks of handling mailings, receiving donations, and re-
lated work. This person is not the treasurer but receives and records donations
turning the receipts over to the treasurer. The latter is usually a board member
or a community volunteer with money management experience.
Often, the fund-raiser will advise that one-half or more of the target funds
must come from major contributors. This means corporate or business donors,
foundations, and well-to-do private citizens who must be willing to support a
signicant portion of the project cost. The importance of this cannot be over-
emphasized. Failure to understand this or a misguided zeal that leads a few
persons unskilled in fund-raising techniques to think they can persuade the com-
munity to support the project often leads to the loss of valuable time and even
suspension of the project. The fund-raiser will need information of potential
major donors and may obtain this information from board members or other
persons knowledgeable about the community such as bankers, investment coun-
selors, realtors, etc, inclusive of persons who can be said to have their thumb
on the communitys economic pulse. These persons will have a rst-hand
knowledge of potential community, business, and industrial growth; know how
rapidly a community is really growing; and in which geographic directions that
growth is occurring. Once potential major donors are identied, the fund raiser
will arrange contacts. The balance of the funding should come from the com-
munity at large, often through a pledge period covering several years.
Prospect identication is a term used for the process of identifying the
potential major donors in a community. It is more than simply naming people.
The information developed must provide for precise identication of the poten-
tial donors philanthrophic inclinations, some indication of how to approach the
individual, and an informed estimate of the possible amount of a donation.
Librarians also should be aware that very wealthy individuals and families often
have a policy statement that describes exactly what sort of charities and com-
munity activities will be considered for support. Public libraries may not be
included in the policy as occasionally happens.
In community fund drives, condentiality often is of utmost importance.
Wealthy or well-to-do people may prefer to have their good fortune kept well
in the background. Its not unusual at all for such persons to give a nominal
donation for the record and a larger sum anonymously so as not to attract at-
tention. Also important is the way volunteer fund-raisers are trained. They will
be ringing doorbells asking for contributions or pledges for the fund drive. They
must be sensitive to peoples innate pride. Care should be exercised to make
certain that people are not insulted by being asked to give too little or offended
when they honestly are stretching their means to be of assistance.
Large companies with a community presence will make a donation under the
terms of their corporate giving policy. This may mean a large single donation
at some point during the fund drive. Americans will contribute to libraries be-
cause they appreciate the benets that a good library will bring to their com-
munities.
1
Also, the newly rich will give to wrap themselves in culture.
Grants
If the library is located in a state where supplemental public funding can be
obtained through a grant process, then this is the time to begin preparing sup-
porting material for a grant application. Sometimes a library board may express
reluctance to do so because of concern for state imposed requirements including
wage levels and restrictions on sites for possible library locations. This type of
funding, however, may be seen as a return of tax money. The community may
view the library boards seeking a public grant in a positive light. If there are
good reasons for rejecting such an opportunity, the reasons should be sound and
made known to the community. The fund-raiser and/or the consultant will assist
in drafting grant applications to private foundations on behalf of the project.
The approach may be to local, regional, and national foundations depending
upon the type of project and other relevant factors. Be forewarned, however,
that most foundations only give if they have a local interest or connection.
Managing the Incoming Funds
The treasurer should have authorization to invest surplus income as it accrues
so that it will yield interest until it is necessary to pay major bills. Usually,
these funds are invested in certicates of deposit, rather than conventional sav-
ings accounts. Only a minimal sum is kept in a checking account to pay current
expenses. This should be part of the nancial plan.
A last source of income that may help with a building project, though not
always, is bequests. More often, bequests made in a persons will are for specic
purposes and are endowments for the purposes stated. Sometimes, if the need
is known well in advance that a new building project, even though several years
away, is coming, people may be inclined to will funds that may be used toward
construction costs of specic services areas. This book does not cover endow-
ment management but a citation is included in the notes to this chapter.
2
NOTES
1. Charles R. McClure, and John Carlo Bertot, Public Library Use in Pennsylvania:
Identifying Uses, Benets, and Impacts. Final Report. June 1998. Available at: http:
www.cas.psu.edu/docs/pde/lib1.html. This study of public library use in Pennsylvania
includes a series of benets that may be useful in other settings.
2. Jo Ann Hankin, Alan G. Seidner, and John T. Zietlow. Financial Management for
Non-prot Organizations (New York: Wiley, 1998). Not all public libraries are blessed
with board members who are thoroughly astute in nancial matters, particularly in man-
aging endowment funds. This book may prove invaluable to many. The book is written
for people who are not experienced with such matters. Its sixteen chapters cover a wide
range of subjects such as: chapter 8, Types and Sources of Funding for Your Program,
chapter 9, Cash Management and Banking Relations, and chapter 12, Investing Prin-
ciples, Procedures, and Operations for Short-Term and Long-Term Endowment. At 610
pages, this book supplies a depth of coverage of useful information to those board mem-
bers who manage library funds.
REFERENCES
Albright, Gary. 1997. Care of Photographs. College & Research Libraries News 58
(September): 56163.
ANSI/AIIM TR13. 1998 Preservation of Microforms in an Active EnvironmentGuide-
lines. National Information Standards Organization. Oxon Hill, Md.: Niso Press.
Curry, Ann, and Zena Henriquez. 1998. Planning Public Libraries: The Views of Ar-
chitects and Librarians. Library Administration & Management 12 (spring): 80
90.
Drewes, Jeanne M., and Julie Page, eds. 1997. Promoting Preservation Awareness in
Libraries: A Sourcebook for Academic, Public, School, and Special Collections.
Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
Jones, David J. 1997. Meeting Point and Community Focus. inCite, News magazine
of the Australian Library and Information Association (September): 8.
Mason, Ellsworth. 1980. Mason on Library Buildings. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press.
Novitski, B. J. 1997. Getting Your Feet Wet in CAD. Architectural Record (July):
12932.
. 1998. Exploiting Advances in Computer-Aided Architecture: Five Case Stud-
ies. Architectural Record (September): 15964.
Ogden, Sherelyn. 1998. Preservation Planning: Guidelines for Writing a Long-Range
Plan. National Information Standards Organization. Oxon Hill, Md.: Niso Press.
Rizzo, Joe. 1992. Ten Ways to Look at a Library. American Libraries 23 (April): 322
24.
Saffady, William. 1997. Stability, Care, and Handling of Microforms, Magnetic Media,
and Optical Disks. Library Technology Reports 33 (Nov./Dec.).
U.S. Census Bureau. 1999. The American Community SurveyYour Communitys Key
to the Future. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and
Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census, 6 pp.
Wilson, William K. 1995. Environmental Guidelines for the Storage of Paper Records
(Niso TR-01). National Information Standards Organization. Oxon Hill, Md.:
Niso Press.
2
Data for Planning
In past years libraries were planned in very specic ways. A library could be
described as a xed function building. The entire concept depended upon
paper based materials, books, and periodicals. Some libraries collected archival
materials, correspondence, photographs, rare books, maps, etc. Each area was
given a space allocation. Some of this was open space, but mostly for each
separate collection it was a room. For libraries with large collections of volumes
beyond the quantity thought sufcient for open oor shelving in a large room,
tier stack shelving was part of the plan. An alternative may have been, in a
multistoried building, shelving taking up much of the oor space with aisles
only minimally wide enough for passage by mobile persons. For physically
impaired persons, there was little if any consideration. Possibly paging service
was offered, but on very limited terms.
Determining space needs depended upon a strict methodology of mathemat-
ical calculations. The amenities and the extent thereof depended upon available
funding. Some library buildings were very plain but functional for the needs of
the day. Others with more ample funding would have space for exhibits of some
size, works of art, and decorative trim both on the exterior and interior of the
building.
As the national population grew and new material formats appeared, these
buildings appeared less capable of meeting demand and new means of planning
for libraries were developed. Some of these methods themselves have been re-
vised as the evolution of the planning process continues.
FORMULAS
For many years, per capita space formulas were standard guides for deter-
mining the size of a public library. A fraction of a square foot per capita ex-
pressed decimally was the norm. When space proved insufcient as demand and
collections grew, it was enough to increase the decimal size. These formulas
covered the estimated size of the building in square feet, with space allocations
for the collections, reader accommodations, and staff space. In some places these
formulas still are used as the standard. In a short publication, Planning the Small
Public Library Building, Dahlgren (1985) provides a very good capsule review
of these formulas. Today, the movement has been away from the lock step of
using xed formulas toward a more open planning style, something like that
advanced in the Brawner and Beck (1996) Dahlgren (1998) books listed in the
selected bibliography. Dahlgren, in his 1996 publication, explains the movement
away from xed formulas (5). Some of these formulas are still useful, however,
such as for planning shelving capacity and space for the bound volume collec-
tion. Dahlgren (1985, 1998) and Brawner and Beck may both be consulted on
this matter. Brawner and Beck advocate using an incremental approach to plan-
ning spaces for library needs, as does Dahlgren in his newer publication. This
method has distinct advantages over formula approaches. When the space al-
locations are completed, compare the total to what would result from applying
a formula. There should be more space. The reasons for the larger total are
attributable to the need to increase the average space per seat to give room for
workstations, to provide storage for new material formats, for staff, and for
equipment that is now used in libraries as, for example, to make certain material
formats accessible. The old formulas couldnt do this.
In some states, space planning guidelines are supplied by the state library or
the states professional library association. Wisconsin and North Carolina are
two examples, the former from the state library, the latter from the professional
association. If these guidelines have been revised and are current, there should
be no problem adapting to an incremental method. If not, the librarian and
consultant will have to point out the potential deciencies to the library board.
Too strict an adherence to space formulas will result in a cramped building and
hampered exibility.
If the head librarian is aware of state formulae shortcomings, then the library
board should be told what the problems may be very early in the process. A
simple example may be the space comparison between what was once consid-
ered sufcient space for a library seat, 25 square feet, and what the need is for
a workstation, usually 45 square feet. This what Brawner and Beck list as an
electronic workstation (1996, 124). The reason for the difference is the need to
provide for a table top computer and peripheral equipment while allowing space
for traditional library materials. The work surface must hold books or other
printed material the workstation patron is using. When service for both high
school and college students is involved as in a joint-use public/academic library,
Data for Planning 23
there will be a great need for workstations. The seating allocation will be far
larger than might have been thought necessary for either group alone when
nonstudent adult needs are factored into the calculations. Dahlgren (1998) sug-
gests using an average size per seat to arrive at a grand total. In many libraries
the stack aisles were in 32" widths. With the passage of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, 36" aisle width was stated as minimal, with a 42" width pre-
ferred. Changing the aisle width decreases the shelving capacity. The height of
shelving also affects capacity: 90" ranges will hold more volumes than those at
60" or 66" height. In limited funding circumstances, good judgment is essential
in space planning. For the public librarian planning a new building or reequip-
ping a renovated building, the ethnic characteristics of the community must be
considered. In certain ethnic groups the average height of an adult tends to be
short, especially that of women who cannot reach books on 90" shelving. The
majority of users will be women. Realistically, if such factors are known, there
is justication for asking for more oor space than might have been thought
necessary on the basis of simply accommodating the obvious needs of the people
in the community. For reasons such as this, the older population-driven formulae
simply fail.
In using the incremental approach, the probability of gaining more space than
the old formulas would have allowed is a certainty. Is it enough space? Possibly,
but judgment must be used. Once a gure for any service area is arrived at, it
should be tested against available data, prior experience, and the projections for
future activity. If it appears that these factors indicate a future tight situation,
then the gure should be increased.
DEMOGRAPHICS
At the beginning of this book, the need to get accurate population data and
forecasts is mentioned. Dahlgren (1998) places great emphasis on this; the size
of the population either to be or being served must be known. The need for this
information is to help estimate service requirements as the population grows, or
shrinks, and changes in needs for library service arise. This in turn may be
translated into spatial statements. This requires more than taking a decimal for-
mula and multiplying it by the increase in population. Other factors come into
play rather than simply taking a formula gure for more space. Community
needs may have changed; the population and its characteristics may have
changed. New formats, new technology, and new ways of providing service
must all be considered.
Some renovation or expansion projects provide more casual reading spaces
for older adults as that segment of the local population increases. In others, the
childrens service area may be too small as the number of children in the service
area increases. The original plan may not have included a story hour room. It
is no longer feasible to have story hour in the open area because of increased
numbers. Young adults were not considered as a service population. Computer-
based services require more space; this was not foreseen in the original planning.
Sometimes the cause for the original space deciency lies with a failure to nd
or obtain adequate data to allow for better planning for future needs. For some
projects shortages of space result from inadequate funding for the initial project
and so the library space is decient when the building opens for service.
Per capital income statistics will help the librarian and the consultant decide
what parts of the collection should be emphasized. Circulation data helps, of
course, but knowing the per capita income will assist in planning space for
materials that the community will want to have available but costs of which are
beyond the average income. More encyclopedic materials may be helpful in a
low-income area, whereas in a moderate to high-income area, many families
may own encyclopedias in CD-ROM format so the need for library coverage
may be less.
If the local population has a signicant proportion of families of non-English
speaking origin, there may be a need for adaptation by the library to the needs
of these residents (Hayes and Walter 1996, 96). The need for tutorial space will
be higher. The library will need and should have small rooms for instructional
purposes. Sometimes a local high school or community college will ll the need
for tutoring, but this isnt always possible. Projects in such areas should include
provision for educational spaces. The further usefulness of demographics infor-
mation will be seen as this book continues.
FACTORING FOR AN INCREASE IN SERVICE ACTIVITY
It is difcult to forecast a precise increase in service demand as a result of a
building renovation or construction of a new building. Experience suggests plan-
ning on a minimal increase of at least 20 percent in service activity for a ren-
ovation project, and for a new building, an increase as high as 33 percent. If
the situation with the previous building was one of very acute severity due to
small space, overcrowding, etc., the service demands could double. This can
occur in situations where an old building is replaced with a new one. It doesnt
apply to branch libraries that are not replacements. Activity levels for new
branch libraries are not always predictable.
1
A determining factor in these sit-
uations is the location of the new building or in access improvements, new roads,
street lighting, sidewalks, and parking lots. The operating budget should be
increased to cover the new costs.
In some situations where a community is growing, the increase will be very
sudden followed by annual increments as the population grows. Often, the rst
years increase will be right at 20 percent. This may hold for a year or so and
then rise again as community acceptance of the facility grows. After this, annual
incremental increases of manageable size might occur. Again, however, this is
dependent upon the communitys growth rate.
If a fund drive helped pay for the building, a by-product of the drive may be
public demand for longer service hours, a not uncommon experience. The li-
Data for Planning 25
brarian and board must be prepared for this. When people donate funds for
better library service they expect immediate improvement, and one expectation
is for longer service hours. The publicity surrounding a fund drive may cause
more use even before the new building is occupied.
Another factor affecting activity is the relative attractiveness of a new or
renovated library building. In a geographic area where other libraries are con-
sidered decient by their primary clientele, an increase in demand can occur as
users migrate to the newer or improved facility. A new city main library will
experience a similar reaction as better accommodations, improved lighting, and
other amenities bring in users who eschewed the old building.
NOTE
1. In several recent renovation projects the increase was 20 percent, in some cases
even higher. One new building project experienced a 20 percent increase in the rst year
and 13 percent more in the second.
REFERENCES
Brawner, Lee B., and Donald K. Beck Jr. 1996. Determining Your Public Librarys
Future Size, A Needs Assessment and Planning Model. Chicago: American Li-
brary Association.
Dahlgren, Anders. 1985. Planning the Small Public Library Building. Small Libraries
Publication, no. 11. Chicago: Library Administration and Management Associa-
tion.
. 1996. Planning the Small Library Facility. 2nd ed. Small Libraries Publications,
no. 23. Chicago: Library Administration and Management Association.
. 1998. Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline/1998. Madison: State
of Wisconsin, Department of Public Instruction. Public Library Develop-
ment. [last modied, June 5, 1998] [23 pp.] http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dlcl/pld/
plspace.html.
Hayes, Robert M., and Virginia A. Walter. 1996. Strategic Management for Public Li-
braries: A Handbook. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
3
Location: Finding a Site
A good location is essential to fulllment of the librarys mission of service to
its community. This applies to existing buildings under review for renovation,
for conversions of buildings used for other purposes, and for projected new
buildings. Occasionally in the rst two instances, the consultant may recommend
abandonment or not making a commitment to convert a building because the
location no longer meets or fails to meet certain criteria. The building may be
serviceable, but its location may appear to have few advantages in terms of
accessibility or presence of a sizable population. See Appendix F for information
on conversion of another type of building for library service.
One very important consideration is the projected longevity of the building.
This forecast of usefulness should be for at least fty years or even longer.
Many Carnegie libraries are approaching 100 years and are still in use (Jones
1997, 13166). In rural areas Koontz remarks that a county librarys service life
may reach 100 years (Koontz 1997, 1). More recent buildings of the 1930s and
1940s are in use in many urban locales. This longevity factor must be rmly in
mind when selecting a site. An error in placement of a library building results
in lower volumes of service activities than the cost of the facility would mandate
(Koontz 1997, 6). At some point, probably around its twenty-fth year, the
building may require renovation. If the location is a good one, change will not
be necessary. Upgrading facilities in good locations where use is reasonable is
simply protecting a sound investment.
When the decision is made to nd a site it must meet basic necessities. Fol-
lowing is information helpful to understanding how critical a good location is
to successful library service.
LOCATION: IN RELATION TO WHERE MOST USERS
COME FROM
The two titles by Dr. Christine M. Koontz (1994, 1997) listed in the selected
bibliography are the best sources for advice on locating a library facility. The
larger work (1997) is based upon her dissertation and provides much practical
advice based on research. The chapters progress from early methods of nding
good locations for library buildings to the most progressive methods now avail-
able, geographic information systems (GIS). In chapter ve, she reviews a li-
brary facility siting model especially intended for urban library site placement.
This model depends upon a very detailed analysis of prospective neighborhoods.
The research includes a full breakdown of the population by various character-
istics that may be predictive of potential library use. Her conclusions are worth
noting. One of particular interest is the observation that a neighborhood may
change characteristics and this will affect the way the library is used. As a
neighborhood changes in type of population, circulation may drop, but in-house
use, for example, program activity and reference demand, may increase (Koontz
1997, 104).
Proceeding to chapter 6, Koontz discusses the advantages of using GIS. These
systems are computer-based and costs are decreasing to a reasonable level
(Koontz 1997, 111). In summary, Koontz notes the restrictive costs of library
construction and operating budgets, emphasizes making certain that libraries
really meet their clienteles requirements, and compares the needs of the retailing
industry with those of libraries. She notes the clear advantages of using GIS
(Koontz 1997, 11112).
An important consideration is to locate a library near or en route to places
where people need to go regularly. Koontz notes that it costs money to go to a
grocery store, that is, there are travel expenses, not just the cost of groceries
(Koontz 1994, 173). It is costly also to visit the public library and so that cost
must be reasonable. An isolated location away from normal travel routes will
not attract users, and the library will fail in its mission. William Sannwald
advises even locating near a fast food outlet for the simple reason that people
go there (Sannwald 1998, 206). Such advice should not be taken too literally.
It may apply to a temporary location where a long-term commitment is not
foreseen, for example, a storefront. Many urban landscapes are dotted with
boarded up fast food outlets that survived hardly a decade. Apparently, serious
errors were made in plotting such locations. Fast food outlets also cater to a
clientele that is very mobile and that may not be inclined toward library use as
part of a stop in the locale.
Location: Finding a Site 29
EVALUATING OPEN LAND
This section addresses some matters relating to suitability of a particular site
for placement of a new library building. First, as noted earlier, the site should
not be on a ood plain and should be high and well drained. Readers may recall
that several midwestern libraries were damaged by ood waters in 1997 (The
Flood of 97 Wreaks Havoc 1997, 1516; Red River Flood Takes Toll 1997,
1617).
In the United States, not all land areas are suitable for construction. Similar
conditions may exist in parts of other countries. The information provided here
may apply in several geographic zones. There are many reasons why some
locations are poor choices for construction. To understand this, the rst factor
to consider is the loaded weight of a library building. As Dahlgren points out,
the load-bearing capability of a library building foundation and successive oors
in a multistory building must be a minimal 150 pounds per square foot (Dahlgren
1985, 21; 1996, 26). This is very heavy. The land must hold this weight; not
all land will. In a section on soil mechanics, Metcalf provides more detail and
also provides the metric equivalent 7.324kN/m2 (Metcalf 1986, 327). Metcalf
also discusses the need for testing land prior to nal selection of a construction
site noting soils tests (102) and unstable land (77).
Specically to the point of insistence, test borings are mandatory. The site
must be capable of supporting the stated weight, and if not, another site should
be chosen. If this requirement is ignored the risk is that the foundation will sink.
Library buildings do sink because of placement on sites incapable of supporting
their weight.
1
In this regard Koontz also advocates the use of geographic infor-
mation systems. She notes that early uses of such systems were for evaluating
characteristics of various sites (Koontz 1997, 11415). She specically com-
ments on the load-bearing capability of land and advises caution and reinforces
the preceding remarks (Koontz 1997, 115).
Land may have been lled in. For example, a strip mine may have been active
on the site some years in the past. If the land was lled and a sufcient length
of time, more than thirty years, has elapsed the land may be acceptable but only
a test boring will tell. Land may have Fullers earth beneath it and so be very
unsuitable, because this soil is not weight supporting. Other factors include such
things as mild tremors and underground streams. There may be other causes of
instability and only a qualied soil engineer will be able to advise on the use-
fulness of any particular location. Drilling companies routinely provide this ser-
vice to architects and engineers. Determining the proper foundation required is
essential for all buildings. For a library building with extreme weight support
requirements, it is critical.
Other obvious areas for concern are slide areas in hilly or mountainous terrain,
re zones in wooded areas, and places where earthquakes are possible. Con-
struction in earthquake prone areas requires costly seismic construction.
Archeological Sites
Sites containing prehistoric fossils, early settlements and historical artifacts,
and ancient and not so ancient burial places seemingly may be found anywhere
in the world.
2
Such discoveries may be found even on or in land previously
used for construction in urban areas. The deeper excavation required for a large
library foundation may uncover fossils or other signicant material. It is advis-
able to have any such contingencies covered in the construction contract. With
this precaution in writing and so forewarned when such cases arise, the con-
tractor will stop the excavation with no fanfare, notify the proper authorities,
and arrange for quick removal of the material. Work resumes with a minimum
of lost time. In the same urban environment, however, land on which an indus-
trial building once stood may have some contamination requiring special han-
dling. An abandoned gasoline station site is another possibility for contamination
caused by leaking gasoline tanks. Such sites are referred to as brownelds. In
rural areas, native ora and fauna may cause concern, especially if a species is
thought to be endangered. A knowledgeable architect will know how to handle
any of these situations and what type of studies may be necessary before work
begins on a site.
3
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN A SHOPPING CENTER
OR MALL
It isnt unusual to nd a branch library occupying store space in a strip shop-
ping center, known as storefronts in the United States and shopfronts in Aus-
tralia, or in adjunct buildings to a central closed mall. The relationship between
the library and the shopping center can last for many years, but a contract is
advisable. There have been instances where the library was told the lease would
be canceled. Shopping demand had increased so the space was needed for a
commercial entity, that is, an income-generating activity. The library must pro-
tect itself against the shopping center becoming run-down, or the neighborhood
changing, or undesirable tenants moving into vacant stores. A quit clause is
essential in any lease.
When the area population is in a growth mode, locating branch libraries in
shopping centers can be ideal. People can access them easily, a trip to the library
provides the economy of allowing some shopping on the same trip and the
reverse is true as well. When a populated area stabilizes, a permanent branch
library can be constructed. Koontz (1997) can be consulted for other advantages.
THE LIBRARY IN A PUBLIC PARK
Occasionally an opportunity arises for locating a new public library in a large
public park. (Commonly, the subject is large suburban city parks and rural
county parks.) The source of this issue may be the fact that local government
owns a park of some size (Curry and Henriquez 1998, 82), or coincidental with
the recognition of the need for a new library, by happenstance the heirs to a
well-managed estate of considerable acreage elect to donate some of the land
to a local government entity for the tax advantages relating thereto. In any case
what is sometimes called the free land syndrome comes into play. This syn-
drome may prove quite harmful to what otherwise is a well-conceived proposal
and, equated with a human health condition, would be described as terminal,
in a long, slow, and agonizing way. In brief, such a possibility is not recom-
mended for all too obvious reasons. This is not to say that it hasnt been done,
because it has. Logic, therefore, would indicate that the negative recommenda-
tion must be based on practical experience. In short, public library buildings
located in public parks have not been considered successful. Why not?
First, to deal with the syndrome. The cost of land is always a factor when
attempting to locate a new library building. In populous areas the cost of land
is high, usually because of demand by developers of housing projects, shopping
centers, malls, and other enterprises. In less populated areas, and so with less
tax revenue abundance, land may cost less, but still be an inhibiting factor in
the development of a new library. So library boards or local governing bodies
can nd offers of free land for the site of a new library, or any public building,
quite tempting.
4
Earlier in this chapter, the criteria that land must meet for use as a library
site is described. This section assumes that the land meets all essential criteria
except for the fact that it is in a public park. There is no acquisition cost, and
the authorities, sensing a considerable savings, wish to move ahead with the
project. Persuading them to seek another alternative will require very signicant
and well founded reasons for turning away from a park location. In different
publications, ve leading authorities recommend against such a location. An-
other authority lists questions that should be answered for any project.
Dr. Christine Koontz (1994, 1997) proposes criteria for the location of new
public libraries. Both of these works should be read or perused by the librarian.
In Retail Location Theory (1994) she points out that customers absorb a travel
cost in traveling to stores, libraries, and other necessary places. She also dis-
cusses the use of retail location theory for locating sites for public libraries and
reports studies that bear out the usefulness of this technique (Koontz 1994, 173).
In her book she covers more complex methods for locating library buildings,
including geographic information system software. The combination of sound
investigation of a site and the reasoning that people must have cause for trav-
eling to that site should lead to a satisfactory result.
Brawner and Beck (1996) advise avoiding parks for reasons of low people
trafc and the obvious cautions about nighttime behavior of individuals intent
on doing harm (143). Dahlgren notes the potential for poor service to the com-
munity because of an inappropriate location (1996, 8). Holt and Dahlgren, in
two short summary paragraphs, advise against park locations for much the same
reasons as stated here (Holt 1990, 101). Brawner, Dahlgren, and Holt are known
nationally as leading consultants, and their advice is based soundly on practical
experience.
In his very helpful checklist, Sannwald (1997), under Safety and Security,
lists several questions for consideration for any library location. In this instance,
these can be applied to possible park locations (150). The possibility of fencing
off the library can be an option, security lighting of sufcient brightness and
area coverage is another concern, and an alarm system is also an issue. Review-
ing the comments of these ve authorities leads to the conclusion that a park is
not the best site for locating a new library.
From Koontzs comments readers can deduce that people plan their trips with
the cost in mind probably both in money and time, and can further deduce that
library buildings are expensive and location should be based on sound principles.
If a library building serving a populated area is located along a route to a
shopping center or some other place where frequent necessary services are sit-
uated, it is more likely to have good use because of the economy of travel
involved. The goals of using a park and those of using a library are not com-
patible. People go to parks for recreation, including such things as picnics, casual
sports, trail walking, etc. (Holt 1990, 101). They go to libraries for somewhat
more serious purposes: to get information, answer queries, study, view educa-
tional lms, or to obtain recreational reading. On the way to or from the library,
they may stop for shopping, or some other service, and thereby achieve more
than one goal for the trip.
Often rural public parks are located away from their communities on back
roads, sometimes several miles out-of-town and away from commercially
zoned areas. Possibly, the land is not suited for commercial development or a
body of water is present and is useful for recreational activities. The cost of
getting to the park is not offset by any other opportunitiesfor example, shop-
pingfor the trip. Often public parks close at dusk; that would require changing
if a library were present. Sometimes the so-called quiet country road leading to
the park is used for drag racing by local enthusiasts and that may need changing.
In very rural areas, local hunting may be a seasonal factor.
Whether the preceding concerns are present or not, there are issues affecting
safety and security that must be considered. In metropolitan areas public libraries
usually have security guards on duty. These guards observe the main entry and
check stack aisles and seating areas routinely. In a rural setting, or in seasonal
recreation areas, the need for full-time, year-round security guards may not be
as obvious, but today public libraries are targets of opportunity, meaning they
are subject to random acts of vandalism. The introduction of computers and
other small but desirable equipment has increased the attractiveness of libraries
to those who would commit some harmful act. The need for internal guards
must be considered and, if justied, included in the library budget and in the
space planning. In a park setting the need for security may be aggravated by
exterior factors such as the parking lot and possible vandalism, its use as a
hang-out location, or a natural platform for skate boarding. Illegal overnight
camping in the park by persons who expect to use library facilities prior to its
closing, the potential for the library to become a comfort station, and after dark
drag racing on the access road are other concerns that would serve to make the
library location a place responsible adults will not use at night nor allow their
older children to do so. The park location may cause more concerns for the
public authorities. It is not sufcient to say that the local police or sheriffs
deputies will patrol the park at random times. Harmful actions can occur in a
very short time. It will be necessary to have exterior security guards for this
purpose, adding to the expense of operation. For protective reasons, will fencing
off the library be necessary and will that include its large parking area? The
question will occur as to where to assign that cost, to the library budget or to
another ofce of local government. What may seem as advantageous, free land
may suddenly display operating costs that are unacceptable. If park related prob-
lems begin to attain a level of frequency that alarms the local people, use of the
library will decline and it will never reach its potential. For these reasons, the
use of park locations should be avoided.
A last resort possibility is the combining of the library with a police/sheriff
substation. In some cities police substations are being placed in vacant buildings
in problem neighborhoods or in small store spaces grouped with shops, and a
library building is a strong possibility for a substation because such a location
lls two needs: one, the security of the library and, the other, an in-neighborhood
police presence.
NOTES
1. In American Libraries Reader Forum (September 1998), p. 34, a writer reports on
a library sinking into the ground at a site in New Mexico.
2. On November 3, 1998, an Australian television news program reported that exca-
vation for expansion of the subway system in London, England, had intruded upon a
medieval monastic burial site.
3. Wendy Talarico, Evaluating Hidden Site ConditionsUnderstanding the Site
both above Ground and BelowKeeps Design Work Moving forward and Forestalls
Legal Problems. Architectural Record (May 1998): 24750.
4. In one documented case concerning a new re station, the Richmond Times-
Dispatch reported this situation: In the late 1980s, the city of Fredericksburg, Va. was
given a half acre site near a new shopping center. A ground breaking ceremony was held
and even as that October 1986 ceremony was ending, the project contractor noticed that
soil along a hillside was sliding. By June of 1987 the project was more than $200,000
over budget because of this soil-shearing problem. (Rueful Fredericksburg Counts
Cost), Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 28, 1987, section E, pp. 1, 8.
Unstable land is just one of the many soil conditions that can affect a building location.
In this Virginia case, a new location for the re station should have been found imme-
diately. But the land was free, and the judgment of the responsible ofcials was clouded
by that fact. The $200,000 would have been more than enough to acquire a superior site.
The new European Parliament building, a $470 million project, is also built on unstable
ground; apparently the need is more critical than the cost (Claire Downey, European
Parliament Building Under Way Despite Slippery Ground, Architectural Record [Sep-
tember] 1997: 33).
In one series of three projects in one Pennsylvania county much of the land was
undermined by limestone. Finding a safe site for each of the three buildings was difcult
and took considerable time.
In one Pennsylvania library project part of the donated land was classied as wet-
land. Seeking another site was suggested. The board found the free land offer too
tempting and sought to drain the wetland portion of the site for parking. After some legal
expense, approval was denied by state and federal authorities. The site was used, but the
wetland stayed as it was. When the parking lot later needed expanding, land much closer
to the building was used.
REFERENCES
brary Association.
90.
tion.
The Flood of 97 Wreaks Havoc on Ohio River Valley Libraries. 1997. American
Libraries (April): 1516.
Holt, Raymond M. 1990. Wisconsin Library Building Project Handbook. Madison: De-
partment of Public Instruction. 2nd rev. ed. by Anders C. Dahlgren. Madison:
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Jones, Theodore. 1997. Carnegie Libraries Across America, A Public Legacy. New York:
Preservation Press, John Wiley & Sons.
Koontz, Christine M. 1994. Retail Location Theory: Can It Help Solve the Public Li-
brary Location Dilemma? In Research Issues in Public Librarianship, Trends
for the Future, edited by Joy M. Greiner. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
. 1997. Library Facility Siting and Location Handbook. Westport, Conn.: Green-
wood Press.
Metcalf, Keyes D. 1986. Planning Academic and Research Library Buildings. 2d ed. by
Philip D. Leighton and David C. Weber. Chicago: American Library Association.
Red River Flood Takes Toll on N. Dakota, Minnesota Libraries. 1997. American Li-
braries (June/July): 1617.
Sannwald, William W., ed. 1997. Checklist of Library Building Design Considerations.
3rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association.
. 1998. Espresso and Ambiance: What Public Libraries Can Learn from Book-
stores. Library Administration & Management 12 (Fall): 206.
4
Interior Design
The selection of appropriate colors and materials and the preparation of an over-
all color design scheme is best left to an experienced interior designer. There
are a number of factors to consider, however, in planning the interior color
scheme. A library is a public building whether privately owned or the property
of a state or local government. Color schemes for public buildings should be
appropriate to the use for which the building is intended, for the people who
will visit the building, and for the people employed therein. A public library
serves people of all ages from all walks of life. It is not a private home and so
personal idiosyncrasies cannot be entertained in its design scheme. There are
many possible color combinations that may be selected, but care is necessary.
SELECTING AN INTERIOR DESIGNER
An interior designer or an interior design rm may be employed directly by
the project architect, or the library authorities may elect to negotiate a separate
contract. The person or rm selected should have some experience with public
buildings and be knowledgeable about the variations that may be necessary
depending upon the clientele the building is to serve. For the average public
library, the color scheme issues include the appropriateness of schemes for chil-
dren, young adults, adults, and the staff.
COLOR SELECTION
A simple way to describe the need for a color scheme is to state that the
scheme for each area must be attractive, conducive to good behavior on the part
of the patrons served, not necessarily trendy, and not extreme to the point that
future modications will be difcult. Where color is a factor for certain patrons,
such as visually impaired persons, requirements of the Americans with Disabil-
ities Act, and any subsequent federal regulations, should be observed. All colors
must be coordinated so that users and staff will have a sense of well-being
conveyed to them. While the library must be comfortable and pleasing to the
eye, it is a place for serious work; the color scheme must be supportive, not
detrimental, to patrons use of the services.
All staff members should be involved to some extent in the planning for the
scheme for their work area. The primary objective here is to have each staff
member expressly indicate any concern for a particular color. On occasion a
person may have an aversion to a certain color. This should be respected. Some
people will have a color preference, but the color must be acceptable to others,
meet the stated simple criteria, and be capable of coordination with colors for
associated items. Even in a private ofce, personal idiosyncrasies may give way
to the overall good of the organization.
FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
In developing a plan for a color scheme, the interior designer may recommend
colors for metal equipment, cabinets and shelving especially, and then also par-
ticipate in the selection of all other furniture. Occasionally an alternative may
be followed: The interior designer may only propose colors and coordinating
fabric selections while the client actually selects the furniture to be used. In the
former instance, the interior designer will propose styles, for example, which
chairs should be upholstered, which have arms, sled bases, or legs, etc. This
will include table and carrel styles discussed in the next section. Longevity is
critical; a twenty-ve year useful life span is expected for all furniture and much
of the nonoperating equipment. Some equipment will last even longersteel
shelving is one example.
The emphasis here is on interior design, but libraries have exteriors, and some
libraries have or will need exterior furniture and equipment. For the sake of
good coordination, the interior designer should advise on color selections and
nishes for all exterior appurtenances.
SIGNS
The interior designer may advise on signs and even design them, or the ar-
chitect may do so. Employing a sign specialist is also a possibility. The larger
the building the more likely a sign consultant should be employed. The subject
Interior Design 37
is more complex than might be supposed. The sign program must include visual
signs and nonvisual tactile signs for the very visually impaired in conformity
with ADA requirements for visual contrast. In some instances the architect may
order braille messages on suitable backings from a manufacturer. The Raynes
Rail is one example. The program covers exterior and interior signs. Both the
interior designer and the sign consultant should work together on color coor-
dination.
READING SURFACES, COLOR, AND CONTRAST
For many years the common understanding when selecting reading surfaces
has been to avoid colors or backgrounds that are either too light or too dark. In
recent years black and other very dark reading surfaces on tables and carrels
have appeared. Why this change? This question is worth investigating, because
some serious issues are involved. William Pierce, a well-known consultant, cau-
tions against the extremes of light and dark surfaces as well as glare: The
specier should be cautioned about using top nishes that are too light or too
dark. The too-light top is uncomfortable to the eye of the user and difcult to
keep clean; the very dark top provides too great a contrast to paper; thus is
uncomfortable to the eyes (Pierce 1980, 30). After this, Pierce goes on to
caution about glare as well.
Metcalf (1986) gives a similar caution (399400). It is contrast with surround-
ings that causes the problem of eye strain, but increasing the intensity of lighting
reduces the problem. This quotation from Metcalf claries the issue: In spite
of what has been said, some architects and librarians feel that, even if dark
surfaces in the reading room are less comfortable for the eyes and more light
must be provided, they make the whole room so much more attractive that they
should be used (400). The issue becomes one of attractiveness of the interior
design supported by an increased intensity of lighting.
Hopkinson (1963) supports the contention that very dark surfaces make poor
backgrounds for reading black print on white paper. His book reports on studies
in depth on various aspects of lighting. In discussing visual discomfort, Hop-
kinson remarks that the working place should never be darker than its sur-
roundings (254). On the following page in his book a black and white
photograph illustrates this point by showing a softcover book lying open on a
reading table, a somewhat darker surface, with shelves of bound volumes in the
background. The contrast is not too great for comfort. On this same page he
cites the work of R. J. Lythgoe and describes the results. If the environment
is darker than the work, e.g. when the work only is illuminated, visual acuity
is less. Visual acuity is also less when the environment is brighter than the
work (255). Glare is also a problem and, like Pierce and Metcalf, Hopkinson
notes the effects also of glossy surfaces (258).
In some cases where tables with tastefully designed tops are in use, plate
glass is used for protection from scratching. This may cause some glare; damage
prevention outweighs the concern for glare. Very light tinting of the glass may
be helpful for this concern.
In a later work with J. D. Kay, much the same information is repeated in a
more popular style. For example in discussing glare, Hopkinson and Kay (1972)
state: This reected glare will be most troublesome on shiny surfaces that are
dark and such materials should not be used for desks and other working surfaces,
and should be avoided on oors (28). Further on these authors cover brightness,
noting: Light falling on a surface is reected back according to the ability of
the surface to reect light, called the reectance. A white surface has a reec-
tance of nearly 100 percent, while a black surface has a reectance of only
about 2% (39). They clinch the discussion with a black and white photograph
(59), which shows an open book on a slightly darker surface. The caption reads:
Contrast grading. It is easier to concentrate on ones work if it is rather brighter
than its background. . . . For reading and writing the desk or table top should have
a reectance factor of 20%40% (Munsell value 57) and a matt surface (59).
In a book concerned with workplace lighting, Hubert C. Weston (1962), using
a supporting table, points out the contrast of black print on good white paper
as 97 percent (83). Further he comments on the inuence of illumination;
brighter light makes it easier to see is the gist of his remark (Weston 85). In
another section, he comments: The usual form of contrast in some visual tasks,
of which reading is the one most widely practiced, consists of dark objects on
a light ground (133).
Later in the book, Weston mentions the inuence of age on the need for
lighting; older people may appreciate somewhat brighter lighting (Weston 206).
Also in a book concerned with various workplaces, Hopkinson (1969) dis-
cusses gradations of brightness, noting, This gradation can usually be obtained
by a suitable selection of table top and oor surface colours to give reasonable
visual comfort (43). Further on he comments, Things are seen by virtue of
their brightness. . . . Consequently a white surface which reects almost all light
back will appear much brighter than a dark surface which reects very little
(51). Again, the concern is for contrast and eye comfort.
Jane Grosslight (1984), in the same vein, discusses contrast, commenting on
the effect on the eyes caused by dark surroundings: Perhaps the interior surfaces
of a room have been changed to a dark color, absorbing more light. The text
continues: Cause 1: Dark Colorsare interior surfacesoors, wall, furni-
turedeep, dark colors? In concluding she proceeds to give remedies that in
effect mean increasing the lighting (66). The interest of Grosslights book is on
homes and business, but points in the same direction as the previous two authors
cited.
In a more recent work, John E. Flynn pointedly remarks that Dark work
surfaces seen against bright spatial backgrounds should generally be avoided
where precise perception of detail is required for effective visual performance
or participation (Flynn, Segil, and Steffy 1998, 38).
Interior Design 39
Todays new energy efcient uorescent tubes use less power as measured
in kilowatt hours while providing brighter light. Still, this question of surface
tops and contrast is serious. Although dark surfaces may be used now that
economical and brighter lighting is available, it is difcult to nd any lighting
expert who supports their use. In considering this question of reader eye comfort,
it comes down to this: Should the color scheme be subordinate to the patrons
comfort, or should the patrons comfort be subordinate to the color scheme?
Obviously, any librarian would want the library interior to be as attractive as
possible. If very dark reading surfaces (even black) are used and the new ef-
cient lighting is brighter, is there an issue? In determining a response, librarians
need to consider the capability of the operating budget to support utility expense
over a long term and periodic relamping. This means a scheduled replacement
of all the lamps in the building at a preset time (lamps meaning all the uores-
cent tubes and any other light bulbs if used; replacements should be of equal
characteristics and quality). Care must be taken to replace like with like or both
the economic benet and the lighting balance are lost. If the practice is to replace
failing lamps (bulbs), one after another without a schedule for full replacement
at periodic intervals, think about how fading light sources will affect the patrons.
As individuals experience eye strain they will ask for brighter lighting, and task
lighting and auxiliary reading lamps may be supplied. But as this is done, utility
expense increases even momentarily. It may not seem like much, but if there is
a bare bones operating budget, the librarian may want to consider the choice of
surface color and the question of contrast very seriously. Color schemes with
the features described used in well supported public and private facilities may
not be supportable over the years in small public libraries. Other attractive and
affordable schemes may be preferable.
RECYCLING, TRASH, WASTE, AND THE
INTERIOR DESIGN
The most perfect color scheme can be disrupted by failure to provide for the
simple but essential matters of handling recyclable materials and providing for
collection of trash and waste. Surprisingly, in their books, both Brown (1995)
and Pierce (1980) failed to include wastebaskets. Metcalf (1986) includes them
(571). Disposal of scrap materials is not something that can be left to chance
from wastebaskets to trash bins. With the need to recycle reusable materials and
to avoid the use of undoubtedly ugly standard government issue receptacles, the
issue should be addressed by the interior designer. The need for attractive waste-
baskets and trash containers hasnt escaped the attention of industry. An array
of attractive products that can be used within public buildings are available.
1
Equally so, attractive receptacles may be provided at building entries for disposal
of nonpermissible items, for example, food and drink containers.
NOTE
1. Liz Seymour, Perfect Pitch, US Airways Attache (October 1997): 6063. This
article has twenty-four models illustrated on ofce wastebaskets. Two trash container
models may be seen in Architectural Record (May 1998): 339.
REFERENCES
Americans with Disabilities Act Handbook. 1991. Published by the U.S. Equal Employ-
ment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. Washington,
D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Ofce.
Brown, Carol R. 1995. Planning Library Interiors, The Selection of Furnishings for the
21st Century. Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press.
Flynn, John E., Arthur W. Segil, and Gary R. Steffy. 1988. Architectural Interior Sys-
tems: Lighting, Acoustics, Air Conditioning. 2nd ed. New York: Van Nostrand
Reinhold.
Grosslight, Jane. 1984. Light, Effective Use of Daylight and Electric Lighting in Resi-
dential and Commercial Spaces. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
Hopkinson, R. G. 1963. Architectural Physics: Lighting. London: Her Majestys
Stationery Ofce.
Hopkinson, R. G. 1969. Lighting and Seeing. London: William Heineman Medical Books
Limited.
Hopkinson, R. G., and J. D. Kay. 1972. The Lighting of Buildings. London: Faber and
Faber.
Metcalf, Keyes D. 1986. Planning Academic and Research Library Buildings. 2nd ed.
by Philip D. Leighton and David C. Weber. Chicago: American Library Asso-
ciation.
Pierce, William S. 1980. Furnishing the Library Interior. New York: M. Dekker.
Weston, Hubert C. 1962. Sight Light and Work. 2nd ed. London: H. K. Lewis & Co.
Ltd.
5
Furnishing and
Equipping the Library
and Its Environs
In selecting furniture and equipment, lead time is important. With much to
consider and a budget to plan, the initial focus surely will be on the basic
essentials for user and staff comfort and convenience. Some advance provision
for planning time helps also with the selection of incidentals and items for
special needs that will best suit the purpose for which they are being acquired.
Selecting a theme reective of traditional, modern, or regional interests, and
considering how the furnishings will complement community life or the archi-
tectural statement of the building takes much thought. The budget for furniture
and equipment should be determined very early in the planning process. Con-
sultants recommend a unit cost per gross square foot with the intent of assuring
sufcient funding for items that have a very broad price range. For example,
manufactured components for a circulation counter may cost more than a study
carrel. Occasionally, an allocation is made by a governing body distinct from
the construction budget. This may be adequate or it may reect a lack of un-
derstanding of a librarys unusual needs. The consultant will be helpful by in-
forming on current guidelines, but be prepared to request additional funding if
the initial budget is found to be decient. The early start then becomes very
important. This chapter follows the furniture and equipment options in the ap-
pendices. This is a broad range of options for all libraries, so consider all these
items and their variations when applicable. A supporting compilation of furniture
and equipment should be done for each area of the building. Cross checking the
two compilations will avoid either a short order or an oversupply of any one
furniture or equipment item. Further, this identies which items go into each
area. Line drawings of the building can be revised to show the location for each
applicable piece of furniture or equipment, with the exception of the smaller
items that are held for use when needed. Computer Assisted Design (CAD) may
be used to determine the visual effect and how a piece of furniture might look
in the proposed space. The nal master list should include reasonable prices for
all items, not necessarily vendor prices. The tally of these costs will produce
the budget statement for this portion of the project. All major furniture and
equipment should be subject to the bid process. The unit cost per gross square
foot mentioned earlier is based on bid results, not on vendor catalog price lists.
1
The nal result often may be slightly more than half the catalog listing.
Appendix C, Furniture and Equipment Options for Public Libraries, is a guide
and not intended to be complete nor to endorse the products of any manufacturer
or vendor. Most of the equipment may be found in library supply catalogs; some
may appear in industrial catalogs. Not all equipment may be necessary (or even
recommended), but is listed as a reminder for consideration. Quantities are not
given; each library staff and board must decide on its needs in consultation with
the consultant and architect.
Prior to any selection of furniture and equipment, the head librarian, board,
and staff should review manufacturers catalogs and, for furniture to be pur-
chased in quantitynotably tables, chairs, and carrelsdetermine a product line
as a standard for the project. The interior designer may assist. For some special
areas of the library, a genealogy or archives room, the library board room, or
similar spaces, a walk through quality furniture stores, or bank board rooms and
hotel lobbies, may produce visions of stylish, sturdy furnishings. Where color
choices are possible, all fabric colors and all equipment colors should be selected
in keeping with the color scheme for each service area as recommended by a
qualied interior designer. The consultant and/or the interior designer may assist
in selecting a furniture line and in writing specications. Having cabinetry built
locally may produce more desirable results with custom features recommended
by library staff. Do understand that fabric upholstery will require replacement
in about ve years under heavy use, and project the budget planning accordingly.
Interior design is discussed in more detail in another chapter.
Another important consideration to keep in mind is that furnishing a home or
a private ofce usually is for a ve- to ten-year cycle. Personal taste or needs
change, and furnishings are replaced. For a library a twenty-ve- to thirty-year
cycle will be coincident with the need to replace much of the furniture and is
realistic because of the unlikelihood of obtaining funding for replacement any
sooner than this time span. The emphasis must be on quality so that lack of
durability will not cause serious problems in just a few years. For technical
considerations, consult the books by Brown (1995) and Pierce (1980). If the
library is a large one or part of a system, then anticipate a purchasing ofce
doing the work associated with purchasing, but be certain that the purchasing
personnel understand the special requirements for library furniture and equip-
Furnishing and Equipping the Library and Its Environs 43
ment and are aware of the advice available in these sources. If the librarian and
board select a furniture line as mentioned above as a standard, the purchasing
ofce should know this. Specifying specic lines, or their equivalent, will help
to ensure that an inferior product isnt accepted inadvertently for award within
the bid process. Occasionally, a purchasing agent will split furniture items in
the bid process: reading tables and chairs are one example. One manufacturer
may supply the tables, but lose the chair bid to another manufacturer. Color
matching becomes important in this process. If the chairs are coordinated to the
tables and are of equal quality, there should be no problem. The purchasing
agent must be aware of this possibility and make certain the specications allow
for no variation in the essential measurements, color as applicable, nor in the
quality of materials used. Please consult the vendor catalogs for measurements,
and dont overlook some units designed for use with wheelchairs. There are
articles in the professional literature on writing specications for furniture and
equipment. None are cited here because of changes in timeliness, or the con-
sultant or design team may provide the necessary guidance. Some vendors will
furnish specication details to consider.
For actual viewing of library furniture in use, visits to new libraries or library
buildings, public, academic, and special, are recommended. If possible, the li-
brarian and board should also visit one of the new super bookstores that have
opened or are opening in many communities. Some retail display units may or
will have practical application in libraries, and sometimes may prove superior
to a unit designed for library use. Another opportunity that may exist in a large
city is a design center where designers may see new products. The librarian
who knows what the librarys customers will respond to and appreciate should
be prepared for the occasional variation in service equipment. The headings that
follow are the same as those that appear in the appendix.
PUBLIC FURNITURE
Adult Work Surfaces
For public workstations, double width study tables, with either high or low
back and side edges, are recommended. These surfaces provide space for a
microcomputer, printer, and library materials. Tables with low side and back
edges are used in some academic libraries. A picture in American Libraries
(Facilities 1996, 57) shows a public library situation using a high side and
back model.
For most tables, carrels, and counter height computer workstations, power
supply and network connection from the oor through a leg channel should be
considered. Counter or standing height workstations discourage monopolizing
computers when high demand exists. If the library does not have oor installed
power ducts, the alternative is to have power supply from walls and, less pref-
erably, from the ceiling. Power from the ceiling can be brought to oor level
through power poles, not always an attractive solution, and the power line in-
stalled in the leg of a carrel or table can be connected. Some manufacturers
address this problem in their design so that their furniture has provision for
bringing power from the ceiling and the appearance is unobtrusive. For wall
outlets, the power line can be extended from the channel leg. Some companies
manufacture power/communications conduits designed to appear like molding
placed along the base of walls. For special collection areas or spaces where
unique material may be stored, edgeless and apronless carrels and tables are
recommended for patron use. These minimize the opportunity to conceal ma-
terials.
To determine the space required for each table, carrel, or workstation, consult
the table in Brawner and Beck (1996, 124). A vendors catalog will give the
usual height, width, and depth measurements. Also, again, be sure to have some
tables, workstations, and carrels designed for users in wheelchairs. Once at this
stage, work with the consultant so that the square footage needed is worked out
accurately. There are some table designs to avoid because of inherent problems.
Among these are round pedestal based coffee tablesattractive but not stable
if people sit on them, use them as footstools, or place heavy books on their
edges; tables with low trestle legs that resist a vacuum cleaner; and inverted T-
based study tables that will wobble and may collapse when someone sits on
them. The question of surfaces is discussed in the chapter on interior design.
SHELVING
All steel library shelving must meet established standards. The manufacturers
catalog should be consulted for this information (Z39.731994, and Test Re-
ports 1998). Shelving not meeting the standards cannot be considered. Steel
shelving is a durable product subjected to very heavy loads that must withstand
extreme pressures. Library shelving is stressed when materials are shifted, when
shelves are loaded to capacity, and when changes occur in placement. Adhering
to the standards protects the substantial investment in shelving.
Standard Shelving
The consultant and the librarian will calculate the need in linear feet for bound
volumes with an allowance for growth. This gure will be converted into shelv-
ing units, single or double faced, and in heights ranging from 42", or about 60"
to 66", to full 84" and 90" heights. The shelving preferably should be steel.
Some librarians may prefer the lower height shelving choices with very few
units, if any, above the 66" height. The preferred unit has the base on the oor
with shelves above. T-based shelving isnt recommended for two reasons: losing
the lower shelf and the difculty in cleaning under them. If the ethnic make-up
of the area population tends to be people of shorter stature, then the lower
shelving may prove more satisfactory. Capacity in volumes will be lower be-
cause of fewer shelves. Wooden shelving can be used for special purposes, such
as in a rare book room or genealogy collection. If oor outlets are not possible
in a renovation project, wall outlets designed into wall molding may be used as
mentioned earlier. This may affect the use of wall mounted single faced shelv-
ing, which may interfere with seating accommodations along a wall. The lowest
shelf may be slanted downward in back so the upward-tilted call numbers are
more visible.
Installation
The line drawings or CAD display will show arrangement of the shelving.
Prior to installing the shelving, some basic decisions relating to its security must
be made. A common practice is to have the ranges connected by tie or sway
bars every so many feet across the top of the units. This prevents ranges from
leaning or tilting. When collections are shifted it is all too easy to ofoad one
side of a range and cause an imbalance that could lead to its falling over. In
geographic areas where earthquakes are a possibility, the placement of bolts into
the decking as concrete is poured is a serious consideration. There is a loss of
exibility because the shelving cant be moved later, but safety is more impor-
tant.
Display Shelving
Periodicals may be placed on slanted shelving so that covers are immediately
apparent to the patron. Some manufacturers offer xed slanted shelving that
doesnt move, while some offer a slanted moving shelf that can be lifted so that
a at shelf underneath may be used for storing back issues. In a slightly different
size, the same style shelving may be used for such things as illustrated video
cassette containers. The alternative to display shelving is sometimes at slotted
shelving for periodicals. In this case each title has a shelf label with its name
printed on it. Usually, this type of shelving is used when a large collection of
periodicals is involved.
Specialty Shelving
Modied standard length shelving is available for nonbook formats. A choice
exists between shelving or cabinets for some formats. Once a decision is made,
the appropriate storage method can be chosen. In some instances using shelving
for all formats may provide a clean and neat appearance. With speciality shelv-
ing for some formats, shelves may be alternated on uprights. For example, for
paperbacks, eye-level shelving may be display style while lower shelves may
provide for typical book shelving. The same may be done for video cartridges.
Compact Shelving
The library with limited space or with large quantities of essential material
to store is a candidate for compact shelving. The available options provide for
various sorts of materials from bound volumes to les of documents. If bound
volumes are involved, the liveload bearing factor is the rst consideration.
The normal recommendation is for 300 pounds per square foot.
In many instances, compact shelving is placed on a ground level oor. Small
libraries on a single level may use compact shelving as a means of containing
certain materials, such as periodical backles, in a limited and controlled space.
Security and safety are factors in using this type of equipment. Manufacturers
have addressed safety issues for both manually operated and electrically operated
equipment.
2
The consultant should advise on the selection when necessary. Joint-
use libraries may nd some advantages to compact shelving under certain con-
ditions for economy of space in storing less used materials.
Utility Shelving
Utility shelving for a supply storeroom or miscellaneous storage often is more
useful and less expensive than trying to adapt conventional library shelving for
these purposes.
End Panels
End panels are offered not just in nishes but in a variety of options that may
vary from plain metal or wood surfaces to such things as bulletin boards, pam-
phlet racks, or slotted surfaces for the insertion of metal holders for various
display uses. End panels may be purchased from a manufacturer or locally made
by a cabinet maker.
SEATING
Chairs
There are many styles and sizes of chairs. Among the types to be considered
are chairs for tables and carrels, side chairs for placement by workstations,
lounge chairs, stack and folding chairs, and ergonomic chairs for both staff and
public workstations. Manufacturers catalogs offer a wide variety of seating
options. In considering chairs pay particular attention to the base of the chair
whether it has legs, a sled style base, or casters. These parts are in contact with
the carpet and should not cause excessive wear. Some fundamentals of chair
selection are basic and important to remember. Chairs should force the torso
forward for writing and allow a slight backward tilt for leisure reading, but not
have a tendency for easy tipping over, should a patron lean backward too sharply
or steeply. In selecting chairs, the librarian must be cognizant of the population
served. The ethnic make-up of the population may indicate a preference for
certain chair sizes and styles. The best choice is a variety of chair sizes, variable
heights and widths, with and without arms in each category so that a disparate
user population has some assurance of nding a comfortable seat. The older
custom of buying a large number of the same chair model for tables and carrels
isnt a wise decision anymore.
Be aware that a distinction between chairs selected for the public and those
for staff clearly is justied in favor of staff, even if at a higher unit cost. Library
staff will sit in their task chairs for hours daily.
An investment in quality ergonomic features will reduce liability for workers compen-
sation claims.
The librarian neednt plan to expend the same cost on ergonomic features for
public chairs that will be used by several patrons during a day, but not as
prolonged by any one patron as staff use will be.
Sofas and Couches
If considering couches or sofas, be careful in their placement. They are not
recommended for open public areas in downtown urban libraries or situations
where pedestrian trafc is high. They are too tempting for persons who are
looking for a place to sleep. In some seating areas be certain to have some
seating that allows a heavyset person a comfortable seat.
Accessories
The options continue for high and low stools and other specialty seating,
including bean bags, cushions, custom made recliners, and window boxes.
YOUNG ADULT FURNITURE
For a young adult service area, some of the same options considered for
children may be supplied in larger sizes. Bean bags and back rests are two
examples. In a carpeted library reading area or in a shared library with an
academic institution, there is no reason why a young adult may not sit on the
oor with outstretched legs using a back rest. Most of the furnishings will du-
plicate adult items, but a variance in the color scheme is appropriate. Mary Anne
Nichols comments on using comfortable furniture for young adults (Nichols and
Nichols 1998, 148). If the library also provides for homework assistance, as
Cindy Mediavilla discusses, then care must be given to the selection of appro-
priate furniture (Mediavilla 1998, 18189). In a joint-use library shared with an
academic institution, librarians will nd common ground in providing for college
students as well as non-college student young adults, although some distinctions
may be necessary for the college-age young adults who will tend to spend longer
hours in the library. They will make greater use of more advanced databases,
so workstations for college level students may be marked as such.
CHILDRENS FURNITURE
Manufacturers offer a large selection of childrens furniture often in dedicated
catalogs. In addition to child-size tables, carrels, and chairs, there are childrens
versions of some other adult furniture plus items made exclusively for children.
Some of these are in the appendix, and include items mentioned in the preceding
section under Accessories.
OTHER FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
Circulation Counter
There are a variety of options in the choice and selection of circulation counter
components. Manufacturers offer circulation counters with many very attractive
and functional features. It may be more economical, however, to have the ar-
chitect design the counter and have it made by a local cabinet maker. In either
case, preference should be given to free standing units, not built-in and therefore
unmovable. There may be cause later for shifting the circulation counter or
enlarging it. In a future renovation the building may be expanded and the cir-
culation counter moved to accommodate a change in the trafc pattern. If the
units are free standing, the center units may be moved apart and one or more
units placed between them as opposed to adding a unit at either end.
Two important considerations are compliance with the Americans with Dis-
abilities Act and having the security system equipment separated sufciently
from the circulation terminals to avoid electrical interference for both systems.
For ADA compliance at least part of the counter should be of low height (30"
high writing surface) and have an overhang toward the customer side so that
persons using wheelchairs may reach the counter surface. In some libraries a
dual height counter will be used; in others all the units are low. Consult Browns
(1995) book for suggestions. The technology for assisting handicapped persons
is changing, and if some assistance is provided from the circulation counter,
exibility to allow for the change will be advantageous. Some unassigned space
is needed so that future unforeseen changes may be accommodated. Hearing
assistance devices for the hearing impaired may be provided from this counter,
and space for them is necessary. If the library plans to loan laptop computers
for in-house use, space will be needed. In placing the circulation computer
terminals and the security equipment, manufacturers recommendations for dis-
tance of separation should be followed. If locally made is the choice, usually it
will be necessary for the carpenter to return to the library for nal cut-outs for
wire management for the computer terminals. This may prove the best approach
because if there is some electrical interference it can be overcome before a nal
arrangement of equipment is made. The counter may or will have units for book
return (if located near the workroom, a conveyor belt may be a good solution
to minimize handling heavy books), check-out, directional questions, supply
cabinet, etc. The librarian should advise on need and also plan in advance for
the sectional location of spaces for supplies, cash drawers, and supporting or
peripheral equipment. Accessories may include a receipt printer for an online
system, sensitizer/desensitizer if a system requiring this device is used (as op-
posed to a pass around arrangement, which requires a manual action) and electric
staplers, erasers, etc. A different arrangement is needed if the library uses self-
service check-out by patrons.
Typically, a straight line counter, sometimes L-shaped, offers the best ar-
rangement for allowing staff to view the public service area. In some situations,
however, a curved counter may better t the available space and still allow for
good visual control. Occasionally, a library is found with a rather exotically
shaped counter, which is ne if it works. In the initial planning stages, however,
the librarian should have any design that appears to deviate from recommen-
dations tested for usefulness. Testimony from another library staff where a sim-
ilar unit is installed can and should be requested.
When planning a new building, consider having the circulation counter and
the workroom arranged so that the room is close by so the book return can be
designed with a type of conveyor belt system or a device that deposits returns
directly into the workroom as stated earlier. This reduces handling and saves
staff from bending over the book return bins and possible backache from doing
so.
3
This may not be possible with exterior book returns, which must have
reproof receptacles to prevent potential vandalism.
In a large library with several departments and the collection placed so that
visual control from the counter is not possible, other measures are important.
The circulation service will be near the main entry and trafc control should be
so arranged that patrons entering and leaving pass nearby, thereby facilitating
control. In these situations, serious discussions with the architect(s) are advised
so that this is clearly understood very early in the planning process. The con-
sultant and librarian should meet specically to discuss trafc matters with the
architect(s). The ow of patrons into, around the interior, and out of a large
building must be logical. The functions of vestibule and lobby will differ from
those of a small library.
Reference Desk or Counter
Similar concerns to those expressed in the preceding section apply here as
well. The librarian may prefer to have the architect design a counter and have
it built locally or select a manufacturers model for reference service. In planning
the reference service area, its location, type of shelving, le cabinets, and type
of seating accommodations are all items to be considered.
Outdoor Furniture
Outdoor furniture must be both durable and comfortable. Many public li-
braries provide outdoor reading areas and sometimes play areas for children.
These furniture and equipment items may be xed-in-place or movable. For the
latter, winter storage space in the building should be provided. If xed-in-place
furniture is chosen, it may be included in the construction budget, or all outdoor
furniture may be optional for the furniture and equipment budget. The placement
within the budget structure should be claried at the beginning of the process
so that any conict over priorities can be avoided. Neither Brown nor Pierce
touch on the subject. Many libraries today have outdoor areas, so this is a cost
factor. If a childrens play area is considered, insurance costs may be a factor
in the operating budget, so legal advice may be necessary since children may
fall and get hurt. There are products on the market that offer superior conditions
for such areas. Even if the outdoor activity is story hour only, there may be
interest in ground covers that are softer than concrete and will somewhat cushion
a fall (Architectural Record 1998, 177).
Built-ins
Sometimes it is more practical and economical to have some items designed
into the building structure wherever is the most advantageous. A built-in display
case on a hallway wall will prove more effective then trying to place a free
standing case that may cause passage problems. Some of the items under this
heading will have spaces designed into walls for their accommodation; staff
lockers and lateral les are examples. Some disadvantages may be noted. If an
item is built-in, the location cannot be changed, although conversion to another
use may be possible. A built-in map case cant be moved, but the use could be
changed to storing posters for example. A space designed into a wall could be
converted to another usefor example, a coat rack could replace a locker ar-
rangement.
SECURITY
There are many products on the market ranging from systems for securing
materials from unauthorized removal, through burglary, smoke and re detec-
tion, and personal safety. For determining the exact extent of what is required
or necessary, the library building consultant will advise. If needs are extensive,
employment of a specialist in security systems is recommended. Solutions will
be inuenced by the size of the library and its service location.
OTHER
Some redundancy of necessity occurs in this section. In some buildings a
combination of built-in and free-standing items is necessary.
Machines
Laptop or notebook computers for loan to customers are available in some
libraries. This is a policy matter and should be discussed thoroughly. Use caution
in making a determination, as casual damage can be high. Each time a computer
is loaned it will be necessary to check it upon return for any missing preloaded
software. Space for this work and for storing the computers and a service lo-
cation must be planned. If it is done at circulation, then space should be planned
there. If some other location is used, it must have sufcient space. Some of the
other machines on this list may have special requirements for power supply,
lighting, security, and their placement in the library.
Another policy decision that should be made early in the planning process is
for the printing service. This policy may vary from that in a small library to
that in a large facility. The factors that require attention are the increasing de-
mand for print output of material obtained over the Internet; e-mail as a serv-
ice, including the patrons printing received mail; the space available for
printers; and the demands on staff time for servicing printers. The availability
of a full-text periodical database guarantees heavy printer use, especially for
student patrons. If networking computers to a central printing facility, the num-
ber of connection ports required must be determined on the basis of anticipated
volume. If printers are arranged around the library with the computer worksta-
tions, print ribbons and paper will require frequent changing or relling. The
computers can be daisy chained, usually up to four computers connected to a
single printer. This may prove a manageable arrangement. Another alternative
is to network all computers to a single printer service location, with more than
one printer connected, but all in the same place. The location may be a separate
printer service room, or space behind the circulation counter. This reduces the
maintenance problem because toner, ribbons, and paper can be quickly
replaced.
The placement of photocopiers requires similar consideration. In a large li-
brary, placement in service areas may prove more convenient, or a separate room
with the machines concentrated in it for noise control is also a viable solution.
For a multistoried building, a cluster arrangement on each oor may be practical.
Location of copiers near materials mostly likely to be used frequently may
reduce mutilation. For a small library, location near a service point such as
circulation may prove convenient so that charges may be collected and paper
supplies replaced quickly.
Special Public Use Equipment
Magniers shouldnt be kept in a closet, but be apparent to the public. Com-
pliance for disability is interpreted as meaning ready availability, so these should
be out where people can get them without asking. The other items may appear
simple enough, but all should be visible or their locations made known through
signs. Hearing assistance devices are made available in many libraries at both
the circulation counter and the reference service or at any patron contact point
with staff. If an auditorium or multipurpose room seats fty people or more,
then a hearing assistance system is required. Manual contact devices such as a
Raynes Rail, which carries information in Braille fastened to railings or bannis-
ters, should be included. Large libraries with staircases and variable service
levels accessible by stairwells need to pay particular attention to information
bearing devices for physically impaired persons.
Software
The software eld is very competitive with producers offering a wide variety.
If not packaged as part of the online public access catalog (OPAC) system, there
is software to enlarge print on screens for the visually impaired and also to
produce vocal output for the extremely impaired.
If high school students are a signicant proportion of the user base, coordi-
nation of software and cooperative purchasing may be explored. When schools
upgrade software for computer service, the library may do the same. This applies
also to the public/academic joint-use library. Students may bring their own soft-
ware, assuming it will run on the computers the library has available. Many
public libraries refuse to allow this. The policy should be clearly stated to avoid
any problems. Some adults and students will bring their own computers, usually
laptops or notebooks, which they may wish to connect to the library system.
(Concern for this issue relates to licensing of software for docking stations,
i.e., connection ports and network connection boards for patron owned equip-
ment. Before making a nal policy decision, consultation with legal advisers is
necessary.)
Miscellaneous
Some items are overlooked in the early planning and become add-ons to
the budget process possibly causing some unwanted shifts in priorities. Some
items may be in the construction budget, notably hardware items. It is better to
be overly comprehensible, however, than to fall short at a critical moment.
Maintenance Equipment
This list covers items used mostly by the custodial staff. All too often these
items are left to chance and are purchased later from the regular budget when
they could have been charged against the initial equipment budget. Some plan-
ning pays. Supply items including plastic trash bags, cleansers, paper supplies,
ofce paper, and related materials must all be regured as budget items. The
supply budget should be increased proportionately to the anticipated or projected
increase in activity or service hours. If another civic department handles such
matters, as may be the case with a large urban library, that department should
be aware of the potential increases in usage of cleaning and restroom supplies
that will occur. An increase in library open hours will have the same effect. A
joint-use, public-academic library will experience greater use of comfort facili-
ties because commuter students spend longer hours in the library.
FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT LAY-OUTS
Libraries may have their furniture and equipment lay-outs done by the archi-
tectural rm, a vendor, or by the consultant. With CAD the advantages of color
and elevation will be possible. The librarian and staff will get a very good
impression of what the surroundings will look like. The September 1997 issue
of College & Research Libraries News has an illustration of a new college
library reading room (Hollis College Breaks Around 1997, 531). With line
drawings or blueprints more imagination is essential. The drawings in any format
should be to scale so that the trafc ow can be visualized easily. When seating
is near shelving or cabinets, it is important that space be sufcient for people
browsing the shelves to have room for removing a book or other item or at-
tempting to remove material from cabinet drawers. Measurements required for
ADA compliance also must be veried. With CAD color rendition can be
viewed, and if there is any concern changes may be made.
Occasionally, in any format, a sense of overcrowding may develop. At this
point the opportunity to resolve this issue is available. Some furniture lay-outs
may attempt to maximize seating or collection storage space. Even with good
sized aisles, it is possible to foresee patrons rejecting a seat because accessing
it involves passing among too many people during times of peak use. Another
example is the use of very long stack ranges to maximize shelving. In such
situations patrons may develop an adverse reaction to such long aisles and cir-
culation may suffer because accessing some materials is seen as too bothersome.
The librarian should not hesitate to question any furniture and equipment lay-
out, and ask for time to think about it or mull it over before accepting it. It
should be shown to staff members and allowed to rest for a few days before
nal acceptance. Questions will come up about locating group tables near service
points, such as the reference desk where conversational assistance will be taking
place. Either that will disturb the patrons at the table, or the patrons conversing
at the table may disturb the conversation between the librarian and another user.
Some questions will occur because of material locations and distances from
service points. How inconvenient will it be to place the atlas case farther from
the reference desk than the microform le? How far must a staff person walk
to assist most patrons? At no great cost in time, a good arrangement will be
attained with less reliance on trial and error and the need to shift items later
when it could have been avoided.
PURCHASING AND DELIVERY TIMING
Once all the decisions affecting furniture and equipment are made, and spec-
ications written, the purchasing process may begin. For most situations there
will be a bidding procedure. To aid in coordinating the entire process, a time-
table should be established. Determine the actual date when the building project
will be nished, inspected, and ownership is assumed of a new building or
reassumed over renovated space. It may be simpler to count back from this
anticipated date, allowing some slack time for delays in work performance.
Preferably, the rst installation should be oor covering. It is better to install
carpet and other coverings prior to delivery of shelving and metal furniture,
which follows next. Wooden furniture should be put in place last. This is to
avoid having metal shelving and wooden furniture mixed together or delivered
at the same time. Metalworkers need room to lay-out shelving ranges, and to
move such pieces as stack uprights without risk of scratching wooden carrels
or tables. The timing of delivery after order placement should be carpet and
oor covering rst. For shelving, allow up to fteen weeks for delivery. For
furniture allow eight to thirteen weeks for delivery. Installation time required
by the installers will depend upon the quantity ordered. Each vendor should be
able to state the approximate time needed for installation. For example, the
shelving vendor may state that the shelving installation for the quantity involved
will require two weeks from date of delivery. Based on this assessment, the
delivery of furniture should occur about two weeks after the shelving delivery.
Each delivery and installation will have its own residue of trash and cartons, so
removal after installation will clear space for the next delivery; spacing deliv-
eries is important. For large multistoried buildings, consignment deliveries may
be arranged so that, as each level has its oor covering installed, its furniture
and equipment may be delivered in sequence.
For the bid process, once the purchasing staff understands the requirements,
the requests for quotation will be issued with a response date stipulated that
may vary according to preferences of the staff involved, anywhere from thirty
to forty-ve days typically. Before nal agreement on a timetable, it should be
reviewed with the people involved in the entire process.
NOTES
1. Most vendors will furnish list prices with their catalogs. The difference in price,
however, on a quantity purchase can be substantial.
2. Architectural Record, May 1998, p. 333, has an article that summarizes some cur-
rent thinking on use of compact shelving for le storage and some safety issues.
3. The new Greensboro Public Library mentioned in the introduction has a conveyor
belt system for book returns that is 190 feet long. This issue of physical strain also came
to attention through the Australian Library and Information Associations listserv,
aliaBUILD@alianet.alia.org.au. Several librarians commented on the backache problem
via e-mail on this listserv.
REFERENCES
Architectural Record. 1998. New Products: With Play Structures, Fun Follows Safety
and a Childs Development. (November): 17778.
brary Association.
Facilities: Both New Constructions and Renovations. 1996. American Libraries 27, no.
4 (April): 57.
Hollins College Breaks Ground for New Library. 1997. College & Research Libraries
News (September): 531.
Mediavilla, Cindy. 1998. Homework Assistance Programs in Public Libraries: Helping
Johnny Read. In Young Adults and Public Libraries, A Handbook of Materials
and Services, edited by Mary Anne Nichols and C. Allen Nichols, 18189. West-
port, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
Nichols, Mary Anne. 1998. Targeting Teens: Marketing and Merchandising Young
Adult Services. In Young Adults and Public Libraries, A Handbook of Materials
and Services, edited by Mary Anne Nichols and C. Allen Nichols, 14554. West-
port, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
Test Reports on 15 Models of Bracket-type Steel Library Bookstacks. 1998. Library
Technology Reports 34, no. 6 (November/December).
Z39.731994. Single-Tier Steel Bracket Library Shelving. National Information Standards
Organization. Oxon Hill, Md.: Niso Press.
6
Other Views
In this chapter, James R. Kennedy presents an overview of the library planning
process with many helpful suggestions. Rebecca M. Wenninger writes speci-
cally about giving serious consideration to the needs of young adults.
USING SMALL COLLEGE LIBRARY PLANNING TECHNIQUES
IN PUBLIC LIBRARY FACILITIES PLANNING
James R. Kennedy
INTRODUCTION
Each year, Library Journal (LJ) devotes its December issue to reporting on
the completion of new and renovated libraries. LJ reported in December 1998
that the amount spent in public library construction totaled $543 million for 197
projects. New and renovated libraries are built every year. They are a certain
part of American education and culture, the peoples university, and the bedrock
for higher education support. All of these libraries have much in common: qual-
ity library space for materials, users, and staff. Are there commonalties or are
there more differences among types of facilities? How does the planning process
differ, especially as libraries are redened to address growing technological and,
until now, nontraditional needs?
The objective of this brief narrative is to address commonalties and distinc-
tions within the planning process. Library programmers, as architects refer to
the consultants, directors, and staff, work with staff and campus communities
to dene specic academic and cultural needs that the library will be called to
support.
Why look to academic libraries for public library solutions? Academic li-
braries are planned more nitely, to serve as a model in support of curricular
needs. College libraries are a collection of subject strengths intended to support
study in the liberal arts, business, computer science, and other areas. The aca-
demic ambience reects the institutions commitment to its academic program
and to providing a library study atmosphere for those in personal and career
development. Much of what is used in college planning is transferable to the
peoples university.
While public libraries in recent years have moved from the stereotypical hush
sign atmosphere to one of busy quiet, the academic library has moved with the
growth of electronic technologies to provide a variety of study experiences
from group study rooms to cocooned carrels to a laptop culture. It is the intent
of this commentary to highlight areas of specialization that might transfer well
to a public library venue.
There is much in common between small college libraries and their public
library counterparts. Both have a mission to serve their respective patrons
those seeking academic support for a predened curriculum and those within
the peoples university, learners seeking information from among an endless
array of topics. The library facility must meet the needs of each group and today
must be prepared to support service in transition. Todays library must be poised
to address both traditional needs and to provide technological services and sup-
port for generations of lifelong learners. In both cases, thoughtful planning must
be given to the institutions plan of service and to the facility needed to make
that plan effective.
Public libraries serve a broader constituencyin a word, everyone. College
patrons needs are dened based largely on curricular offerings. Its hard to be
everything to everyone, especially with limited resources. An analytical ap-
proach is needed, a thorough review by librarians and trustees emphasizing
projected future community growth within the dual context of tradition and an
ever-changing information profession. Hit the moving target; plan for changing
needs in the next twelve to fteen years. A sound strategy will keep the library
and its services fresh, the road well taken for future generations of readers and
learners.
The library should not be generic, but should reect the uniqueness of the
community, just as the colleges library reects the institutions support. Draw
from community sources in planning, but know when its better to go outside
for an objective opinion. In a college setting, the Ofce of Institutional Ad-
vancement will use this uniqueness to attract nancial support. The same may
be true within the public library plan as alternative sources to a bond issue are
Other Views 59
sought. Information desks, groups studies, childrens areaseach is a viable gift
naming opportunity.
STEPS USED IN COLLEGE LIBRARY PLANNING CAN
WORK WELL IN A PUBLIC LIBRARY SETTING
1. Involve the entire community. A library is one facility with appeal to every-
one. Anyone can buy into a project, and suggestions will yield some positive
surprises. The more the community is involved within the plan, the better its
chance of approval and acceptance. Like college library planning, public library
planning should reect the plan of service to its respective interactive audience.
Utilize focus groups with civic, social, and educational groups. Include follow-
up meetings to review the planning progress.
a. Charrette, or modied charrette, sessions in the present library with the project ar-
chitect. In some sessions, the architect draws. In others, he reviews schematic designs.
b. Use a 3-dimensional model to promote the project in all but the smallest of projects.
It will be useful in development efforts.
c. Be certain to involve librarians and others who will work in the library. Their stake
in a truly functional, comfortable library is much higher.
2. Plan for exibility. Make minimal use of supporting interior walls. Post
and beam construction provides more exibility. We know for certain what
libraries will be like for the next ve years and can take a good snapshot of
year ten. In the second decade the image gets fuzzy. We have only to look at
library technological growth in the last decade to see examples of accelerated
change. As library needs change, there may be a need for collection rearrange-
ments and collection shifts, or for adding additional services.
3. Lighting and cabling. These items are two of the most difcult features to
change within a library, so it is important to get as much of both as you can
afford the rst time around. Dry power and computer cabling should be brought
to all interior walls and columns. Opt for residential codes that call for placement
of more receptacles (at four, rather than eight, foot intervals) for convenient
access. Utilize power grids in areas such as the circulation desk and distance
learning rooms where no change is expected.
All light xtures should be easily accessible for maintenance without use of
telescoping or extended ladders. Make use of nonglare, low energy uorescent
lighting xtures in open areas to maintain a uniform view. Indirect lighting,
sometimes called up lighting is an attractive alternative to produce a quality
lighted environment of fty-ve footcandles without glare. Some libraries are
incorporating metal halide lighting into the design scheme. Metal halide lighting
is efcient, long-lasting, and comes in a variety of types of xtures. Chandeliers
employing metal halide work well and lend elegance to a room or foyer. Floor
lamps with metal halide up lighting are to be avoided as a potential re hazard.
If your color scheme relies heavily on blues and greens metal halide could work
for you. This type of lighting tends to make reds and yellows within the color
spectrum look washed out.
4. Furnishings. Your new library and all that comes with it will be new
for the next twenty-ve years. It is therefore important that durability be a major
consideration, and that the furniture design selected will be one that will not
become dated over time. Reect the traditions of the campus in facility design;
styles reecting themes within the campus community will be of lasting value.
Do not restrict selection of library furnishings to library furniture manufactur-
ers/suppliers alone. A walk through a top quality furniture store will produce a
number of good ideas.
5. Bubble diagrams. Use bubble diagrams to dene functional areas within
the entire library and within the librarys individual components. Clustering
should reect the needs of the campus community. What are common library
needs versus special or unique needs?
Bubble #1: Group ongoing noisy functions. Close to the main entrance. Such functions
include the circulation desk, photocopier, fax services, interlibrary loan ofce (if
grouped as a lending function adjacent to circulation), new books browsing, and pe-
riodicals and journals browsing. Such planning makes brief stops to make a copy, return
a book, or read the daily paper convenient for borrowers while minimizing trafc ow
through quiet study areas. Space behind the desk: Extra space isnt extra! The smaller
the library, the greater the temptation to cluster as many service functions behind the
main desk as possible. Circulation support services, administrative ofces, and tech-
nical services operations are often clustered in a central work core for libraries with
populations of less than 5,000.
Bubble #2: Information services cluster. A small academic library will have one central
reference department, while a larger library may have several reference departments
serving major academic programs. Locate the modern reference desk, often called an
island or kiosk by designers, central within the reference department. Within the de-
partment make use of low shelving with countertops for books. The countertops double
as index tables and improve visual security of the area. Locate oak stools on the visitor
side of the reference kiosk. These stools will make patrons comfortable during brief
information queries. Cluster the reference librarian(s) ofce(s) proximate but not ad-
jacent to the reference desk.
Include reference computer access points within the reference department for brief
instruction, quick searches, and to support those stand-alone CD-ROM disks that are
infrequently used but for which there are both a need and instructional support.
Finally, include a twenty-to-twenty-four-seat exibly appointed seminar room for
group library instruction. Keep the layout of this room exible (theres that word again)
with moveable tables on casters and stackable seating. This room should include data
video and other multimedia to come, and could become an interactive learning place
through the use of laptops, hard wired or wireless.
Bubble #3: Group study opportunities. Well planned college libraries now make use
of multiple group studies for use by small groups of patrons involved in the collabo-
Other Views 61
rative learning experience. Colleges should provide a mix of group studies with seating
capacities in the six to eight person and the ten to twelve person capacity. Computer
access will be needed within each room, and this can be supplied either through use
of a portable computer cart and projection screen or through laptop or desktop access
in each room. Each room should be equipped with an internal picture window, to afford
a view of the librarys interior and to provide for good security.
Bubble #4: Reading and collections areas. Thoughtful planning will produce an attrac-
tive, functional layout for housing book and nonprint collections on 84" or 90" high
stacks. Large reading tables (36' 48" or 48" 84" 29" high) give good study
space and offer some degree of privacy for the serious reader.
Bubble #5: Study carrels. The arrival of the personal computer did much to expand
the cause of quality study space for the individual reader. The old 24" 36" small
reading desk gave way to the 36" 48" acoustically padded and wired workstation.
The new carrel is large enough to support a computer, a legal pad, some books, and a
handbag, and can serve as a space for two in a pinch. Recognized space allocations
for students have risen from 30 to 40 or even 45 square feet per person. Every public
library should provide some carrel space. In the smallest of libraries, these units may
be located back-to-back across an exterior wall, or in a four-seat networked carousel.
6. Technology. Technological inuences have brought change within the plan
of service, not so much in content as in process. Todays library depends on an
automated library system for both operational and public service needs. There
is little need to plan space for a card catalog because the librarys main resource
is available online. Personal computers linked to a beroptic network now offer
multiple access from points throughout the library and beyond. Information
seekers may search library collections, CD-ROM databases, World Wide Web
databases, and interlibrary loan requests electronically. The same access points
can be used for word processing and spreadsheet activities. While the physical
doors of the college library close at midnight and those of the public library are
locked at 9:00 P.M., the library can now offer electronic access twenty-four hours
a day, seven days a week.
Plans for the new or renovated public library must include multipurpose PC-
based terminals and a central technology area to house servers, networking
equipment, CD-ROM towers, and the like. Unlike campus libraries, where li-
brary servers may be grouped with other institutional equipment, public libraries
will need an in-house operations center. This center should logically be grouped
with Technical Services, as automation is usually grouped with organizational
functions in a nonpublic area. Good planning will make the library seamlessly
technological, with the ability to change out equipment as upgrades are needed.
The ideal library should promote a combination of good esthetics and technol-
ogy, with neither being the dominant theme.
Networked wiring to support placement of computers throughout the library,
in alcoves beyond reference and circulation, is paramount in offering compre-
hensive access today and maximum exibility tomorrow.
The area described above calls for extra preparation. Air conditioning in ex-
cess of that for the entire library will be needed. If the library will be located
in an area in which there is even the slightest hint of a water problem, a raised
oor should be used. A reproofed closet is a must for back-up tapes. Power
supplies must be uninterrupted. Security within the context of protection for
servers, networks, and tapes must be included, and should be addressed as part
of the overall library security plan.
7. Meeting and instructional spaces. The shifting role of community librarian
to front line purveyor of information literacy calls for additional instructional
space. There is a distinction between information technology literacy and infor-
mation literacythe former dealing with the how and the latter dealing with
the whatand the librarian will be dealing with both. The more remote the
community, the greater the need for a librarian with advanced computer training.
Every library needs a modest meeting room of at least 650 square feet to support
library programming. It is equally important that the library also offer a con-
ference room or group study for library instruction. This room should provide
seating for ten to twelve, and be equipped with both a conference table and a
computer cart. With a window, the room may be used for group study and
discussion when instructional sessions are not in progress. It is here that students
will learn to access Internet-based commercial data resources and will learn to
differentiate between documentable and ephemeral resources.
8. Shared spaces. It is important to dene specic uses for broad areas, even
though these uses will change over time. New space within an academic library
is inviting. To other departments on campus with cramped quarters, spacious
library footage looks inviting. Planning was for twenty years controlled growth,
so why not use some of that outer end space for alternative or transitional
services? In a college library, this space might be in the form of a study skills
center, an educational media center, or faculty ofces. Such sharing happens
often on campuses where buildings are being renovated at the same time the
campus is growing. The opportunities for collaboration can be positive growth
opportunities for all service providers and for patrons.
In a public library setting, the sharing of new spaces within a multipurpose
facility can be inviting. Some duplication of common use facilities, such as
conference and program rooms, staff lounges, and lavatories, is cost effective.
Remember to stress library control and prioritization over use of shared meeting
rooms. Facility sharing could mean the difference between the project gaining
voter approval and falling short of the goal. In a small community, sharing can
mean locating within a common facility. Usual combinations are library/city hall
ofces; library/town ofces, and the police station; or library and senior citizen
center/community building. Such combinations may be workable as agencies
combine to bring a type of one-stop-shopping opportunity to patrons. Less suc-
cessful are public-school library combinations, where each serves a different
(general versus curricular specic) purpose. Again, plan for exibility in growth,
but be sure to limit the length of a shared purpose facility when future growth
Other Views 63
space is being used. For the library whose shelves will look comparatively bare
on opening day, it might be worthwhile to offer additional seating initially and
to substitute shelving as needed.
CONCLUSION
The intent of this brief narrative has been to suggest opportunities for creative
planning using college library planning techniques to support facilities initiatives
in the public sector. Some of the best ideas in new or reworked libraries are
combinations of themes gleaned from visits to other projects. Be sure to visit
some recently completed academic library buildings during your preliminary
project planning phase to look for ideas that might translate to your plan. Make
your library project a blending of exibility, creativity, practicality, tradition,
futurism, and beauty. Good planning pays dividends in effective library service
and in happy patrons and staff.
A PLACE TO CALL THEIR OWN
Rebecca M. Wenninger
Traditionally, the library has been a quiet place, a haven for study, reection,
nding information, and recreational reading. Teens often disrupt the quiet sanc-
tuary of the library, and afterschool crowds tend to be a rowdy bunch. It is not
hard to understand why they are this way. These young people have been in
school for several hours and have been told to be quiet, sit still, and listen.
When the nal bell rings, they are released from their prison and have a lot of
energy that needs to be expelled. This is also a confusing time for teens. They
are children, but not yet adults. We tend to forget that teens have a lot of stress
in their lives. They are faced with new expectations and responsibilities, and
often dont have the maturity level to deal with them. The library has become
more than just a place to do homework for this group. It is a place to meet their
friends and socialize, just as adults also use the library for this purpose (Cay-
wood 1996, 138; One Small Room . . . 1998). It is also a place for them to
have some independence and freedom. It should be the librarys goal to accom-
odate them when possible. Granted, the library is not a place for disruptive
behavior, but as librarians we need to understand teens and try to nd a happy
medium. Because teens can be viewed as disruptive and not serious library users,
there are some librarians who do not even try to work with them. Teens are
legitimate users, and deserve the same respect that is given to adults. The same
rules should apply to all customers, regardless of age.
Typically, teens make up the largest and most consistent users of the public
library. Ironically, the smallest percentage of the budget is spent on materials
for these users, and the number of young adult librarians/specialists has dropped
dramatically in recent years (Minudri and Goldsmith 1999, 3031). Spaces for
these users are usually limited and at times seem like an afterthought. In some
branch libraries, the teen area is limited to a few paperback racks. Because teens
are so vital to the public library, they should have a space that is specically
designed to meet their needs (One Small Room . . . 1998).
When designing a space for teens, rst determine what the needs of your
users are. It is important to nd out what kinds of services they want the library
to provide, and work from there. The only way to get accurate information is
to talk directly to the teens in your area (Auerbach 1996, 60). This is also a
salient point throughout the Australian online publication One Small Room,
(1998). Teens are looking for a place where they feel they t in, and they want
to feel a part of something (Minudri and Goldsmith 1999, 3031). Even those
of us who work with teens everyday can be out of touch with what they really
want, unless we are continually asking what they view as important. Of course,
not all suggestions can be met, but their input should be viewed as vital and
used when possible.
The next step in planning should be to decide on what the teen area will be
used for. This may be decided for you if there is limited space available. Re-
gardless of constraints, the area should be a space of its own, and not limited
to a few shelves of books. By that I mean a specic area of the library that is
dened in some way (Valliancourt 1998, 41). If an entire room is not possible,
then perhaps an area can be partitioned off, or shelving/furniture placement
could be arranged to give the feel of a separate area. This space should never
be a part of the childrens room (Vailliancourt 1998, 41). That alone will turn
off teens from using it, as they do not view themselves as children.
Once the actual area has been designated and exact space is known you can
decide what will go into the area. If the area is small, it can be restricted to a
small seating area, ction collection, and small displays. Other information and
collections (i.e., Cliff Notes, test preparation guides, college information, etc.)
that would be of interest to teens should be placed as close as possible.
If the library is able to provide a separate room or a large area of the library,
it will still need to be determined in advance what the focus of the area will be.
I believe that it would get the most use if it were seen as more of a gathering
place (Minudri and Goldsmith 1999, 3031), where quiet conversation is per-
mitted and teens can socialize with their friends (Caywood 1996, 138). If teens
who came to the library to hang with friends had a place to go, then disruption
in other parts of the library would decrease. Teens need a place to go, and while
the main focus of libraries is not a recreation center, once they are in the library
for socializing, they could be directed to library related materials and services
they may have not otherwise known were there.
Levels of stafng must also be considered in the planning stages, as there is
need for supervision in a setting of this type. If there is not enough staff to
supervise and maintain this type of area, an alternative should be considered.
A larger space would be able to accommodate comfortable seating, and in
Other Views 65
addition to the items mentioned in the preceding, a small ready reference col-
lection, bulletin board for community events and library programs, magazines
for teens, computer workstations with software geared to teen interests, and a
listening station for compact disks (CDs) and audio cassettes could be included
in this area. I believe that quiet study and in depth reference should be provided
in another area of the library. Whatever the size and purpose of the area are,
teens should know that the area has been designed with them in mind. Clear
signage of some type, stating that this area is designated especially for teens
should be provided, and the area should be used only by teens as much as
possible. Neon or other eye-catching signs would be appropriate. Wording of
signage should reect how the teens in your community like to be addressed.
Ask teens for their input on this, and they may even decide to give the area a
name.
This area should be attractive and inviting, with bright colors and comfortable
seating that is arranged in conversational groupings (Cochran and Gisol 1997,
2627). Posters and other decor should be in keeping with current trends. This
is another great place for teen input, as it will need to change periodically. It is
important for this area to be well maintained, the collection as well as the space
itself.
Displays and bulletin boards need to be kept current and of topics that interest
teens. After the space has been set up, it will be up to the library staff to get
the teens to actually use it. It is important that there is a librarian who genuinely
likes working with this age group to encourage and support these users. The
librarian must continue to talk to teens on a regular basis and nd out what kind
of materials, programs, services, etc., they are seeking.
The most important thing to remember when designing or renovating an area
in the library for teen use, if you really want teens to use it, is to listen to their
ideas and implement them as much as possible. Even with restricted space and
budgets, simple changes can be made that would make all the difference in how
teens use the library and how many come in. Secondly, staff must be accepting
and willing to work with teens. Part of our job as librarians is to foster a love
of reading and create lifelong readers. We cannot do this if we are ready to send
teens out of the library as soon as they walk in. Everyone deserves a place to
call their own.
REFERENCES
Auerbach, Barbara. 1996. Hangin at the Library. School Library Journal (June): 60.
Caywood, Carolyn. 1996. To Linger in Good Company. School Library Journal
(March): 138.
Cochran, Sally, and Peter Gisol. 1997. Renovate It & They Will Come. School Li-
brary Journal (February): 2627.
Minudri, Regina, and Francisca Goldsmith. 1999. The Top Ten Things You Need to
Know About Teens. School Library Journal (January): 3031.
One Small Room: What Would Young People Do to Make Library Spaces and Services
More Appealing to other Young People? 1998. The One Small Room Report.
State Library of Queensland. Public Libraries Division. http://www.slq.qld.gov.
au/pub/onesmall/contents.htm
. Recommendations. 1998. Website: http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/pub/onesmall/
recom.htm
Valliancourt, Renee J. 1998. Couch Central. School Library Journal (July): 41.
7
The Library Building
Program
The following sections explain the building program, describe its content, and
show how options may be considered for various aspects of the project. Related
design matters are treated in a successive chapter.
THE BUILDING PROGRAM
As Ellsworth Mason (1980, vii) pointed out, there are many details to a build-
ing project. Some are covered or described in the program, others are the ar-
chitects responsibility. Among the latter are engineering and technical matters,
some of which may be explained during the course of project development. An
example is the air conditioning system and its conguration. It isnt necessary
for the librarian to know the technical details of the installation. It is important
to know that the system chosen will serve adequately and is capable of keeping
temperature and humidity at comfortable levels in all areas during any season.
The program should not be confused with a specications book. Depending
upon the size of the project, the architect may prepare a specications book of
considerably greater size that contains the specications for all the items used
in construction. This book guides the contractors so that all required specica-
tions are known to them for the items that will make up the building. For a
smaller building, the architect may furnish detailed specications on the blue-
print sheets.
The headings that follow are the possible headings that might be used in the
actual building program. The sequence of headings other than the introduction,
however, need not be followed in the order given here. Depending upon the
project and its requirements, there may be variations. This will be explained as
this chapter proceeds.
Introduction
The opening statements describe the proposed building project; what the
building should do, whether new, renovated, or a conversion; what the program
describes or requires; and the desired relationship among the service spaces.
Philosophy of Service
For a new building a statement of the philosophy of service and how the
library will serve its public should be presented very early. A public branch
library building may be a full public service facility, dependent upon a main
library building for technical and other support. Space may not be planned for
those purposes or minimal space may sufce. In another case, the building may
serve a community and only be loosely afliated with larger libraries that are
remote from its locale, so some space for these functions may be necessary.
A joint-use librarys statement will describe the differing functions the build-
ing will fulll. A joint public-school library statement should describe use of
the library for class activities at certain times, while at other times service space
is open to all. For a joint public-academic library, the possible need to separate
popular materials from more academic programrelated materials may be ex-
plained with the need to provide suitable seating and other accommodations for
each grouping. In some cases the need for shared work space or for separate
work space should be explained.
The Community
The nature of the community and the composition of the people served is
also important. If the library serves an industrial community as opposed to a
community of mostly professional and technical occupations, this should be
known. This may affect the way reading spaces are arranged, and the way that
collection spaces are allocated. A population projection for twenty years is help-
ful, so that the architect will understand the potential for growth and plan ac-
cordingly. If a demographic table is available, it would be placed here. For
joint-use libraries the demographics of the different populations should be clar-
ied.
The Area
A brief description of the area and its history is always benecial. This will
help the architect understand the locale and may affect interior design factors.
Library Building Program 69
For a building located in a wooded area, a woodland motif is thematic for the
interior design. A library in a historic area may have features reminiscent of the
areas heritage. A campus-based, joint-use library may have a decor more related
to education than to a general public orientation.
The Climate
Weather factors sometimes appear obvious, but should be noted and not left
to chance. In northerly areas, provision for snow loads is very important. Actual
collapses from excess snow are relatively rare, but snow can considerably dam-
age roofs. And falling snow masses can do injury. In heavy snow regions, live
loads from snow can exceed 200psf, while in most northern areas of the U.S.
snow loads are calculated at 35 to 50psf (Of Drag Loads 1997, 162). Water
is very heavy, 62.4 pounds per cubic foot, and in heavy rainfall areas, quick
removal of accumulating water is very important. Any at or near at roof
should have good drainage. For older buildings roof supports should be in-
spected for fatigue. Snow drifts, or water massing against a retaining ledge, on
a at roof and wind pressure bearing on a drift or causing wave action and
momentarily deepening moving water could cause a serious mishap.
Bazillion and Braun (1995) recommend pitched roofs for academic library
buildings remarking that membranes used for waterproong are susceptible to
puncturing (76). The same can be said for public library buildings. Parker and
DellIsola (1991) present a table of live loads giving gures for different build-
ing codes. For example, for at roofs, the Building Ofcials and Code Admin-
istration suggests 12 to 20 pounds, the Uniform Building Code 20 pounds.
Oddly, the city of Chicago requires 25 pounds, and New York City 40 pounds
(52). Knowing this, the librarian can request that drainage (and snow removal
if in a snowy climate) be exceptionally good. No one wants a leaky roof (Ba-
zillion and Braun, 76), nor the extreme damage to collections and the terrible
nuisance that recovering damaged materials entails.
Table of Spaces
The program will have a table of spaces. This may be placed early in the
document or sometimes toward the end. It summarizes the suggested sizes of
the various spaces that will make up the building. Usually, programs will de-
scribe the size of the building in gross square feet and then indicate the efciency
ratio that the architect should strive to obtain. The table of spaces will suggest
the space sizes in assignable square feet.
Bubble Diagrams
The program will also contain bubble diagrams or some other way of illus-
trating the relationships desired among the spaces. Rectangular drawings to show
how one service area should relate to another are not recommended. One major
purpose of the program is to challenge the architect to develop an original
design. The program shouldnt suggest a design and defeat that purpose.
FROM ENTRY TO PUBLIC CATALOG
This and following sections and chapters describe the more detailed matters
covered in a library building program. The order of arrangement will vary from
program to program. It is important to understand that each building program
should be tailored specically to the project. The caveat is that each library is
a unique and custom entity, requiring personal analysis and the experience of a
seasoned consultant. A cookie cutter approach will not always work, even in
a limited geographic area. Such an approach would provide a building, but it
would not necessarily address the communitys history, its particular culture, or
the wishes of the people it is to serve. It also might be difcult to t a standard
cookie cutter building on some of the sites that eventually are chosen for
public libraries.
1
As will be seen in some sections of a building program, more detail or ex-
planation than might seem warranted may appear. This is to help the architect
understand why something is recommended as essential. Some of the things
listed may appear to be obvious, so why include them? The answer is that these
very obvious items may also be overlooked. The heavy snow or water load on
a roof mentioned earlier is only one example.
The Main Entry
Typically, most small- to medium-sized libraries provide only one entryway
into a library building because of the ease of controlled access and the elimi-
nation of additional staff that may be required for security purposes. There are
situations, however, where a second entrance may be useful. A daytime only
second entrance may provide more direct access to the childrens area. It wont
pose an evening security problem because older children who may use the li-
brary at night can enter through the main entry. Another separate entry may
permit access to meeting space with restroom access at times when the library
is closed, but otherwise is not used. The buildings design may require this type
of arrangement. A large urban building will have different requirements, and so
may have several entrances.
The orientation of the main entry is important. If the building is placed on a
large open suburban or rural site, it makes sense to have the main entry face
the parking lot. If most of the librarys users will drive to the building, this
orientation will be best. If there is sidewalk access involved but limited pedes-
trian use, then the sidewalks should be brought around the building to the main
entry. In more congested arrangements, the main entry may face a town or city
street, and parking may be placed behind or along side the building or even
farther away. In these cases, sidewalks should lead to the front entry. For joint-
use libraries with schools or colleges, if in a separate building, the library will
face either the school building or classroom buildings. The architect should
provide for exterior lighting, and the program need only state the expectation
for this. The sidewalks should be nished with a slip-proof surface insofar as
that is possible. In colder climates sometimes low lamps are placed along the
sidewalks closest to the entry to help melt snow and ice. For compliance with
the Americans with Disabilities Act, the entry should be level or provided with
a properly graded and covered access ramp. The design of the ramp should be
such that skateboarding and/or snow boarding are not possible. The ramp can
become an attractive nuisance if care isnt taken to avoid its misuse.
To enter the library either power activated or power assisted doors should be
provided in a double set with a vestibule in between. A vestibule is important
because it is functional. Heated or cooled air is not wasted through doors open-
ing directly to the exterior; foot borne soil and water may be removed before
entering the building proper. Power activated doors, either swing-out or sliding,
with an overhead sensor will open whenever someone approaches. Power as-
sisted doors, usually swing-out, are opened by someone applying slight pressure
to a power plate or push bar usually mounted on or near the doors. If not on
the door, these power plates are both within and outside the building. They may
be placed on a pedestal, a column, or on a wall.
Before making a decision on type of door, the librarian and architect should
consider the composition of the trafc at the entry and egress. Some new grocery
stores use sliding glass doors. In emergencies these will swing loose. In high
activity service areas with strong residential use, sliding doors will accommodate
people with baby strollers, small children, and persons with mobility impair-
ments much more comfortably than swing-out doors. Even though a swing-out
door may open wide enough to permit passage of conveyances like baby
strollers, at times they tend to begin a closing movement that requires someone
to hold the door back. Librarians with joint-use libraries with schools or colleges
should consider seriously the trafc problem caused when hurrying incoming
students encounter people with baby strollers all trying to enter at the same time.
The Entryway Content and Surroundings
The content of the entryway also must be given serious consideration de-
pending upon the relationship of the entry to the surrounding area. What goes
into, around, or outside the main entry will vary among library buildings. Some
of these items are mentioned later when the categories they are in are discussed.
Inuencing the decision as to how to treat each item are such factors as the
relationship of the entry to its locale, past experience, and preferences of the
librarian and staff.
When a library is in a congested area, downtown for example, vestibules or
lobbies are plain more often than not. They are simply empty spaces between
the two sets of entry/egress doors. Loitering is discouraged by the lack of any
amenities. People may seek shelter during a downpour, but nothing else is avail-
ableneither telephones, restrooms, or even displays. The absence of restroom
access prevents the vestibule/lobby from becoming a comfort station. For larger
libraries, the vestibule may be very plain as noted here, but once inside the
second set of entry doors, some amenities may be available. For example a large
lobby may be the next point, and it will have water fountains, restrooms, tele-
phones, etc. In these cases the lobby serves as a dispersal point for patrons who
will be accessing various sections of the library.
In a less crowded site, it is not uncommon for the vestibule/lobby to have
display cases, a bulletin board, a pamphlet rack for free literature, a pay tele-
phone (though not always), and access to restrooms. This arrangement is more
acceptable for the situation described earlier in which the main entry faces the
parking lot. In some designs the multipurpose room is accessed from this ves-
tibule/lobby. This is done when the multipurpose room may be used for activities
not requiring library services and so the library portion of the building is closed.
People attending meetings or other activities after library service hours will have
access to the restrooms and telephones (if any).
Regardless of geographic location, every vestibule/lobby should have a recessed oor
drain covered by a pedimat for removal of dirt, rain water, or snow before people can
enter the library proper.
Harmful substances carried in on foot gear range from acid rain, to ne sand
that will grind into carpeting, to ice melting chemicals that will fade carpeting.
This opportunity to remove water from any source is especially important if the
vestibule is followed by an expanse of terrazzo ooring. This ooring can be
very slippery when wet thereby causing the placement of not very attractive
rubber backed carpet strips, sometimes in considerable quantity. Terrazzo is not
a good surface for use in areas with seasonal heavy rains or snows. Preference
should always be given to nonskid surfaces for interior lobby walkways. As for
plain dirt, Mason, in his evaluation of the Lincoln Center branch of the New
York Public Library, tersely comments: The carpeting was destroyed by con-
stant voluminous street dirt (Mason, 254). Library carpeting often remains in
place for twenty or more years, so learning from experience, precautions are
wise.
Circulation
After entering through a second set of doors or entering from a large lobby
space (possibly passing a security guard post), the rst encounter a patron has
with library services is the circulation service: This broad heading includes pro-
vision for access and egress, security, online catalog terminals, a counter for
returning and checking out materials, and other necessities. Specic arrange-
ments and relationship to other services will vary among buildings. In most
situations, the entering or departing patron has a rst or last encounter with this
service. It is immediately after or before the entry/egress doors and security
control. In some arrangements the circulation counter beyond the security device
may be placed to one side, along a wall for example, while the reference service
appears in immediate confrontation to the entering patron.
The common factor usually is that staff at the circulation counter have an
excellent view of the entryway. In many situations, the staff has a commanding
view of the public use areas. This is typical of smaller libraries in which most
services are on a single oor level.
The rst concern for the architect is to plan for trafc space, so that people
entering or leaving have room in which to conduct a transaction or simply
bypass the control point, circulation counter, or desk. Typically, this is nonas-
signable space, and includes space for staff to maneuver book trucks for incom-
ing borrowed materials, etc.
The next focus of attention is the circulation counter. Options to consider
include counter height, length or conguration, and design features. All of these
are mentioned in the chapter on furniture and equipment under circulation
counter, and details are not repeated here. This counter must function effectively
and time spent thinking about these matters will not be wasted. If the use of
self-service check-out is planned, open oor space is needed for the terminal
that patrons will operate. Trafc space behind the counter or desk is critical to
efcient operation. Estimates of circulation volume will be important in helping
determine an appropriate amount of space. An average of the last two or three
years with a 20 percent increase factor added on should be helpful, unless in-
dications are that a higher factor may be better. If video surveillance of the
service areas is used, the monitors may be placed below the circulation counter
so that staff may observe activity occasionally.
Circulation Workroom, Workspace
The number of people working in this area and the type of work will deter-
mine the space required. In very small libraries desks and tables may be placed
behind the counter in lieu of a room. A room is preferable for better control of
material. Review the work and determine whether or not any part of that work
will change or be stopped. If there are particular needs for more space for certain
work, make that known to the consultant. In a joint-use library, closed reserve
material for a school or college may require space. Any service equipment such
as laptop computers and hearing assistance devices can be held here. Also,
provide some additional space here for unforeseen service needs. Estimate the
number of people that may be working in the room at peak times, and include
both regular staff and volunteer workers. This is important. If space is planned
only for regular staff there will be crowding when volunteers are present. This
is an area that may be too small, hence the preceding caution. Space for book
trucks or for sorting bins may be in this room or outside, whichever is preferred.
Cabinets, sometimes lockers, and often a sink are necessary.
The room should have three or four telephone jacks depending upon its size
and the number of people assigned to work in it. The workstation power and
computer network supply should come from the oor through oor access work-
station modules unless not possible, in which case wall-mounted conduits, sim-
ilar to wall molding, along the oor will serve. The sink can be placed above
a low cabinet. The room should have a window with a view of the circulation
counter. Quite often the librarys power supply control board, safety and security
board (re, smoke, theft), is placed in this room or on a wall adjacent to the
circulation counter. A dimmer switch for controlling lighting is useful also.
Head Librarians Ofce
In a small library the head librarian will have an ofce immediately adjacent
to the circulation service. In a larger library the head librarian may have a small
suite with space for one or two other staff members. This ofce should have
space for a workstation, a conventional writing surface, a small conference table
and side chairs. Lighting should be controlled by a dimmer switch, and the
power/communication or computer network supply should be oor installed
again through one or more oor access workstation modules unless this is not
feasible. In a small library, the ofce should have either a window door or a
wall window so the librarian may observe the circulation area if necessary. The
provisions for other staff should have similar arrangements.
In a very large building, a headquarters library for example, or in a large
joint-use library, the head librarian will have a suite of rooms. These will provide
secretarial space, conference space, and possibly one or more assistant head
librarians. These rooms should be equipped similarly on the basis of work per-
formed as described. The conference room is treated separately later.
Storage Room
Sometimes for a small library the location preference is near circulation. In
other cases, depending upon frequency of need to access materials, a more
remote location is preferable. Usually, the storage room holds back les of
magazines and other materials being held off the open shelves pending some
decision as to continuance or disposal.
For small libraries, if it is necessary to have a storage room, it should be
designed for future conversion to public use space. As alternatives to storage of
materials come into play, this space may be adapted quite easily to alleviate a
service issue. Unless the need for a special use room is foreseeable, this space
should be designed with temporary walls. There are competitive products on the
market for this purpose. In this way some future and unforeseen service need
can be addressed without expensive new construction. This also means extend-
ing power/communication or computer network lines into the room, under the
oor if it is new construction. If this is a branch library, or if a working ar-
rangement can be made with a neighboring larger library, then a storage room
for these purposes may not be necessary at all. The more space gained initially
for public service, the better off and more useful the library building will be in
the long run. Eventually converting the building to a full-service facility is a
worthwhile possibility just as branch libraries in urban or metropolitan systems
are fully public service facilities with necessities supplied by the headquarters
library or an out source.
In a large building the storage room will be in another location, but it should
be planned so that it may be convertible to another use if needs change. For
joint-use libraries space is necessary for temporary storage of curricular-related
materials that are in use for only part of a school year.
Sales and Commercial Space
The need varies among libraries from counter space at the circulation desk to
a room in the lobby area for the sale of library related items ranging from
postcards and t-shirts, to used books or unneeded donated books. In medium to
large libraries a room off the lobby may meet this need. The sales may be
conducted by staff in the smaller situations, and by Friends of the Library
volunteers in the larger. The amount of space needed is small, but the library
should have a policy covering this so space can be planned accordingly.
Some librarians and their boards lean toward the projected ambience of book-
stores with coffee bars. Most often the libraries that have such accommodations
place them either in the lobby or just off the lobby, but clearly outside the entry
to the library proper.
2
The security system screening devices may dene the
entry to the library in some instances so the commercial space is before the
security system upon entering. Having a coffee bar lounge in lobby space in a
joint-use public-academic library may head off issues with students bringing
food and beverages in the library.
The Public Online Catalog
Currently, preference continues to have some terminals dedicated to the online
catalog near the main entry and others placed around the public areas. Work-
station terminals with other menu-accessible software applications installed may
also access the online catalog should the user desire.
The number of such stations is determined by the size of the population
served. Access is very fast and the typical user will not remain at a dedicated
station for very long. If the catalog is dial-in accessible, the number of stations
may be quite small depending upon the computer status of the community.
An increasing number of users over the years will search the catalog from home
or ofce, place holds as mentioned earlier, and simply stop by the library to
pick up the wanted material or come to the library already knowing what they
want to see or use.
The requirements are oor installed work station access modules, or in wall
molding as noted earlier. If the workstations are dedicated, then the overhead
lighting need not be as intense as that over reading areas, and a dimmer switch
may prove useful.
NOTES
1. In one project a library board member raised this question: Why couldnt an ar-
chitect simply lay out the proposed building using templates? After an explanation was
made about local history and design reective of the locale, the possibility of problems
with the chosen site, and special requirements for service, the proposal was accepted.
2. The new Greensboro, North Carolina, Public Library has the two services in ad-
jacent spaces so that people may pass from one to the other. They are placed to one side
of the vestibule. The gift section is operated by the librarys Friends group. The four
branches of the Las Vegas-Clark County library system that were visited all had small
rooms off the lobby for used book sales. The Phoenix Public Library has a bookstore
operated by its Friends in its lobby immediately after the main entry.
REFERENCES
Bazillion, Richard J., and Connie Braun. 1995. Academic Libraries as High-Tech Gate-
ways a Guide to Design and Space Decisions. Chicago: American Library As-
sociation.
Of Drag Loads, Ice Dams, and other Snow-Load Maladies. 1997. Architectural Record
(January): 162.
Parker, Donald E., and Alphonse J. DellIsola. 1991. Project Budgeting for Buildings.
New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
8
Reference Services to
Special Collections
REFERENCE SERVICES
After entering the library, the trafc plan should take the user directly to this
service. With circulation services to either side of the entry, the path is open so
that access is quick, the user is served, and then may proceed to the online
catalog stations, other workstations, to the collections, or other specialized ser-
vices.
This is the opportunity to introduce entirely new concepts of reference service
for the librarys public. The new technologies make offering a much broader
range of services possible including the electronic reference service for the pub-
lic and participation in the national online network.
Online reference service is the new heart of the electronic information center.
There are many possibilities; so early in the planning process, a plan for future
services should be under development. The building plan will reect what is
needed to achieve the objectives. Plan exibility is paramount, so that as the
technology changes, the library may move with change and adapt readily to the
next stage of development, e.g. eventually CD-ROM may disappear as vendor-
supplied online services improve. The plan may follow a time line based on the
need to furnish a service for a period of years then phase it out as it becomes
unnecessary, and have the concept for its replacement ready as the needs change
and new technologies become available. The scope of the plan will be inuenced
by the librarys size, its relationship to other libraries in cooperative arrange-
ments, networks, or as a branch in a larger library system. The details that follow
are broad and are directed at libraries of all sizes.
REFERENCE COLLECTION
Traditional needs will not have disappeared, and print collections will remain
essential for some time. For shelving bound volumes, some space needs continue
because not all reference works will be available in nonprint formats, though
this is changing. This need will decrease as paper-based reference sources are
converted to CD-ROM and/or online availability. The projected collection size
will guide the initial space requirement. As policy and budget permits, the plan
should provide for changes in format as these become available. Some titles
may best be used in CD-ROM format (until an alternative appears) or online,
if costs are reasonable and paper copies are no longer needed. In a small building
with signicant public demand, using nonprint formats and moving toward as
much online accommodation of patron needs as possible is a worthwhile objec-
tive. Librarians in very small libraries should consider providing reference ser-
vice using only CD-ROM and online products, and relying on larger libraries
for back-up support. Reference service may develop as an electronic information
center. The print collection might include only a good dictionary, atlas, and one
or two single volume encyclopedic works. These are simply convenience items
for use when there is no need for a workstation. All other needs would be served
by nonprint products. For those small libraries with a need for more paper-based
reference tools, Audrey Lewis (1998) has suggestions. For small to medium-
sized libraries, Wynar and Strickland (1999) offer their recommendations. In
branch library situations, the same may apply, and any needs requiring major
print and nonprint sources would be addressed to the main library. Wholesale
duplication of print sources among branch libraries may disappear as the tech-
nology advances.
Shelving options for paper-based reference materials should be exible so
that changes may be made readily. Low shelving with counter tops should be
considered for two reasons. While the material is paper based, the counter tops
make use easy for patrons. After these materials are replaced by CD-ROM or
become available online, the low shelving may be transferred to another area
such as the childrens collection. The same applies to other library shelving.
Planning for collection growth in areas where it is obvious that paper-based
materials will continue to predominate should include provision for those areas
where foreseeable format changes will require changing the storage method. In
this example, reference shelving is released for transfer to other areas where
paper-based materials prevail. The oor in the reference area should have oor-
accessible modules installed throughout the area so that when shelving is moved
the connections for computer equipment are immediately available. Eventually,
Reference Services to Special Collections 79
this may be supplanted by a wireless computer system, but a power supply will
remain necessary for table top computers.
1
For CD-ROM and online services, the number of workstations required for
reference service should be based on staff ability to provide assistance. Other
workstations can be placed in the open seating areas for use by persons who
dont need staff help. Some libraries have space for teaching the use of online
services. The need for this can be determined by user surveys, consultation with
the local school system, and social services if the librarys service area has a
new immigrant population. The long-range plan should include some future use
for this space as need for library based training declines.
For staff workspace, active online reference service space is essential. As
people add online services at home, they will be sending reference queries online
to the library. In a metropolitan area librarians can be certain of demand and
very quick growth. Online service may replace telephone reference service to a
large extent. In rural areas this will gain in importance as home ownership of
computers increases.
Design factors include power/communication lines in the entire oor with
access through workstation access modules or, if not possible, as mentioned
earlier, along the walls with raceway height at three feet. For ofce space, the
building program for a large library should include an ofce for each reference
librarian and space for support staff. Including space for part-time staff should
not be overlooked. In a small building a panel system in a suitably sized work-
room may accommodate the librarian(s) and support staff. Lighting should be
controlled by a dimmer switch. Furnishings include some some shelving, ling
arrangement, a workstation and side chair for patrons who may be requesting
specialized assistance.
ARCHIVES, GENEALOGY, LOCAL HISTORY, RARE AND
UNIQUE MATERIAL COLLECTIONS
All of the above pose special problems in planning a building. They are
grouped here although treatment will vary depending upon the size of the library
being planned. Usually, these services are somewhat remote from the main entry,
although often some of the responsibility for service will fall upon the reference
department. If these collections are substantial and of considerable value, then
special requirements for their care and preservation are essential. Special housing
with environmental and security controls is necessary. The construction and
operating costs for the space involved will be higher than for the rest of the
building. Occasionally, libraries in comparatively small communities will have
fairly good sized valuable collections, so this issue applies to these libraries as
well. Sometimes a small librarys board members may be unprepared for these
factors and therefore unaware of the costs involved. The material, accumulated
over many years, is used frequently and sometimes cannot be replaced without
some expense. Suddenly with a building renovation or a new building project
the cost factor becomes apparent. In a very small library if the collection isnt
too large, special shelving may sufce, possibly a glass door case or cases, or
a grill door book case. For any such collection, patrons should be cautioned
about handling these materials. Consult Drewes and Page (1997) for advice.
For a large library with substantial collections of unique materials, special
planning is required. For a new building a separate program or distinct section
of the building program may be written and the advice of one or more experi-
enced consultants obtained. The issues are security, preservation, and availabi-
lity, and related to these are access by users, lighting, means of storage, and
quality environmental controls. As a separate department, staff ofce and work-
space must be provided. The service characteristics are signicantly different
from those of other services, and the planning effort is complicated. In the case
of a joint-use library, the advantage may be a much larger space than either of
the partners would have alone. Competitive security products are on the market.
Among these are high security locks and video surveillance cameras.
2
Rooms and Shelving Areas
For special reading rooms and closed stack areas, exterior windows are not
recommended as they would allow sunlight to enter with its harmful ultraviolet
rays. If, for aesthetic reasons, some indication of windows on the exterior is
required, then faux windows may serve. Fluorescent lighting must be shielded
for the same reason, unless ultraviolet rays are controlled or restricted in some
other way. For some patrons task lighting will be required, and magnication
devices will be helpful, not only for visually impaired individuals but for reading
some fragile materials with faded print. The reading room may have windows
that will allow library staff to view users in the room, especially if it is not
practical to staff the room when in use. Dimmer switches will allow lighting
adjustments when microform material is in use.
Environmental controls for heat, humidity, and air pollution are required. If
the reading room temperature is too cool for some patrons, they should be
advised to bring a sweater or some other warm apparel. The temperature settings
are to help preserve the material. Thermostat controls once set should be sealed
so they cannot be changed. If a closed stack area is necessary, it will be much
cooler than the reading area, and staff who will be entering the stacks sometimes
will need jackets. These caveats may be all too obvious, but for some libraries
they will represent a radical departure from past practice. Urban libraries may
have environmental problems peculiar to the crowded conditions of cities.
Gwins advice, while directed at academic libraries, will prove useful to the
urban public library with large collections of unique materials (1992, 18794).
Security is an issue in any size library. For a very large library with a sub-
stantial collection, the services of a security consultant should be obtained. In
the very small library, care should be taken to safeguard material because there
is no immunity from theft or mutilation. Genealogy collections are particularly
susceptible. The building consultant will advise according to the need perceived.
Furniture and Equipment
The choice of furnishings will range from the tastefully expensive to standard
library furniture, but the same concern for security prevails and opportunities
for concealing materials must be prevented. Apronless tables or carrels are pre-
ferred for this reason.
Shelving options also are available ranging from conventional library shelv-
ing, compact shelving, to ne wooden shelving. Taste, need, and budget will
inuence the selection. For large closed shelving areas, compact shelving should
prove worthwhile, especially if the collection is growing. The options here are
between power activated or manually operated shelving units. The choice de-
pends upon ability to service powered units and the frequency of anticipated
use. In storage space when use is moderate to low, manual shelving is the choice.
Power operated compact shelving units for use in public areas are equipped with
light beam sensors that stop the motion when peoples movements are detected.
For a small library, compact shelving may be considered for conserving space
and protecting the collection from possible harmful environmental factors such
as dust.
Larger libraries preserving collections of older valued general materials may
use compact shelving in storage areas or extend the closed shelving area oc-
cupied by archival materials, thereby affording environmental controls to these
less unique but valuable materials. In such a situation, general public access is
not permitted. In a very large library the two collections may share the same
large area, but are separated by a cage style wall that permits the circulation of
air. A separate entrance allows staff to retrieve material or may allow public
access when necessary without access to the more valued materials. To repeat,
this requires an experienced consultants recommendations.
3
NOTES
1. Wireless technology for computer transmissions has an adventurous aura about it.
A sailor participating in a round-the-world race uses satellite transmission to send e-mail
to his home base (Howe 1999, 60). Wireless technology enables libraries to install In-
ternet services on bookmobiles, as some have done in this country and in Australia.
Computer magazines and others have carried a number of articles reporting on new laptop
computers and tests of wireless computing. One recent article discusses communications
between remote laptops and home-based table tops under limited conditions (Somogyi
1999, 7981). Two writers discuss advances in laptop machines. Joshua Quittner writes
about lower end priced kneetop PCs as he calls them (Quittner 1999, 83), while in
another magazine Brian L. Clark covers somewhat higher priced laptops (Clark 1999,
19498). With the right accessories some of these machines will serve for wireless usage.
Another way to determine machine capabilities is to either check a manufacturers web
site or call the toll free number. Machines equipped with infrared ports can be used for
wireless transmissions.
Clearly, the emphasis is on wireless services for people who are essentially business
travelers. Others who provide technical services to clients away from a main ofce are
also considered potential users. The common bond is a service enabling people to contact
a home or main ofce, and transmit and receive data and other information. Costs are
fairly high; transmission is slow but improving. The main thrust is toward battery op-
erated equipment, i.e. laptops, notebooks, etc. How or if transmissions are subject to
interference from other communication devices hasnt been determined. This is some-
thing to watch. The need for standards and their establishment is apparent and in the
foreseeable future. Until then, absence of standards may delay widespread library appli-
cations. The question of how much commitment library managers wish to make to laptop
computers and their high vulnerability to theft is another issue (Clark 198). Planning for
conduits and channels for communication lines and cabling in buildings along with ca-
pability to receive transmissions from bookmobiles or other outside sources will provide
the greatest exibility. Local area networks with wireless capability are another possible
option. Table top equipment will continue to require a power supply from a power line.
The following articles range over the last several years and are described briey:
Clark, Brian L. 1999. Five for the Road. Money 28 (March): 19498. Clark enthu-
siastically describes ve new and very powerful machines. All have internal 56kbps V.90
modems. While he doesnt discuss wireless transmission directly, it is obvious that these
machines are intended primarily for travelers. There is nothing, however, to discourage
their use in place of table tops if so desired. One caveat about theft appears late in this
article. These machines cannot be left lying about. Librarians planning to install or loan
laptops in house had best be aware of the theft issue (see Jackson in this list).
Colman, Price. 1996. Wireless Modems in the Fast Lane. Broadcasting & Cable
(July): 12. Colman reports on test of a wireless cable modem and plans to offer Internet
service to subscribers.
Deering, Ann M. 1996. Its Time to Become Tetherless. Risk Management 43 (Au-
gust): 12. This article forecasts what is coming. Internet access via wireless services to
laptops, sending e-mail, etc., are discussed.
Gerding, David, Liesl LaGrange Noble, and Rich Schwerin. 1997. Pulse. PC Com-
puting (September): 4647. This article reports on wireless service for use with laptops
with cellular telephone modem connectors built in. This is useful for business travelers
and is expensive. Standards are not yet set.
Halfhill, Tom. 1996. Break the Bandwidth Barrier. BYTE 21 (September): 6880.
High speed modems for cable television networks and telephone lines are discussed.
Wireless isnt mentioned.
Howe, Robert F. 1999. The Deep End of the Sea. Time 153 (March 1): 6063. Howe
reports on the rescue of a female sailor in a round-the-world boat race. A radio beacon
via satellite alerted race headquarters. Her rescuer sent e-mail shortly before nding her.
Jackson, Maggie. 1999. Thieves Love to Steal Laptops. Wilmington StarNews
(March 14): 3E. Associated Press business writer Jackson cites an insurance company
report that 309,000 laptops were stolen in 1997. She quotes an FBI special agent on the
matter of people buying stolen laptops. Apparently, the market for these stolen items is
very good.
LaPolla, Stephanie, Mark Moore, and Scott Berinato. 1997. Wireless Net Access
Wares Making Waves. PC Week (June 23): 1, 18. This article reports on high speed
adapters for notebooks, commenting on the expense of buying PC cards.
Quittner, Joshua. 1999. New Kneetop PCs. Time 153 (March 1): 83. Quittner de-
scribes two new machines with interesting features, but doesnt mention wireless trans-
mission capability. Unlike the machines Brian L. Clark describes, these have only an
internal 33.6k data-fax modem. A serial-port cable permits attachment to a table top
computer.
Salamone, Salvatore. 1995. Untangling Wireless. BYTE 20 (December): 96NA1
96NA4. This author comments, While cellular phones seem to be everywhere, wireless
data connectors for laptops and personal digital assistants are not nearly as common.
More recent articles in this list are more optimistic.
Somogyi, Stephan. 1999. Road Gear, Enhance Your PowerBook with These Essen-
tials Extras. Macworld (January): 7981. Somogyi describes new PC cards for upgrading
performance on Apple PowerBooks, and discusses remote communications including
using cellular phones. Cell phones dont have standardized modem connectors he com-
ments, and suggests a PC card that will help. He describes the Ricochet wireless service
from Metricom, which is available in Washington, DC, the San Francisco area, and
Seattle. This requires a modem chosen from one of three Ricochet models. Using the
Richochet service via the Internet, the user can communicate with the home network. If
the user has a table top model at the home ofce equipped with a Ricochet modem, the
laptop PowerBook can communicate with the home ofce table top.
Wireless a Mobile Inbox. 1998. Sales & Marketing Management. (February): 125.
This report describes a new modem that can send e-mail, fax, paging, and phone services
to a wireless address, noting that this is useful when traveling.
2. Architectural Record (January 1999): 166. This issues New Product section shows
a high security lock and a video surveillance system.
3. This may seem redundant, but when large valuable collections are the subject, then
extraordinary precautions are required. Newspaper accounts of rare materials stolen from
unknowing libraries turning up at auctions shouldnt get a knee jerk reaction, but do
serve as an alert to plan thoroughly and secure the best possible advice when designing
such space. The adage is that a determined and skillful thief will succeed, but making it
very difcult is the desired deterrent. The other major issue, preservation, deserves in-
tense scrutiny and the best possible advice. Deterioration will do more harm than thieves.
Lastly, educating users on correct ways of handling materials requires much attention as
well. Mishandling as a danger ranks second behind deterioration. Please consult Drewes
and Page (1997) on these matters.
REFERENCES
Drewes, Jeanne M., and Julie A. Page, eds. 1997. Promoting Preservation Awareness in
Libraries. A Sourcebook for Academic, Public, School, and Special Collections.
Gwin, James E. 1992. Preservation and Environmental Control Issues in the Ur-
ban/Metropolitan Academic Library. In Academic Libraries in Urban and Met-
ropolitan Areas, A Management Handbook, edited by Gerard B. McCabe.
Lewis, Audrey. 1998. Madame Audreys Guide to Mostly Cheap but Good Reference
Books for Small and Rural Libraries. Chicago: American Library Association.
Wynar, Bohdan S., and Susan Dawn Strickland, eds. 1999. Recommended Reference
Books for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries and Media Centers. Englewood,
Colo.: Libraries Unlimited.
9
Childrens Services to
Meeting Space
THE CHILDRENS LIBRARY
The optimum for a childrens area is a self-contained space exclusively for
service to children, making it is unnecessary for them to leave. Everything is
there. This may be a room or a space delineated by shelving, a seating area, or
some division set off by an arrangement of furniture and equipment. In a joint-
use library with either a school or college program, separation is best. It is not
that children are noisy, but their needs differ greatly from those of teenagers
and young adults. The typical childrens area of only a decade ago now is too
small. Careful attention to population data, growth projections, service patterns,
and community needs is critical. Arriving at the best possible size in space will
help avoid problems when increased growth of population brings more children
to the library. Often a separate room or wing or a carefully delineated area (in
a small building) provides a more successful solution.
1
As the planning process begins, and prior to talks with the consultant, pop-
ulation data and projections, the anticipated size of the collection by format, and
the librarys service plan for children, if one has been prepared, should be gath-
ered. If there is a service plan and it includes outreach to the community through
service to day care centers, kindergarten, and elementary schools, all of this
should be reviewed with the consultant. The objective is arriving at a size that
will meet projected needs. Estimating the space needed for materials with al-
lowance for growth may be determined on the basis of the projections (projected
population size and size of the collections with growth projected).
For furniture and equipment, the budget plan should provide for a propor-
tionately greater expenditure per user than that for adults. Todays automation
sensitive children will have no memory of life without computers when they
reach college age, just as present college students have no memory of life with-
out television. Library planning requires a larger amount of time and effort
expended on addressing the needs of children and, because they will mature, on
the library service needs of young adults.
2
For both children and young adults consultation with the local school au-
thorities is advisable. The public library is not to replace school libraries; that
obligation on the part of school boards remains. This remains true in a joint-
use library with the school board paying its fair share of the costs. Population
projections used by the school systems may coincide with the data used by the
library, but possibly may not. Knowing the area birthrate is not enough. In an
in-migration area to which families are moving, estimating the number of in-
coming children is critical to school operation. It will affect the library similarly.
Knowing the types of software and equipment the schools are using will help
in acquiring useful equipment for these library services. In a public library and
school library joint-use facility it is important that both sides realize and fulll
their obligations.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
For a self-contained area there should be some means of enclosure or delin-
eation. The objective as stated is to convey a sense of ownership to children
and assist in keeping them from wandering into other areas. The chosen solution
should be exible so that the space can be adjusted if necessary.
If walls with windows are used, the glass should be safety glass. Sadly, the
occasional violent child may attempt to break the glass in some way. Floor and
wall coverings should be easily cleanable. Acoustical control for noise contain-
ment may take the form of soft coverings on panels, ceiling tiles, and separation
of seating areas by use of the collections.
Selecting a theme for the area will aid in planning the interior design. The
theme may reect local geography, local or national history, a literary theme,
or some interest that will be sustaining for some period of time. The color
scheme and decorative material will reect the theme. The interior designer will
propose colors that will not agitate young children and will be conducive to
their good behavior.
COLLECTIONS
The collections include a variety of formats. There should be an actual hard
count of what is on hand, and each should have a projection so that the space
Childrens Services to Meeting Space 87
allocation is determined with some degree of accuracy. Once the gures are
determined, tables in Brawner and Beck (1996) or in Dahlgren (1998) may be
used as guidelines for space allocations. If there is any doubt about the estimate
then an expansion factor should be used to increase the proposed size. Strict
adherence to gures developed in this method without interposing practical judg-
ment may also result in less space than necessary. A joint-use facility with a
four year academic institution may require a larger collection with more authors
represented in depth and some duplication of standard childrens works.
Several manufacturers offer various shelving and storage options for materi-
als, and produce furniture for childrens libraries. These include shelving of
different heights, cabinets, boxes (sometimes window boxes designed to t be-
neath windows with liftable seats under which items may be stored), and bins.
Tables and carrels should accommodate electronic devices. The recommendation
is to plan for every seat having power/communication (online computer services)
access. The equipment available, computers and accessory equipment, calcula-
tors, video monitors, etc., are power operated and in two cases use communi-
cation lines. It may not be feasible when rst opening the service to place
equipment at every seat, but the provision for increasing the commitment to
equipment must be present. The possible introduction of wireless computing
may bring about change in the requirements for online service, but may not
eliminate the need for a power supply. Planning for either contingency is a better
choice.
SEATING
The seating options selected from the available array of workstations, single
and multiseat tables and carrels, lounge chairs, bean bags, gure cushions, win-
dow boxes, and backrests (for children preferring to sit on the oor) should be
reviewed with the consultant and the interior designer. These specialists can
advise on arrangements that will assist the architect in planning for placement
of power/communication lines and lighting. Arriving at the right number of each
and the correct total number of seats for the open area will take some very
thoughtful discussion. It is not uncommon to hedge against an underestimate by
adding some square footage to the space table to allow for a shortfall.
Another common practice is to provide seating for a small number of parents
who may wish to remain with their children, typically a few lounge chairs of
varying sizes with space included in the space allocation. A large library may
provide a separate sitting room with a window overlooking the childrens area.
These spaces may be called the parents lounge.
STORY HOUR
Planning story hour space requires some basic information. First, how many
children may be attending a typical story hour session? Second, depending upon
the estimated attendance, how to best provide for them? Third, how extensive
should the programming be or what can be managed for programming? The
estimated attendance may be derived from past experience, comparisons with
activity in other libraries, and projected population increases. A new or reno-
vated building will gain over previous activity and attendance. The concern is
for avoiding underestimating average attendance and for having a manageable
space. Joint-use with a four-year academic institution may offer opportunities
for training college students in story telling. A far richer program than might
be otherwise available is possible.
The space assignment may be open oor space in a small library, a portion
of the multipurpose or meeting room, or a special room designed and used
exclusively for story hour and other program presentations for children. The
latter is the choice for a joint-use library. Seating will range from cushions to
amphitheater-style row seats. Children will sit, sprawl, or otherwise lounge on
whatever is provided. In any of these situations the arrangement should be de-
signed to minimize distraction for the children. For small libraries a movable
panel wall may be used to screen off the space when story hour is active. A
dimmer switch lowers lighting intensity. In some libraries where space is limited
and there is a suitably sized multipurpose or meeting room that is divisible, a
section of that room may be used. For larger libraries the preference is for a
dedicated room.
Internal arrangements for story hour rooms vary greatly among libraries.
Some have rooms that are fairly plain, use cushions for seating, and are mini-
mally equipped. These rooms may have a screen for lm showings, a puppet
theater box, a small platform for the storyteller, and a dimmer switch for the
lighting. In other libraries the story hour room may be compared to a small
theater. These may have amphitheater seating, a small stage or platform, the-
atrical lighting for special effects, television monitors, rear screen projection,
lm screen, and power/communication supply to support educational program-
ming.
When rooms are used, soundproong is substantial and windows are lacking.
Carpeting may be carpet tile for oor access as optional. Brawner and Beck
(124) provide a space allocation per child, but this is a guideline. The extent of
the programming to be provided will inuence the space allocated as well. Space
for projection equipment, even rear screen equipment, must be calculated, and
if equipment for other formats is used, oor space must be available. Story hour
programming for small children may be supplanted later in the day by educa-
tional programming for older children, so the room must be planned for any
eventuality.
LIBRARIAN AND ACTIVITY SPACE
A service desk or a counter style workstation serves as the focal point for
personal service to children. If the plan calls for a public access catalog terminal
for the childrens area, it should be placed very near this location. This service
point should have access to the power/communication lines. Children will re-
quest access to online Internet services. For the librarians off-desk work, an
ofce has many advantages. This should be large enough to allow work space
for preparation of presentations in addition to book selection and related duties.
A crafts area for nger painting and art related activities usually has a vinyl
oor. The location may be a small workroom or an open space.
A very large library may have supporting staff, so a workroom is necessary.
If there is more than one librarian then another ofce or a panel system work-
room should provide off-desk duty space for these people. Again, space for
volunteers should be included. Space for four-year college students who have
assignments involving childrens services in a joint-use library will be helpful
as well.
YOUNG ADULT SERVICES
The need to improve services for the expanding population of young adults
will become critical if it is not already so. The appearance of a book by Nichols
and Nichols (1998) demonstrates the concern that many American librarians
have for young adult services. There is concern in other countries as well; wit-
ness the Australian web publication One Small Room (1998).
The young adult service area is a transitional point between childrens and adult ser-
vices. Insofar as possible it too should convey a sense of ownership to young adults,
a place where they will feel comfortable as they make their way through library serv-
ices.
Planning for this area should include some group study rooms, good use of
workstations with extra chairs (for groups to work), some four-seat and some
two-seat tables, a few lounge chairs, and, space permitting, backrests and bean
bags for those who care to sit on the carpet. The space allocation should be
generous. This same advice applies to joint-use libraries with either schools or
colleges. In those instances care should be taken to differentiate school needs
versus general public library needs and college needs in the same vein. This
will take space.
The Australian State of Queensland web publication, One Small Room, under
Recommendations, proposes that young people in the service community be
involved in the planning effort. This includes selecting or suggesting appropriate
furniture, preferred resources, and the types of educational and cultural activities
that young people would like the library staff to prepare for them (One Small
Room, 1998 Recommendations). At Logan City in Queensland, the Logan Hy-
perdome Library, opened in January 1998, has a youth hyperspace that re-
sulted from participation of young people (Johnson 1997, 15).
It would be most appropriate to provide for involvement of young adults in
the planning effort for their service area. Meetings could be arranged with the
YA librarian, the architect, and very important, with the interior designer, a
person with whom young people could develop a strong rapport. It is in the
area of furnishings and color that young people will feel the most satisfaction
if they are asked for their ideas. This area may be distinguished by its own color
scheme. The interior designer should be asked to prepare a color coordinated
scheme that will clearly set off the area, and if done with participation by young
adults, it should be very successful.
Periodicals for young adults may be placed in this area. A large library may
consider duplicating some subscriptions that otherwise would only have a single
copy in the regular periodicals section. If so, shelving should be planned ac-
cordingly; shelving of different heights for portions of the collection should be
considered. All seats should have access to the power/communication/computer
network supply.
In anticipation of services that appeal to young adults, the librarian should
prepare to offer through online services opportunities for Internet access for e-
mail, research for term papers and other projects, instructional courses offered
online, chat rooms, and games.
ADULT SERVICES
The adult collections will consist of periodicals, bound backles, books, and
media material. Each type is treated separately. Adults will expect the same
online services offered to young adults. Depending upon the composition and
diversity of the population served, the librarian may anticipate high demand for
Internet e-mail service when numbers of immigrants are in the service popula-
tion.
Periodicals
Arranging a periodicals collection can be a challenge. Adults of disparate
ages and interests will be the primary users. Comfortable seating patterns will
be very appealing. The arrangement must allow for people who will access the
collection rather quickly and leave after perusing one or two items, for those
who are doing research, and those who wish to sit and read for a few hours. In
the small library the area will be part of the open public space while the larger
library will have a separate reading room. The furniture and equipment should
provide for physically impaired persons. The extent of equipment required de-
pends upon the scope of the collection. If microform periodical backles are
included, then reader/printers will be necessary. If workstations for research are
provided, then dimmer switches for lighting control may be helpful.
The seating options depend upon the formality desired. Lounge chairs, single
carrels, and tables are obvious. Casual seating such as bean bags and backrests
may t one situation and not another.
Shelving choices offer some options. Display shelving should be of a height
suitable for both visually impaired and mobility impaired users. Task lighting
and magniers are essential.
Literature Collection
The storage choicesconventional height about seven feet, lower shelving
about ve feet, and low shelving about four feetmay all be used. For large
print collections the middle height, about 60" to 66", is preferred. If oversize
volumes, large picture books are one example, a separate area with low shelving
may be preferred. For maximum capacity, conventional height, about seven feet,
shelving is the choice. If oor space is limited, as it may be in a small library,
then careful estimates of capacity and growth must be made. Again as remarked
upon elsewhere, the ethnic composition of the service population may be a factor
in deciding upon the height of most of the shelving. People in some ethnic
groups, especially womenthe predominant library users, tend to be of shorter
stature than the average American.
Audiovisual materials may be stored in an open area or for a large collection
in a room. There are shelving styles available or cabinets may be used. This is
discussed in the chapter on furniture and equipment. Permitting listening within
the library is optional and a local decision.
Seating for adults requires a broad range of options. The distribution and ratio
among carrel seating, lounge chairs, table chairs, and casual seats will depend
upon the population age ranges for the community served. In large libraries a
ratio among the types of seats may be based on anticipated average use by
different age groups. As noted in the section on periodicals, task lighting and
magniers should be available in adult reading areas.
MEETING SPACE
This section covers multipurpose rooms or community meeting rooms, con-
ference rooms, and supporting services.
Multipurpose Room
Maximum exibility should be the objective for designing this room. To
obtain a reasonable size for community meetings, the estimated attendance must
be identied. The building program suggests sufcient space to accommodate
an audience and activities support. Community meetings are not regular daily
activities. The room should be used for other purposes ranging from small group
meetings, story hour, small concerts, computer training sessions, educational
lm showings, lectures, and cultural activities. To accomplish these objectives,
the room should be divisible, depending upon size, into two or more smaller
rooms. Obtaining maximum use by scheduling more than one activity at any
time when the full space isnt needed is economical use of expensive space.
Soundproof folding panels are useful for this purpose. Paintings and prints may
be displayed on the panels if desired. The separate areas require dimmer
switches, television monitors, ceiling mounted powered screens, and the
power/communication supply. This may consist of network ports in a track in
the oor or around the walls. Again, wireless computing may assist with this
need. One section may have rear screen projection, a folding stage for speakers
and small music concerts, trio or quartet. Closet space for folding or stacking
chairs and coat racks is necessary. The design should avoid exterior windows.
Natural light will interfere with some activities. The cost of window treatment
and the staff time consumed in adjusting coverings is saved. If there is concern
for exterior esthetics, faux windows may overcome this problem.
Service offerings may include video teleconferencing via satellite downlink.
Cultural and instructional programming will have wide appeal to community
and professional groups.
Conference Room
Sometimes a part of the administrative suite, the room is used for library
board and staff-related meetings. In small and medium-sized libraries, apart from
the librarians ofce or suite, this room should be exible for other uses as well
as for staff purposes. The room in either case is used for meetings and may also
serve educational purposes. This room can be used for video teleconferencing
for small groups. To serve any function the room should have at least a con-
ference center cabinet with writing board, screen, and shelving for supplies. If
a plumbing supply is nearby, there may be a sink. A television monitor, data
projector (both may be ceiling mounted), dimmer switch, telephone jacks (pref-
erably two), and wall outlets complete the basic requirements. For use in teach-
ing computer skills, network ports may be made available as stated in the
previous section. The room size depends upon the estimated attendance at a
typical group meeting.
Discovery Area (Displays)
This may be a room or an open oor space. The purpose is to accommodate
exhibits. This is an option found in some libraries. A small room with several
display cases, free standing or wall mounted, are used for showing hobbies of
local persons stamp collecting, models, etc. Traveling exhibits may also be
accommodated. Locations may be off the lobby, near the multipurpose room,
or wherever thought suitable.
Staff Lounge and Kitchen
The staff lounge is proportional in size to the staff. Accordingly, small tables
for eating, lounge chairs, free-standing refrigerator, double sink, dishwasher,
stove (top only or full size), microwave oven, counter-top appliance outlets, wall
outlets, television monitor, and cabinets are furnishings and equipment to con-
sider. Staff lockers and restrooms may be in the room or nearby. Vending ma-
chines are optional.
In some situations the kitchen facility may be shared with the conference
room and multipurpose room if they are near. In others, the multipurpose room
may have its own kitchen facility adjacent to it. In medium to larger buildings,
separate facilities are preferable.
A large library with security ofcers or guards on duty at all open hours should
provide separate work space apart from the operating library staff space. This
space would include one or two desks with communication equipment and lock-
ers for clothing. This applies whether the guards are employed by an outside
contractor, the local government, or the library itself. The sharing of staff lounge
space may be permitted, but for a very large library, separate accommodations
entirely may be the best approach. A small but appropriately sized space for
coffee breaks will sufce.
NOTES
1. Several more recent building renovation projects were expressly for the purpose of
expanding the childrens area. Population growth was the cause. In one Pennsylvania
library, an unused upper level was converted to childrens services. In other cases, the
building was expanded laterally. In Scranton, Pennsylvania, the very attractive, architec-
turally unique downtown library building had become hopelessly overcrowded. The for-
tunate solution came with the availability of an adjacent building that was converted into
a childrens library much to the delight of the community parents. The original library
building was restored to much of its former elegance.
2. For more on this see: Gerard B. McCabe, and Rebecca M. McCabe, The Coming
Generation of Computer Procient Students: What It May Mean for Libraries, ERIC
Clearinghouse on Information and Technology, Syracuse, N.Y. ED367381, 1994.
REFERENCES
brary Association.
Dahlgren, Anders C. 1998. Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline/1998. State
of Wisconsin, Department of Public Instruction. Public Library Development.
[last modied, June 5, 1998] [23 pp.] http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dlcl/pld/
plspace.html.
Johnson, Carolyn. 1997. Drive-through Library a First. inCite, News magazine of the
Australian Library and Information Association. 1997 (September): 15.
Nichols, Mary Anne, and C. Allen Nichols, eds. 1998. Young Adults and Public Librar-
ies: A Handbook of Materials and Services. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
One Small Room: What Would Young People Do to Make Library Spaces and Services
More Appealing to other Young People? 1998. The One Small Room Report.
State Library of Queensland. Public Libraries Division. http://www.slq.qld.gov.
au/pub/onesmall/contents.htm
. Recommendations. 1998. Web site: http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/pub/onesmall/
recom.htm
The above forty-ve-page Australian publication is available on the Internet. It may
take more than one downloading to obtain the full publication because of the way it was
loaded.
10
Architectural Details
In this chapter certain items that are or may be included in the building program
are described. This is the place where preferences are stated. Some of the in-
clusions may appear obvious and repetitious, but leaving them to chance may
be a risk not worth taking.
CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
The construction module selected should reect the three-foot rule, the
length of a typical American stack unit. Metcalf notes that the length 36 inches
or .914 meters is the American standard (1986, 134). This will permit ranges
to be placed between columns assuming a construction module is selected that
is also based on the same rule. For large buildings and buildings of more than
one oor, the architect should consult Metcalfs Appendix B (55256). In coun-
tries using the metric system the measurements may be the same or may differ,
but this rule regarding the relationship between shelving length and module
accommodation still applies. This is an issue for larger library buildings, and
occasionally, despite the fact that it is common knowledge among librarians, is
seen as a aw in otherwise very ne buildings. It is surprising sometimes to see
a well planned new building with columns in stack aisles. The live load-bearing
capability of the foundation and oors should be a minimum of 150 pounds per
square foot, about 68.04 kilograms. If the use of compact shelving is planned,
then the live load-bearing capability should be at 300 pounds per square foot,
about 136 kilograms. This is another commonly understood necessity that some-
times is overlooked, but should be caught early in the process. If not, it may
reach the blueprint stage where a careful check may reveal the problem, and
send the project into a time delay while the oversight is corrected. This is men-
tioned in the section on site selection, but is worth repeating again. Typically,
if compact shelving is wanted, the lowest oors are constructed with this ca-
pability.
Select a construction module that will allow placement of ranges between columns.
Live load-bearing capability of foundation and standard oors should be 150 pounds
per square foot.
For compact shelving the live load-bearing capability should be 300 pounds per square
foot.
Climatic conditions are mentioned early in the building program. In many
parts of the United States peaked roofs or barrel roofs are recommended. If the
choice is a at or somewhat sloping roof, then it should be well drained and
capable of withstanding a sizable snow load, if in a northern area, or a heavy
downpour of rain, if in an area where severe thunderstorms and heavy down-
pours may occur. This common-sense advice applies in other countries as well.
For ceilings, if a sprinkler system is required by state or local codes, the min-
imum height must be at least nine feet.
Built-ins
Certain features may be built-in. These should be described in the program.
Book and video return drops, bulletin boards, closets, coat racks, display cases,
and lockers are good candidates for built-in status. A book or video return drop
that opens into the building must empty into a reproof closet or container.
Some new libraries have automatic conveyor belts that carry returns directly
into the circulation workroom. Using book bins requires staff to bend over to
remove sometimes heavy books. Back strain may result, as Australian librarians
have pointed out on their listserv.
1
Identifying locations for public and staff
bulletin boards will help give a more attractive appearance to where they are
placed. Building in display cases in vestibules, lobbies, along trafc aisles, and
places where they will be useful is an economy that shouldnt be overlooked.
The librarian and staff can propose sizes, and the architect will include them in
the planning. If a display case is placed in the wall of a workroom, a rear
opening will avoid opening a display case into a trafc aisle. Closets for equip-
ment, for staff use in some workrooms or ofces, and for folding chairs in a
meeting room are conventional. Lockers are usually placed in specially designed
wall alcoves. Those for staff use are placed in or near the staff room or lounge.
Architectural Details 97
Glass
In the next few years, as new glass products enter the market and costs drop,
libraries should be among the beneciaries. More glass is being used today in
buildings, and this will increase. New manufacturing techniques are making
glass in several variations much more attractive to architects (Daniels 1998, 131
34). Librarians should be very receptive to the use of glass products in their
projects. Glass specially designed for certain uses will offer advantages such as
added strength and screening out ultraviolet rays while admitting light, thereby
adding to the ambience of the building.
Windows, while wanted, sometimes are left to chance, but the librarian and
board should indicate some preferences. The architect may make some recom-
mendations. The usual, conventional preference is for thermal double paned
windows, tinted to some degree. Most people prefer windows that open even in
a building with excellent environmental control. Their concern is for the occa-
sional power outage and the discomfort that motionless air can cause. How
windows are to open may offer some choices, and this should be considered
with some caution. The issue is security from burglary. Screens are another
item. The preference in many cases may be for screened windows that will
open, but not in such a way as to permit unwanted entry or ejection of library
materials out the window.
The use of glass in a library building, as in any public building, requires
attention to safety features. Improved products are coming. For all internal win-
dows, window walls, and partitions, safety glass is recommended; improvements
in this product are also coming. For exterior windows, depending upon the
location of the building, safety or security glass may also be important. In an
area where severe windstorms are prevalent, storm blown debris may smash
windows. For libraries in downtown or other congested locations, safety glass
for windows is very important. The concern is for the possibility of gas main
explosions, major res in adjacent buildings, or other similar urban-type acci-
dents that can cause damage to windows and possible injury to people.
The national government has directed research on improved safety glass be-
cause of terrorist activities affecting federal buildings (Nadel 1998). The issue
for libraries may not be terrorist attack, but harm from other natural and man-
made causes. Librarians in congested areas with renovation projects, or new
construction, would do well to review options for replacement windows that
meet the highest standards for safety and security. With the government sup-
porting research, and business and industry also seeking improvements, new
advanced glass products should be on the market.
Skylights and atriums are noted for attractiveness and for bringing natural
light into interior building spaces. Skylights preferably are opaque rather than
clear so that the entering sunlight is ltered and glare is reduced. In planning
for skylights, the need is to coordinate the location in the roof with what will
be placed on the oor below. Among the options are over entryways, potted
plants, open oor space with casual seating in the childrens area, and the pe-
riodicals area if it is not near windows and other spaces. The architect and the
interior designer may provide very acceptable solutions. A skylight over a series
of ranges would not be advantageous. Placement of an atrium should be guided
by the same concerns. In a single level building, the atrium may have lounge
seating placed about it. In a multilevel building, seating and potted plantings
may be alternated from oor to oor or a mobile may be suspended. All options
should be considered and provided for in the planning, not left until the building
is nished. For many such features, the skills of the architect and the interior
designer should be utilized for the best possible results while those individuals
are present and working on the project. As mentioned in the preceding para-
graphs, very attractive and efcient glass products are available. The interior
designer may suggest decorative features for any clear glass to enhance its at-
tractiveness. One product that has some advantages is stained glass overlay. Less
expensive than regular stained glass, it does not interfere with visibility or light-
ing, and offers a variety of designs from oral arrangements to thematic animal
and character gures for the childrens area.
Use glass for light and ambience.
Use safety glass on all interior windows and/or glass walls.
All exterior windows should have safety glass, double paned and tinted.
If windows are to open, be certain of security.
Stained glass overlay is practical for decorating interior windows and glass walls.
Lighting
New products appearing regularly over the last several years have helped
resolve lighting problems for all sorts of buildings from private homes to large
ofce buildings. Good lighting can be provided at relatively low cost. The guide-
line for reading surfaces in public areas has been 50-foot candles for more than
a decade. Some modern lighting combinations may exceed this level, but it
should not approach the levels of the 1960s when 100- to 125-foot candles on
reading surfaces was the accepted norm. For lighting over shelving areas, there
are options. The current preference in new buildings leans toward lighting units
mounted on alternating stack ranges. Ceiling arrangements of xtures vary
among libraries. Users must be able to read call numbers or spine information
on the lowest shelves with little difculty. The chosen arrangement must satisfy
that need. For windows that provide natural light to seating areas, sensors built
into the lighting system will control and moderate the lighting levels on reading
surfaces during daylight hours. For meeting rooms where dimmable lights are
desired, the recent introduction of dimmable uorescent lamps makes this an
opportunity to lower lighting costs and still have quality lighting (Audin, 1998,
161).
For staff work areas similar solutions are available. Care should be taken to
make certain that staff have good lighting, even superior to that provided to the
public if deemed necessary. An advertising insert to the June 1997 issue of
Architectural Record comments on employee absenteeism in business and in-
dustry caused by poor lighting conditions. Workers in libraries must read various
sizes and designs of printed type. It is inevitable that at times some eye strain
may result from this type of work (Two Component Lighting, 17882).
Footcandle measurement on reading surfaces neednt exceed 50 footcandles.
Sensors placed by exterior windows will regulate lighting intensity during daylight
hours.
Staff work areas should have quality lighting.
Power and Communications
The building must have a power supply that is sufcient and that will support
the introduction of power-operated equipment for many years into the future
without the need to add additional power lines. The architect will handle this
matter using the advice of electrical engineers. It is the librarian who must
identify the need so that it is understood and resolved as part of the initial
planning. As additional energy efcient electronic equipment is added, it is still
possible that the incoming power supply will be overtaxed. Its not unlikely that
a new building will soon prove to be underpowered. This is simply because the
vision of the librarys services and its important role in serving the community
was decient by failing to realize the need for a large quantity of power-operated
equipment. This is critical regardless of the building size. Librarians may over-
look such items as ceiling fans in reading areas and hot air dryers in restrooms.
It is costly to correct a shortfall in the power supply.
New technologies in power generation are appearing. These may offer attrac-
tive opportunities to have in-house sources of electric power for all the librarys
operations. Already appearing in some commercial installations are fuel cells,
turbines and microturbines, and solar power. Wind power is being revived. A
newer developmentthe Liquid Rankin systemis in the experimental stage.
A reporter for the Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service describes the conversion
of a New York City police station to fuel cell power. This station now operates
independently of the citys power grid (Borenstein 1999, A1, A4). The article
describes other applications of turbine and microturbine technologies in com-
mercial enterprises. The librarian should ask the architect and project engineers
to investigate and advise on the feasibility of the library having an independent
power generation system.
At the operating level, the building should have many circuits, many outlets,
and channels in the oors or walls as appears necessary. Its always possible
that some unit of equipment may require its own circuit, the security system
server computer for one example. Some equipment may not permit more than
a handful of units on a circuit. For the online services, an uninterruptible power
supply is required. If there is a power outage, this will permit the computer
systems to operate for a short period of time so that an orderly shutdown is
possible.
The building must have a sufcient power supply.
Many circuits and outlets are essential.
An uninterruptible power supply is essential for online services.
For communications, telephone lines and category 5 unshielded twisted pair
(UTP) cabling are needed. Both types should be available through the channels
or other suitable sources. Advice on installing this cable is available (Cat 5
Cabling Tips 1999). For staff use there should be a generous provision of
telephone/computer jacks. In ofces, not one jack but three or four, depending
upon space size, will permit exibility for movement of furniture and equipment.
The same is true in workrooms. This is less expensive when it is done as part
of the original construction or renovation.
The electronic information center is computer dependent. A major issue in
the use of computers and peripheral equipment is wire management. This is
until and unless wireless computers become the norm. (This is exclusive of the
power line). In todays libraries wire channels provide control at circulation and
reference counters or desks. The architects design for these items should pro-
vide for extensive control for the large quantity of wiring. For workstations,
tables, carrels, and desks, manufacturers provide channel connections through
the legs.
Public telephones are part of the basic planning. If telephones for public use
are provided, the locations should be planned to avoid noise issues. The larger
the building the more important this becomes. Its better to plan for locations
and avoid later installations because of user complaints. For smaller libraries, a
public telephone may be placed in the vestibule or even outside the main entry.
Policy about public telephones varies among libraries, but it is an issue that
should be addressed very early in the process. Public telephones and their re-
ceptacles sometimes can be very ugly. The interior designer may advise if a
clash in color coordination is likely. There are products on the market that
address this matter as noted in another section of this book.
Cable and satellite television reception should be planned for in the initial
phases. The cabling, dish placements, and monitor locations should be installed
during construction. Planning for both may offer an advantage later if more
educational programming becomes available.
A public address system may be considered. A system can be useful in the
event of the sudden approach of a severe storm, tornado warnings, and similar
potential emergencies.
Include policy for public telephones in the early planning.
Plan for both cable and satellite television, keeping options open.
Provide a generous supply of telephone jacks in ofces and workrooms.
Plan both for telephone lines and category 5 UTP cabling.
Plan wire management control.
Public address systems are worthwhile for large buildings and are mandatory in geo-
graphic areas prone to severe storms.
PEOPLE MOVERS
Stairs and conveyances for moving people from point to point either on their
own power or with mechanical assistance require special considerations. They
can be hazardous and endangering to people. Stairs must be planned carefully;
pitch and angle are very critical. Mechanical devices can malfunction at times
to the point of threatening life. Every library should have a safety policies and
procedures handbook that covers safety requirements and handling of stairs and
conveyances if they are part of the building (see Appendix E). Every staff mem-
ber should receive training on matters related to safety for these features. More
detail appears in the subsections that follow.
Elevators and Escalators
Both of the above can pose extreme hazards for users on occasion. Elevators
in the United States are more common than escalators, over 600,000 to about
30,000, but each has specic safety issues.
2
For multistoried buildings and for
buildings where site arrangements may make an elevator necessary, the elevators
must meet ADA requirements. The size of the elevators oors will depend upon
the height of the building, the number of elevators, and the use for which the
elevator is designed, passengers or freight. When elevators are to be used for
transporting loaded book trucks and passengers, the design load must be suf-
cient for this double purpose. Library consultant William Pierce believes that a
separate freight elevator is unnecessary, suggesting that in a group of elevators
one be oversized (Pierce 1980, 243).
The selected manufacturer should be required to provide instructions for
safety, training of staff, and for daily operation. Elevators should have printed
safety instructions clearly mounted on one side of the carriage. In the contractual
arrangements for purchasing an elevator the maintenance requirements and
schedule for such should be stated as a requirement which the manufacturer
must provide. Any elevator passenger should be able to signal for assistance in
the event of a malfunction. Some manufacturers install telephones for this pur-
pose in the carriages. Pierce recommends either an alarm or communication
system in all elevators (Pierce 1980, 243). Local or state governments usually
require safety inspection on an annual basis.
Escalators require even more very careful thought before a decision is made
to use them in a new building, or even to renovate them if they are in an older
building. If a new large library is being planned when the issue of transporting
library users from oor to oor in a multistoried building is considered, the
serious question of how much risk the library board and civic authorities are
willing to take on the matter of possible personal injury to users must be dis-
cussed. Some very large urban public libraries and some large academic libraries
have escalators installed. In some instances escalators may appear as the best
alternative for vertical movement of library users. The decision makerslibrar-
ian, board, architect, etc.must weigh the oor space needed, the long range
problem of the library eventually needing that oor space, the electrical supply
consumption, and the people trafc that requires this solution. If so, then these
installations must have safety devices and equipment prominently installed or
displayed. If someones clothing becomes entangled in the machinery, the ma-
chinery must shut off automatically and an emergency shut-off button or switch
must be clearly visible so that someone else may halt the machine. The same
applies if some person should stumble or fall while using the escalator. The
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has been very concerned about the
safety of children using escalators (see note 1). Escalators may be useful only
in the largest public libraries that can afford to have security guards monitoring
their use, and only for use by adults, and the expense of their operation. Any
childrens service area in a library should be accessible by means other than
escalators. Parents or guardians of small children who bring them to a library
should not be required to use an escalator to get to the childrens area. The risk
is too great (see note 2).
There are differences of opinion among library consultants on the question
of escalators. In a recent article, William Sannwald (1998) proposes that esca-
lators be considered for new large libraries, with many oors, which will
provide people the opportunity to look over the oors as they ascend or descend
(207). Safety rules do not encourage random looking around when riding es-
calators (see note 2). Metcalf, Cohen and Cohen, and Pierce all comment on
escalators. They are consistent in noting that escalators are expensive to operate,
suitable only for large numbers of people, and use a large amount of oor space.
Cohen and Cohen doubt that libraries have the volume of people trafc that
justies an installation such as in a department store or a shopping mall (Metcalf
1986, 26263; Cohen and Cohen 1981, photograph caption 202; Pierce 1980,
243). Cohen and Cohen comment on the high use of electricity by escalators
and the feasibility of having some sort of sensor control to start and stop an
escalator only when its in use by people (201). Lueder and Webb (1992) note
weekly maintenance for escalators (53).
Stairs
Stairwells, size in space, and the number required will depend upon the height
and width of the building and local codes. Stairs pose special problems for
architects. People do trip and fall occasionally on any staircase. Issues regarding
space requirements, safety, and code observance are studied by the profession
with considerable care (Hill 1998, 18186). The architect should plan staircases
and wells so that users may climb them comfortably, use ADA compliant bal-
usters, and have the step surfaces nished in a slip proof manner.
People movers require careful consideration for safety issues.
Elevators must have a communication device for use by passengers in malfunctions.
Escalators consume power and space. Determine trafc requirements to justify their
use.
Review safety issues and risks before selecting any conveyance for moving people.
The library should have a safety handbook covering all operational equipment, espe-
cially elevators and escalators if used.
Avoid using escalators to transport children.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
The Life Safety Code ordinarily serves as a basic guide through the construc-
tion process. The architect will follow state and local regulations regarding re
safety, and what follows here is for general information purposes. Depending
upon location and size, the employment of a security consultant is recom-
mended. Local regulations and state laws around the country will vary on some
requirements. The building will have smoke and re detectors, and the control
panel may be located at a place where someone is always on duty when the
library is open, usually the circulation counter. The recommendation is that the
system be connected to the local re station or, as may be the case in a rural
county, to the governmental center. If there is a sprinkler system, unless local
codes specically state what it should be, the merits of either a wetline or dry
line system should be considered.
For protection against burglary, all doors and windows should be connected
to an alarm system. This in turn may be connected to a local police station, to
a security service, or simply to an external alarm claxon.
For personal safety there is reason for serious concern. A number of products
are on the market, and the advice of a security consultant will be helpful. In
small libraries one suggestion is to have a concealed silent alarm at the circu-
lation counter. If there is an activity causing concern, the alarm may be de-
pressed. It should be connected to a local police station, county center, or a
security service that will bring assistance. This may prove safer than picking up
a telephone. Other solutions involve use of commercial products. Finding the
product that provides the most satisfactory solution for each individual library
will require a consultants assistance and consultation with local law enforce-
ment authorities. Today, libraries are targets of opportunity, sometimes spur-
of-the-moment action by some individual intent on doing harm will occur. The
contents of libraries are very attractive and very portable. Among items at risk
are compact electronic equipment items, but personal safety for users and staff
cant be left to chance. It is important that safeguards be in place. Metcalf offers
a number of suggestions (11015).
Video surveillance systems are often used in large and multistory libraries.
When planning the system, the planning group with the architect and the con-
sultant should review the proposed coverage very carefully. The screening
should cover the entry, the exterior approaches, any external side, rear or out-
of-sight areas, and the public service areas including interior entrances to special
areas such as the genealogy room and re exits, etc. The viewing plan should
include the childrens service area. Some monitors for viewing the activity in
the childrens area should be placed in adult areas. This allows parents who
leave their children unattended in the area the opportunity to observe. Any exits
from the childrens area should be covered by the surveillance system. While it
may be unusual, libraries should take precautions against the possibility of pa-
rental kidnapping. Public libraries at certain times of the day have considerable
numbers of school age children in the building (Libraries Becoming Day-care
Centers 1998). The video system can be supplemented by the use of convex
mirrors placed where judged necessary. The line drawings and/or CAD eleva-
tions can be used to plan locations for video cameras and mirrors.
Finally, to repeat for emphasis, all libraries should have a handbook or manual
with safety procedures enumerated for equipment problems, people movers, per-
sonal safety, etc. The larger libraries will have more complex manuals. Peri-
odically, perhaps annually, there should be a staff meeting at which all safety
procedures are reviewed (see Appendix E). Disaster plans are also advised, and
these two needs may be combined into one pamphlet or book.
Employ a security consultant when major safety and security issues exist.
Plan alarm systems for personal safety and protection against burglary and consult
local law enforcement ofcers.
Use video surveillance supplemented by a convex mirror system.
Plan a safety handbook and regular training sessions for staff.
AUXILIARY SPACES
When feasible, the maintenance and the electrical rooms should be placed on
the building perimeter. For small libraries this is usually helpful. Maintenance
technicians may access these spaces without the need for the librarian or a staff
person to be present to open the library. If an exterior access is nearby this will
be helpful to avoid bringing in or taking out replacement or worn parts through
library service areas. For larger buildings other factors in the design process
may cause the architect to use an internal placement.
For situations where the library is responsible for lawn maintenance, land-
scaping, snow removal, and other exterior maintenance, provision of space for
equipment may also be on the buildings perimeter. For small buildings the
solution may be a space accessible from the exterior but not accessible from the
interior. This type of arrangement avoids the problem of persons possibly break-
ing into this space and then breaking into the library.
The janitorial closet may be placed near the primary main restrooms or be
located separately. In some arrangements the janitorial closet and small ofce
space is placed in the receiving area. The usual inclusions are a slop sink, space
for pails, mops, and a ladder. Another consideration is the use of a built-in
vacuum cleaner system. This provides some efciency in maintaining carpets
and, for large areas, may reduce patron discomfort caused by the raising of dust
by conventional vacuum cleaners.
There are options for the use of photocopiers. In joint-use libraries with
schools or colleges, carefully plan for a high volume activity. Some libraries
will prefer to place these machines near staff service points. Others, through the
necessity of large spaces, may place them near collections where they may be
helpful to users. This is done to help reduce potential mutilation and theft.
Arrangements for this equipment should be part of the design. In some buildings
alcoves may be a solution. Some librarians may prefer a copy room and have
users bring materials to these places. The requirements include trafc space for
users and a sufcient power supply.
Provision for a receiving room and loading dock for deliveries is sometimes
not addressed adequately. In a new building or in a renovation even of a small
library, receiving package deliveries and mail through the front door may not
be practical, especially when the volume of user activity has increased. In a
large library, of course it is impractical. There is also a need for collecting trash
and recyclables for disposal at a buildings rear area. Most of the time the
solution is rear of the building access for delivery vehicles with a loading dock.
The recommendation is for a four-foot-high platform of suitable length for most
large vehicles. It may allow more than one vehicle access at any time. An
overwide or even double door for the receiving room is common. A dumpster
may be placed outside nearby. Packages and mail are delivered here, and re-
cyclables and trash are removed through the same entry. The outside space
should be sufcient for vehicles turning, reversing, and standing while a delivery
to the interior takes place.
Place maintenance and electrical rooms on the building perimeter.
Place landscaping and exterior maintenance equipment in space on the building perim-
eter.
Locate janitorial closet(s) where most practical.
Place photocopiers where service is most advantageous.
Loading dock four feet high accommodates semitrailers and other large trucks.
Trash and recyclables are removed through the receiving area.
RESTROOMS
Restrooms often are taken for granted and the librarian may overlook making
suggestions that will result in a better plan. All too often, the main adult rest-
rooms are scaled to a 5050 space distribution between women and mens ac-
commodations taken from the unassignable space. This isnt justied by the
proportions of the population using the library. The minimal distribution of the
space should be 60 percent for accommodations for women and 40 percent for
mens accommodations. If justied, the distribution could be a 70 percent to 30
percent ratio. If women are the clear majority users of the library then the space
allocation should be fair to them. Professor Bernard Vavrek (1999) in an un-
related article states: The major user and supporter of small public libraries in
the United States is the American woman (50). Recognizing this fact indicates
fairness in planning these facilities.
Depending upon the size of the building, efforts should be made to provide
separate restrooms for the public, for children, and for staff. The restrooms
should have bafe entries, handicapped accessibility, sound proong, and key
control if this is believed necessary. Diaper changing stations in both the main
restrooms are the common practice. In larger buildings a separate space may be
provided for this use. The architect may be asked to consider the use of pressure
assisted water closets for toilets. The new water saving toilets are often the
source of complaints (Smaul 1998, 141).
Public water fountains often are placed near restrooms or places where trafc
may require. The preferred arrangement is for pairs at dual height; one provid-
ing for children or people with physical impairment and the other for people
standing.
Vending machines, before becoming operational, must be anchored securely.
Unsecured machines can be dangerous. If vending machines are to be in the
building and in designated locations, means of anchoring may be part of the
construction process. Unanchored machines should not be operating until se-
cured.
Proportion restroom space to the user population; 60 percent or more of the combined
space for womens facilities.
Restroom amenities include bafe entries, diaper change stations, and pressure assisted
water closets for toilets.
Provide water fountains in pairs of varying height.
Anchor vending machines.
THE EXTERIOR
Most attention centers on the interior, but matters affecting the exterior should
be considered in the initial planning process. Some issues surely will arise later.
The library will receive some attention when the location of a new memorial or
statue is raised in the community. Like other public buildings, the library will
have a ag displayed in front, possibly even three: national, state, and local
government. Unless the library is part of a public building complex and the ags
are shared in common, location of these ag poles should be determined as part
of the original plan, not as a later afterthought. The same applies to the location
of so-called signicant objects. Among these are statues, sculptures, gazebos,
fountains, benches not originally included in the outdoor furniture allocation,
etc. The librarys original budget should include plantings, but the possibility
that future donations of plantings may arise should be dealt with in the original
exterior plan. As part of the project, the architect should mark on the drawings
locations for these possibilities. By designating locations, the associated work
is done well in advance when an issue arises. The architect takes into consid-
eration line of sight for a sculpture so that it may be viewed favorably from
a library window, the street passing by, or whatever may be most advantageous.
The same applies to location of ag poles; future plantings of shrubs, trees, or
ower beds; and other items.
Landscape architects and planners will recommend plantings of trees, shrub-
bery, and ower beds and their locations that will not interfere with personal
safety. The specter of persons intent on doing harm lurking behind overgrown
shrubbery surrounding a library building need not be a reality. A combination
of safety conscious plantings and a lighting scheme will eliminate this worri-
some issue.
Regarding outdoor signicant objects, if there is a spacious open area, a
policy governing the acceptance of donations is necessary. Local weather and
environmental factors also come into play. If acid rain is a problem then any
outdoor objects should be impervious to potential environmental damage, and
the library held safe from such damages and repair costs. If local government
has responsibility, the question of maintenance is left with that body. Local
government may have a blanket insurance policy on its outdoor monuments
covering vandalism and other hazards.
3
The same concern applies to donations of plantings and any item designated
for outdoor use. Ongoing maintenance has to be a budget factor somewhere. If
it is in the library budget, policies controlling such acceptances and the resultant
expenditures are necessary.
Flag, banner, and pennant displays are very popular with people, something
of a revival is occurring in the United States.
4
These should be addressed in the
building program so that mountings can be placed during the construction or
renovation of the exterior. Planning ahead avoids the problem of trying to nd
places to hang them after the building is nished. It is less expensive to do so
during construction and also helps avoid problems with the line of sight issue
as mentioned earlier.
If there is a possibility of future expansion of the building or the parking
area, these spaces should be marked on the exterior drawings. Protecting these
spaces from other uses will avoid awkward situations later.
Sprinkler System for Lawns, Plantings, etc.
If an outdoor sprinkler system is included, the architect should plan this and
coordinate location of sprinkler heads with plantings. Failure to do so could
result in such annoyances as a sprinkler spraying water into an open window,
showering the main walkway, etc.
Public Telephone, Periodical Dispensers, etc.
Some libraries have public telephone kiosks or booths on the exterior. If so,
the kiosk design shouldnt conict with the buildings exterior. More than one
buildings visual attractiveness has been marred by an ugly telephone kiosk. It
may be necessary to negotiate with the telephone company to have an attractive
and harmonious booth installed. Architectural Record illustrates a new and very
attractive stainless-steel kiosk (Architect Introduces Better Telephone Booth
1998, 39). Designers and architects recognize the problem. Urban public librar-
ies may also network to computer information kiosks placed at strategic points
around the downtown area, at sites popular with tourists, at shopping centers,
or even in malls.
5
Another distraction is an assortment of newspaper/magazine dispensers placed
along the public sidewalk fronting the building. There are ways to control this.
If an outright ban isnt possible, the librarian should negotiate with the primary
distributor for an attractive cover to contain and shield them from view. If this
is not forthcoming, the library may have to fund the cost. If so the architect can
design the cover and the interior designer suggest the color so that there will
be no clash with other building colors. In extreme cases, it may be best for the
architect to design a specic area on the exterior to accommodate these dis-
pensers. The appearance of an otherwise beautiful facade can be marred by these
distractions.
Trafc and parking signs often may be along the roadway in front of the
building. These signs can corrode and become very unsightly. It helps to cul-
tivate the local government agency responsible for these signs so that replace-
ments can be made without undue hassle. It doesnt add to the librarys visual
attractiveness to have a row of bent and rusted trafc signs along its front. Fire
hydrants, another distraction of necessity, must be present. Sometimes the colors
may be changed if the hydrant remains recognizable.
Parking
Whenever possible the library building should have a parking area propor-
tionally sized to the anticipated daily attendance. In small towns and cities this
may be more easily achievable than in a large urban area where buildings are
close together and street parking is limited, leaving perhaps the option of a
parking garage or a pay lot for most library users. Where a parking lot is avail-
able, the typical ratio of spaces to library seats is one for every two seats. This
is a guideline and may not satisfy the demand in some communities, so judgment
based on past and projected use must be made.
Parking spaces near air intakes and too close to the building should be
avoided. The air intake should not be too near the freight dock. Exhaust fumes
entering the building may irritate people by carrying in pollutants that will cause
discomfort and damage materials. This applies regardless of the buildings lo-
cation.
Handicapped Parking
One should expect that associated matters affecting the placement of parking
for mobility impaired persons would be considered in the initial plan. Sometimes
these matters arise as afterthoughts. The exterior drawings should show the
locations for such parking spaces and curb cut-outs, small ramps from roadbed
to sidewalk level, or whatever may be necessary. This is important for reno-
vation projects. Sometimes a building is renovated, but no one looks at the
sidewalk curb or the parking spaces, and only later is it noticed that an impaired
person leaving a vehicle has no way to access a sidewalk.
Garage
Library systems providing bookmobile service to their communities may re-
quire a garage for these vehicles. This may be a component of the building or
a separate building. A carport or shed type arrangement may also be considered.
Either way, there should be a cabinet or shelving for self-service supplies, for
example, windshield wiper uid, rags for cleaning windows, etc. Some libraries
are equipping their bookmobiles with online access and offering internet services
to users. Security arrangements should be provided, for example, a secure fence
if a garage is not used, to safeguard all vehicles.
Preplanning for exterior issues prevents future problems.
Plantings can be safety and security conscious.
Establish policy for accepting outdoor donations.
Flags and banners are popular, so use them.
Coordinate an outdoors sprinkler system with plantings.
Public telephone kiosks, re hydrants, trafc signs, and periodical dispensers neednt
detract from the buildings attractiveness.
Handicapped parking spaces require access when curbs are present.
Poor parking arrangements adversely affect library activity.
Avoid parking spaces near air intakes.
Garages and parking areas for library vehicles require security.
NOTES
1. aliaBuild@alianet.alia.org.au. In an exchange concerning book bins, the librarians
point out the problem of backache caused by bending over the bins to remove very heavy
books. Also some lifting mechanisms in the bins do not always work. Other solutions
are being sought. To join in this listserv a free subscription is necessary.
2. On Thursday, November 26, 1998, Thanksgiving Day, a woman was killed by
strangulation when she fell while using an escalator in a Washington, D.C., metro station.
Some of her clothing had become entangled in the grill plate at the bottom of the es-
calator. In a news report on this incident two reporters state: Across the country, about
5900 people in stores and other public places are injured each year. . . . (Sipress and
Jackman 1998, 1). This tragic incident is mentioned here because it is important that
librarians realize that if their library has escalators, staff must be aware of safety features.
This accident was not the rst of its kind resulting in a death. In another article, writing
about the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissions review of escalator safety prob-
lems, David Armstrong reports, The commission, based on a nationwide survey of
hospitals, estimated that 7,300 people sought emergency-room treatment for escalator
injuries in 1994 (Armstrong 1996). Armstrong further quotes U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission spokesman Rick Frost commenting on escalator injuries: Our gures
show that children under 14 are especially vulnerable to the entrapment type injuries.
The reference is to shoes or body parts being caught in the space between the moving
steps and the escalator sidewall.
This is so serious that any library board or governing body must address the safety
issue and determine that the estimated number of people who may be using an escalator
system is sufciently large enough to justify its use. The specications for an escalator
must clearly stipulate that safety devices are required, and the purchasing contract must
reiterate these requirements. The manufacturer should demonstrate that any federal gov-
ernment requirement or anticipated requirement for safety features has been met, and
that safety controls are visible and easy to reach. A safety device shut-off is essential.
A list of safety tips published by the Boston Globe (1994) may be accessed through the
newspapers web site.
The librarian should have safety instruction for stairwells, elevators, and escalators (if
applicable) for all staff members as part of their training, and safety updating procedures.
The library should have a safety manual that includes this information as stated in the
text (Appendix E).
The Boston Globe. 1994. Escalator Safety Tips. This list of nine tips includes pre-
cautions such as always facing forward, no sitting on the moving stairs, hold hands with
children, stay clear of the sides, not taking a stroller on the escalator unless it is being
carried, etc.
The Boston Globe. 1996. Risky Ride: A Special Report on Elevator and Escalator
Safety. This article and other information may be accessed online at this site: http:
//www.Boston.com. The newspaper advises using elevator as the access word.
3. At an academic institution where donations of outdoor sculptures were accepted
somewhat routinely, one large suspended sculpture, its supporting cables weakened by
corrosion in just a few years, fell to the ground and lay there for several months to the
sculptors dismay. In the face of repair costs, the institution reviewed its policy of blind
acceptance.
4. Richard Wolkomir, Near and Far, Were Waving the Banner for Flags, Smith-
sonian (June 1997): 7082. This is an enjoyable article.
5. Elizabeth Ho, and Steven Smith. 1998. Information in the City. Presentation at
Adelaide 98, Pathways to Knowledge. Australian Library and Information Association
5th Biennial Conference and Exhibition. Adelaide.
The presenters worked on the Adelaide 21 Project and described a broad strategy and
model for packaging and delivering technology solutions . . . for residents, workers, busi-
nesses and tourists. . . . Information kiosks controlled by the city library and placed in
certain areas would provide instant information through a high speed link to the site
where it was needed.
REFERENCES
Architect Introduces Better Telephone Booth. 1998. Architectural Record (February):
39.
Armstrong, David, 1996. US Urges Upgrade in Escalator Safety. Boston Globe, July
21, A1.
Audin, Lindsay. 1998. Screw-in Dimmable Compact-Fluorescent Lamps: Finally a Re-
ality. Architectural Record (November): 16162.
Borenstein, Seth. 1999. New Devices May Let Homes Generate Own Electricity. Wil-
mington Morning Star, (July 7) A1, A4.
Cat 5 Cabling Tips. 1999. Library Systems Newsletter 19 (January): 12.
Cohen, Elaine, and Aaron Cohen. 1981. Automation, Space Management, and Produc-
tivity, a Guide for Libraries. New York: R. R. Bowker.
Daniels, Stephen H. 1998. Improving Glass Performance, New Films, Coatings, and
Laminates Make Glazing Safer, Stronger, and More Energy-Efcient without Sac-
ricing Transparency. Architectural Record (August): 13134.
Hill, David. 1998. Safer, More Attractive Staircases. While Few Elements of a Building
Are More Dangerous, Stairs Can Be Made Beautiful and Less Hazardous With
Good Design and the Creative Use of Materials. Architectural Record (Septem-
ber): 8186.
Libraries Becoming Day-care Centers. 1998. (Associated Press). San Luis Obispo
County Telegram-Tribune, November 6, A-7.
Lueder, Dianne, and Sally Webb. 1992. Administrators Guide to Library Building Main-
tenance. Chicago: American Library Association.
Metcalf, Keyes D. 1986. Planning Academic and Research Library Buildings. 2nd ed. by
Philip D. Leighton and David C. Weber. Chicago: American Library Association.
Nadel, Barbara A. 1998. Designing for Security. Security Has Become a Top Priority
in Building Design, the Challenge is to Mitigate Damage While Still Creating
Friendly Environments. Architectural Record (March): 14548, 19697.
Sannwald, William. 1998. Espresso and Ambiance, What Public Libraries Can Learn
from Bookstores. Library Administration & Management 12 (Fall): 20011.
Sipress, Alan, and Tom Jackman. 1998. Metro Serviced Escalator in Fatality, Automatic
Shutoff Not Yet Installed. The Washington Post, Metro section D, Saturday,
November 28, 1, 5.
Smaul, Joseph M. 1998. A Tale of Two Water Closet Technologies. Architectural
Record (advertisement) (November): 141.
Two-Component Lighting, The Total Solution for Glare-Free Illumination. 1997. Ar-
chitectural Record (June): 17882.
Vavrek, Bernard. 1999. Your Public Library Has a Web Page? So What? American
Libraries (January): 50.
Appendix A
Joint-Use Libraries
in Australia
Joint-use libraries are common in Australia. The Technical and Further Education System
(TAFE) has several joint-use libraries with schools, public libraries, and other academic
institutions. TAFE campuses are similar to community colleges in the United States. The
national association, Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), takes a very
afrmative view of joint-use libraries.
At the Australian Library and Information Association 5th Biennial Conference and
Exhibition, October 2528, 1998, Adelaide Convention Centre, one of the programs was:
Joint Use Libraries: Progress and Potential. The program co-chairs were Dr. Alan Bundy,
University Librarian, and Professor Larry Armey, School of Library and Information
Studies, University of South Australia. The following papers were distributed in advance
of the program presentations:
1. ALIA Statement on Joint-Use Libraries, June 1986, 1 page
2. Madeleine L. Juchau, School/Community Libraries, 1982: Alive and Well and Here
to Stay, pp. 42429 (photocopy from presentation at the 1982 LAA Conference in
Adelaide)
3. Glenys Aird, Change, and The Critical Success Factor in School Community Libraries
in S.A., 4 pages
4. Deb Hamblin, Method and Madness: The development of a tripartite library, 4 pages
5. Helen M. Dunford, Co-operation and Compromise (also Commitment) Joint-use Li-
braries in Isolated Areas, 4 pages
6. Judy Humphreys, Hervey Bay Library: Dovetailed Not Seamless Service, 6 pages
114 Appendix A
7. Sue Perkins, and Albert Bergoc. School Community Libraries in the City of Onka-
paringa, 8 pages
8. Cathy Shepherd, Minto Community Library: Alive and Here to Stay, 6 pages.
The rst document, the ALIA statement, states: supports the establishment of joint-
use libraries where it is considered that such services will equal or better the level of
service which would be given in separate facilities. The document offers a series of
four circumstances where a joint-use library may be successful. Following these are a
series of seven conditions for application to such proposals.
The primary reason in any country or region for considering a joint-use library is
economic. In some geographic areas of Australia, as in the United States, nancial re-
sources are not capable of sustaining adequate separate efforts, so a combined facility
may appear more achievable. ALIA is quite denite, though, in asserting that saving
money alone is not sufcient reason to do so and prescribes for other advantages.
In her paper, Madeleine L. Juchau gives a brief history of joint-use school and com-
munity (public) libraries and some denitions. One such is a brief quote from a report
by James G. Dwyer, former Superintendent of Public Instruction in South Australia, a
leader in promoting joint-use. In brief, two different governing bodies agree to mutually
develop and support a library facility. Glenys Aird, who has worked in school community
libraries, reviews their development and success in the state of South Australia. Deb
Hamblin reports on the library she directs, which opened in February 1998 and combines
library services for a university branch campus, a TAFE campus, and the city of Rock-
ingham south of Perth in the state of Western Australia. Helen M. Dunford gets to the
heart of the matter with her paper on joint-use libraries in very rural areas, notably part
of Tasmania, or as she expresses it, remote areas of Australia. She also cites Dwyers
1978 report. Her conclusion is very apt: A joint use library is most appropriate in small,
isolated rural centers where, with community support, the combined library can play a
very active role in linking people to the world regardless of geographic location. On
another theme Judy Humphreys makes a strong case for a joint-use academic and public
library on a branch campus. In this case the University of Southern Queensland branch
campus at Hervey Bay joined with the city to form this library. Her conclusion makes
another very strong point: a joint-use academic/public library offers a logical and cost
effective solution to the problem of providing information services and support to re-
gional students.
Sue Perkins and Albert Bergoc describe three joint-use libraries in the city of Onka-
paringa, South Australia. They describe two of the libraries that are school community
libraries. The other situation is a TAFE facility. In both cases the resolution has been
successful. The last paper by Cathy Shepherd describes the Minto Community Library
in New South Wales. The city is a somewhat distant suburb of Sydney. This library
serves the community and three schools. In this frank and full discussion, Shepherd
describes the difculties inherent in beginning such a radically different type of library
service and gives two long lists of advantages and disadvantages, but ends on a very
bright note, a very positive mission statement. This resulted from an in-depth meeting
among the people most closely involved: By the year 2003 Minto Community Library
will be the model of excellence for joint use library services in Australia. This is an
ambitious statement.
Whether it is the community of Minto, a rural area of the island state of Tasmania,
Joint-Use Libraries in Australia 115
the vast reaches of Western Australia, or anywhere on the continent, the spirit of coop-
eration pervades Australian librarians. Facing economic shortfalls and vast expanses of
sparsely settled land, nevertheless undaunted, they develop the best possible service for
the people.
In the United States a few school/public joint-use libraries exist in very remote areas,
notably in the western states. As mentioned in the introduction to this book, joint-use
libraries, academic and public, are being considered in more populated areas for the
possible advantages they offer. Among the advantages that are fairly obvious are a larger
building than either might obtain separately, better computer-based online services es-
pecially for nonstudent users, more program space for the public especially when the
academic program is not in session, more cultural program offerings that benet both
students and regular public library users, more unique materials, better service, better
preservation support for all materials, larger and more diverse collections than either
might afford in literature of all kinds, reference materials, and the childrens collections.
All that is necessary is for reasonable people to meet, negotiate appropriate operating
guidelines, and stick to them. Our Australian colleagues set a ne and principled example
to emulate.
The July 1997 issue of inCite, News magazine of the Australian Library and Infor-
mation Association has a feature section, Focus on Learning: a TAFE libraries special
issue. The lead article by Di Booker describes the topic and gives a brief history in
summary detail. The Technical and Further Education System (TAFE) consists of 93
institutes with over 300 campus locations (Booker 4). The TAFE libraries serve their
campuses, but also are a national resource and some of them are joint-use libraries.
The sharing implicit in joint-use libraries also extends to a mobile library, a book-
mobile in effect, weighing 98 tons (Schwartz 1997, 15). In another article Verna Aslin
describes a combination TAFE and high school library, and in another situation a com-
bination of three higher education institutions sharing a library. She also reports on the
development of draft guidelines for such libraries in New South Wales. Maureen Allman
and Deb Hamblin describe a joint-use library with a TAFE campus, the local community,
and a branch of Murdoch University in western Australia. Other articles discuss further
TAFE library efforts.
REFERENCES
Allman, Maureen, and Deb Hamblin. 1997. Miracles Take a Little Longer! inCite,
News magazine of the Australian Library and Information Association 18 (July):
18.
Aslin, Verna. 1997. TAFE Builds Libraries. inCite, News magazine of the Australian
Library and Information Association 18 (July): 22.
Booker, Di. 1997. TAFE Libraries, From a Few Books in the Teachers Cupboard to
a National Resource. inCite, News magazine of the Australian Library and In-
formation Association 18 (July): 45.
Schwartz, Robyn. 1997. Joint Mobile Library a First. inCite, News magazine of the
Australian Library and Information Association 18 (July): 15.
Appendix B
Management Checklist
This list serves as a reminder of things that require attention. Some items included are
not related directly to the building project, but they are matters that may require attention.
CHAPTER 1: BEGINNING THE PLAN
List of goals and objectives
Staff involvement and keeping staff informed via meetings, newsletter, bulletin, or ?
Employ library consultant
Draft request for proposal (RFP)
Contact local planning and other ofces for demographics, ood plain maps, local road
and highway plans
Architect selection
Community involvement and extent desired
CHAPTER 2: DATA FOR PLANNING
Awareness of formula deciencies
Gathering data reminder as per chapter 1
Planning for an increase in activity (staff, supplies, open hours)
Management Checklist 117
CHAPTER 3: LOCATION: FINDING A SITE
Finding a location for new construction
Free land and related cautions
CHAPTER 4: INTERIOR DESIGN
Selecting an interior designer
Obtaining staff reservations about any color
Color of reading surfaces
Waste and recycling
CHAPTER 5: FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING THE LIBRARY
AND ITS ENVIRONS
Furniture and equipment lists, two and cross checking
Delivery timetable
Policies for printing, loaning machines
CHAPTER 6: OTHER VIEWS
Overview of considerations for a good building plan
Young adults and their needs
CHAPTER 7: THE LIBRARY BUILDING PROGRAM
Aids to writing the building program
Bubble diagrams for relationships
Careful estimation of staff space requirementsfull-time, part-time, volunteers for a
realistic space allocation
Storage rooms and future use if need decreases
CHAPTER 8: REFERENCE SERVICES TO SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS
Reference service plan
118 Appendix B
CHAPTER 9: CHILDRENS SERVICES TO MEETING SPACE
Service plan for children
Story hour plan and use of space
Young Adults and Adults
Meeting spaces
CHAPTER 10: ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS
Preferences for built-ins and/or free-standing items
Windows opening and screens
Skylights and preferences
Power supply, assurance of adequacy
Public telephone policy
Photocopier location and policy
Donation of signicant objects policy
OTHER
Policy on children in the library and parental (guardian) responsibility.
Moving the collections: Prefer professional moving company, see Elizabeth Habich
(1998) for specics.
Telephone policy: Negotiate with the telephone company for such things as cordless
telephones for the reference librarians, voice mail, etc.
Appendix C
Furniture and
Equipment Options for
Public Libraries
Library Name
Adult Work Surfaces Style Quantity
Table 4 seat (apron)
Table 4 seat (apronless)
Table 2 seat (apron)
Table 2 seat (apronless)
Table Conference (seats , size )
Table (work, size )
Table Kitchen/lounge (size )
Table side (size )
Table 1 seat study (apron) (size )
Table 1 seat study (apronless) (size )
Table Model name:
Table Folding (size )
Carrel 2 joined (style ) parallel
Carrel 2 joined (style ) alternate sides
120 Appendix C
Carrel single, high side
Carrel single, low side
Carrel Carousel style (number of units )
SHELVING
Standard Shelving
Height Face/S or D Quantity
Display Shelving
Speciality Shelving (write in type)
Compact Shelving
Utility Shelving
Furniture and Equipment Options 121
End Panels
SEATING
Chairs
Style Quantity
Sofas
Style Quantity
Couches
Style Quantity
ACCESSORIES
Style Location Quantity
Back rests (recliner)
Bean bags
Benches
Cushions (children)
Cushions (sofa, couch)
Ottoman
122 Appendix C
Stools
foot
seat
step
YOUNG ADULT FURNITURE
Modications of options listed in this appendix.
CHILDRENS FURNITURE
A similar modication should be made for the childrens area although some items are
included in this main schedule.
OTHER FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
Circulation Counter (height, style, units)
Reference Counter or Desk (height, style, units)
Built-ins
Bins (for childrens materials; delivery bins)
Book return, in exterior wall
Bookcases in ofces
Bulletin boards
Cabinet, wall mounted with writing surface for meeting or conference rooms
Cabinets for special materials or uses
Closets
Coatracks
Display or exhibit cases
Hearing Assistance System (ADA) required in some cases for meeting rooms with a
certain capacity
Lockers (inset in wall space)
Mirrors, convex, for observation of certain areas
Security systems: for the building; for personal safety; for library materials
Television system, cable, closed circuit
Vacuum cleaning system
Vanity panels for ofces and workrooms
Video return (in exterior wall)
Video surveillance system
Other
Atlas stand
Bookcases for ofces, if not built-in
Bookdrop bins or carts (for exterior and interior book returns)
Cabinets for special materials (if not built-in, note options are available for certain for-
mats in either cabinets or specialty shelving)
Carousels: For Paperbacks, etc. (see also revolving displays)
Cash box, cash register
Coatracks, if not built-in
Dictionary pedestal or stand
Display or exhibit cases, if not built-in
1
Lateral business les
Map cases, if not built-in
Revolving displays (paperbacks, videos, etc., see also carousels)
Spinners (see carousels, revolving displays)
Machines
Calculators, talking and for loan
Computers for automated check-out
Disk drives
Fax machines and/or modems
Headsets for any audio equipment (caution re: sanitizing)
Hearing assistance devices
Kurzweil type reading machine
Laptop or notebook microcomputers for loan to customers
Learning machines
Microcomputers
Microform readers/printers
Photocopiers
Printers
Projection equipment
Receipt printers (if used)
Sensitizer/desensitizer
Television system and monitors, if not built-in
Special Public Use Equipment
Book holders (for use by readers)
Calculators, talking and for loan (also on machine list)
Computer with enlargement screen for visually impaired
Hearing assistance devices (also on machine list)
124 Appendix C
Magazine holders (for use by readers)
Magniers (special oor models or clamp-on for carrels and tables)
Pencil sharpeners (electric for service counters, manual for shelving areas)
Ropes and posts for crowd control
Task lighting (reading lamps for supplemental lighting for visually impaired)
Software
Enlargement software for public catalog access microcomputers and for microcomputers
for visually impaired persons, unless equipment is so supplied as on list above.
Educational and word processing software
Speciality software for word processing, tax forms, etc., for public use.
Miscellaneous
Ash tray receptacle(s) (for exterior use)
Book carts and trucks
Bicycle racks or stands (exterior)
Carpet runners (rubber backing) for vestibules lacking a drain system
Ceiling hooks for suspending mobiles (see Highsmith catalog for description)
Diaper pail(s)
Exterior lighting units
First Aid Kit
Flag/banner display mounts, interior and exterior
Flagpole(s) interior and exterior
Flashlights
Hardware: drawer handles, door knobs (plain and safety knurled for visually impaired
use for doors to restricted areas)
Microwave oven
Paging system for staff
Pails (for possible plumbing or roof leaks)
Public Address System
Raynes Rail (for visually impaired)
Refrigerator
Rugs (for special collection rooms, etc.)
Security anchors for library and personal computers (attached to study carrels or tables)
Security mirrors (also on previous list under mirrors)
Signs, interior directional, service and collection markers; exterior signs and markers
Staff lockers (if not built-in)
Stove top (for staff kitchenette, or full stove for kitchen)
Trash receptacles interior and exterior
Umbrella stand
Wastebaskets
Maintenance Equipment
Broom(s)
Dust pan
Fertilizer spreader
Ladder(s) (step and extension) for changing light bulbs, tubes, cleaning xtures, etc.
Lamp changing pole for high ceiling lights
Lawn mower
Mop(s)
Pail(s)
Snow removal device(s), shovel, blower
Tool boxa box of standard tools such as screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, power drill,
Allen wrenches, lubricating oil, pruning shears, carpenter glue, etc.
Vacuum cleaner(s), if not using built-in system carpet cleaning and industrial for cleaning
up liquids
Water hoses
Window squeegee
(Note that cleaning and sanitary supplies such as paper towels and spot remover are not
listed, but should be noted as an expense item at initial occupancy of a building. Spare
bulbs and uorescent tubes are not listed, but should be available. The inventory should
include replacements in exact types. Plastic trash bags are a necessity.)
Garage equipment and supplies (for bookmobiles, vans, and or automobiles)
NOTE
1. Preserving the Nations Heritage. 1999. Wilmington Star-News, February 8, 3A.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology has commissioned a new design for
the cases that display the nations revered documents. This is an illustration with detail.
Librarians responsible for preserving historic documents should look for products that
meet the new standards. As illustrated, the new cases will have titanium frames. Viewing
will be through two layers of tempered glass separated by a thin layer of plastic. The
documents will rest on a platform of perforated aluminum that is molded to the shape
of the document. The base is aluminum. Inside the case water vapor and argon gas,
which is inert, will help prevent deterioration (summarized from the caption).
Warren E. Leary. 1999. Protecting the Parchment. Framers Work to Seal the Consti-
tution, Wilmington Star-News, February 8, 3A. This is an article reporting on efforts to
preserve historic national documents by developing new cases for them.
Other sources are:
Keyes D. Metcalf. 1986. Planning Academic and Research Library Buildings. 2nd ed.
by Philip D. Leighton and David C. Weber. Chicago: American Library Association,
1986. Appendix C, A List of Equipment That Might Be Overlooked, pp. 56771, should
be consulted for detailed explanations of the importance of certain items. Some construc-
tion details are included.
Appendix D
Drawings
To show area relationships, consultants may use overlapping geometric gures with bor-
ders touching or, for specic items, rectangles.
Stack ranges are shown with seating in between. Included in a drawing are measure-
ments for separation distances, aisle widths, and range lengths.
This drawing indicates that the online public access catalog (OPAC) may be placed
Drawings 127
between the two services. Placement may be either to the left or right of the main entry
after passing the circulation service.
In this drawing ovals represent shelving ranges. Large circles are tables; small circles
are study carrels. In the actual layout on line drawings, the ranges may be single or in
clusters. Tables and carrels may be single or in clusters. Separating seating clusters with
shelving provides for noise containment.
Wall shelving is to the left and right above.
This drawing has wall shelving to the right. Range on the left isnt visible.
Appendix E
Safety Procedures
Handbook
The activity level in a public library is very high. In a very busy environment accidents
can happen. Equipment malfunctions and becomes hazardous. Weather issues arise that
create problems leading to safety issues. Every library should have a safety procedures
handbook that details what to do when a situation arises. This should be supported by
regular training sessions at certain times. In preparing a handbook, common sense pro-
cedures should be described and illustrated as appropriate.
Some items suggested for inclusion in the safety procedures handbook follow. This
list is not complete. It simply lists topics that should be included if applicable.
Access ramp on the exterior: Whom to notify when it is slippery and wet or icy.
Book bins: How to remove material without risking backache or injury.
Compact shelving: Automated or manual. How to shut off power for automated equip-
ment if necessary; whom to call if a patron is injured or has abused the equipment.
Elevators: Whom to notify when the elevator is not operating; whom to call when people
are trapped in an elevator; what to tell the people in the elevator. What not to do should
be stated clearly, such as not attempting to evacuate people and wait for the trained
personnel to arrive.
Escalators: Where the emergency cut-off switch is. What to do and whom to call if a
malfunction occurs.
Fire extinguishers: For use of re extinguishers a re marshall should be asked to give
training to all staff on their proper use.
Lobby oor: Whom to notify when it is wet and slippery.
Safety Procedures Handbook 129
Restrooms: Whom to notify when plumbing fails and ooding occurs.
Roof or ceiling leaks: Where are the receptacles for catching dripping water? Whom to
notify.
Stairwells: What to do if a patron slips and falls. Whom to notify if the stairs are wet
or have some problem on their surfaces, such as an accumulation of dirt that could
become hazardous.
Wet oors: Whom to notify. If no responsible person is available, when to place warning
markers on the oors and where they are kept.
Wiring: Watch for frayed covers and report the location of the equipment involved.
Concerning health issues, the handbook should state which ofce, agency, or staff
person is to be notied when a patron becomes ill; who is responsible for rst aid or
who is to provide cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Appendix F
Conversion or
Renovation of Other
Types of Buildings
Consultants often are asked to evaluate other types of buildings for possible conversion
to library use. The building under consideration may approximate in size the space that
is required for library service. The library board and public ofcials eager to save con-
struction costs also can be motivated by the possible low cost or even the donation of a
building. Sometimes the librarian nds pressure exerted for acceptance because of these
factors: immediate availability, a low or nonexistent cost, and seeming adequacy of size
in square feet. If a consultant has been employed the question passes to that person.
There are certain common factors for the evaluation of any type of building under
consideration for conversion to a library. These are:
Age of the building
Foundation and liveload bearing capability
Presence of and quantity of asbestos
Presence of lead paint
Type of roof, at or peaked, and any fatigue in supporting members
Height of interior ceiling
Levelness of oor
Presence of load-bearing walls that restrict open space
Location in relation to ood plain, to residential areas, and to other people-directed
services.
Conversion or Renovation 131
The three common building types that are proposed most often for conversion are
churches, grocery stores, and school buildings. All three can have shortcomings that
indicate a negative response to the conversion question. The age of the building is the
rst indicator for determining what problems may exist. In most cases the building under
review is forty or more years old. Rarely is a more recent building made available, though
it does happen. Lueder and Webb (1992) deal with the asbestos question. If the building
was constructed between 1900 and 1980, it is a strong possibility that asbestos was used
in the construction process (148). These authors give procedures for determining the
content of asbestos, where and in what it will be found, and standards for its removal
(14850). If the asbestos is sealed, meaning that it cannot escape into the air, it may be
possible to leave it in place. Unfortunately, much of the asbestos in a typical building
of this age is not sealed and must be removed. Removal is expensive. The quantity for
removal, if high, means a high cost. In some cases the cost may be so high as to negate
the conversion proposal.
The live load-bearing capability of the oors and foundations must be a minimum of
150 pounds per square foot. Employing a structural engineer to review this may be
necessary. Typically, a church will have a 60 to 70 pound live load capability, a school
may have 60 pound capability, and a grocery store around 100 pounds. If the slab is on
level ground and the underlying ground is supportive, a structural engineer may give an
afrmative indication for a single level building or the use of the ground level oor only
for library materials.
Lead paint is an odds-on favorite to be present. Removal is required. Obviously, the
public library will have a childrens service and lead based paint shouldnt be present.
Removal will be expensive.
If the building is seventy or more years old, the structural supports for the roof must
be examined by a structural engineer. Fatigue may be a factor. In a high snowfall area,
a building with a at roof could be susceptible to a partial or full cave-in. A peaked roof
building with fatigue in the supports could suffer damage from high winds.
Ceiling height in a former church and in some parts of a school building will pose a
problem. A new lower ceiling could be installed. This is expensive. The costs of the
new ceiling and the possible changing of the HVAC ducts could be very high. In both
a former school and a former church, window locations could pose another problem, for
example extending above and below the height of a new ceiling.
In former church buildings, the sanctuary oor may slope toward the location of a
pulpit or altar. Leveling the oor could be very expensive. Difference in ceiling height
is another factor.
Load bearing walls separating rooms, as in a school building, create small spaces and
inhibit library service, which requires a large expanse of open space. An engineers
evaluation is critical as to possible removal of any such walls.
A building could pass on all the preceding, but fail the most critical test that of a
viable location. If the building is on a ood plain, no further discussion should ensue.
Rejection is the only response. If not on a ood plain, the information contained in
chapter 3 comes into play. The location must pass the stated criteria as contained in Dr.
Koontzs book.
Last, the overall cost of conversion and renovation must be a factor. If the total cost,
regardless of the fact that the building is a donation, approaches or exceeds 60 to 65
percent of the cost of new construction, then serious consideration should be given to
new construction. Again referring to chapter 3, this building will be in use for upward
132 Appendix F
of fty years and longer. Some library buildings in use today are approaching their 100th-
year. Is it wise to spend so much money on a building in excess of forty years of age?
The original building was not designed for library use. It has limited exibility. As library
service needs change, the cost of modications may be disproportional to what they
could be for a building that was designed for library purposes and that has the internal
adaptability to accommodate anticipated changes in its functionality.
REFERENCES
Koontz, Christine M. 1997. Library Facility Siting and Location Handbook. Westport,
Conn.: Greenwood Press.
Appendix G
Library Building
Program, Checklist
of Contents
Introduction: Describe the proposed project, new, renovation, or expansion; what it
should do; what this building program describes or requires and how it is arranged.
Philosophy of Service: How the library intends to serve its public.
The Community: Nature of the community, the geographic area and description, his-
torical aspects. Demographics with a twenty-year projection.
Table of Spaces: The table provides a total expectation for both the gross square footage,
nonassignable, and the assignable square footage by listing each area and its suggested
space allocation as described in the text.
Bubble Diagrams: These show in bubble form the relationship of service spaces and
auxiliary spaces to each other.
Library Service Areas: For each service area the text describes the need and suggests
a size in square feet.
Circulation: desk, counter, workroom, storage room, public access catalog to holdings
Reference Services: collection space, le space, workstations, other seating, ofce, work-
room, teaching room for online self-service by patrons
Periodicals Service: seating style, task lighting, projected size in numbers of titles
General Collection: projected size of print materials
Media, Audiovisual Services: nonprint materials
Adult Services: particulars and requirements
Young Adult Services: particulars and requirements
134 Appendix G
Childrens Services: Style of service
Special Features/Preferences: story hour arrangement, restroom(s) for children, ofce,
workroom, restroom(s), adult proportions
Multipurpose Room or Area: projected size of attendance, number of divisible spaces,
audio amplication system
Library Conference Room: projected capacity
Kitchen Lounge: furnishings and equipment preferences
Restroom(s) for Staff
ARCHITECTURAL OR CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
Construction module, the three foot rule, library shelving size
Live oor load: 150 lbs psf, etc.
Ceiling height: sprinkler system requires 9' height
Climate and the roof (good drainage or run-off)
Main entry: accessible level approach, double doors, canopy or overhang drain pan in
oor, Pedimat
Public telephones, bulletin boards, display cases
Built-in features: display cases, closets, coat racks
Book return drops (reproof closet)
Bulletin boards
Energy control; HVAC system, room location, maintenance room on perimeter
Thermal pane windows
Skylight
Atrium
Lighting
Electrical capability: good power supply coming in; many outlets, many circuits; channels
in oor
Electrical room, or space for incoming wiring and cabling, and controlled egress to library
service points, location on perimeter
Communications capability: telephone, ber optic lines, shared channels in oor
Security/safety features: importance and explain each requirement
Fire alarm system: connect to local re station, or governmental center; sprinkler system
connection, wetline, dryline
Burglary protection; all doors and windows with alarms; local police station or govern-
mental center
Personal safety; concealed silent alarms, etc.
Interior design: carpet, carpet tile, wall covering
Color scheme: conductive to good behavior
Library Building Program, Checklist 135
Maintenance room: on perimeter
Electrical room: on perimeter
Janitorial closet; built-in vacuum cleaner system
Photocopierslocations, alcoves, etc.
Restrooms: handicapped accessible, key control, sound proong, bafe entries
Cable television, satellite television: Entry for each, provision for cable management
Public water fountains: provide in pairs, dual height; place where trafc requires
Receiving area loading dock, for deliveries provide a four foot high loading dock; access
to a receiving room of suitable size
Landscaping, exterior maintenance
Parking
Highway access for new buildings
State, country, city plans for development of roads, etc.
Appendix H
Sample Survey Forms
This series of survey forms are intended as examples. They may be modied for use in
a library project. The rst survey for travel is intended to gather data that can be com-
pared to data that appears in chapter 3 of Christine M. Koontzs book (1997). In her
chapter written for Joy Greiners book (1994), she mentions that people often combine
a library visit with a visit to some other service. Questions 4 and 5 will bear out the
validity of this in the individual case of the library project in question. This survey is
limited to 100 forms all of which must be returned. Usually ten forms are distributed at
a time during ten preselected periods of library activity. This type of survey can be
repeated at different times of the year.
In some locales, if the percentage of people using the library comes from a very short
radius and if that usage is high, this may provide evidence for another library, perhaps
a branch if it appears that a considerable proportion of the population nds the librarys
location inconvenient. Conversely, if use is low and a majority of the users come from
within a very short radius, the librarys present location may be questioned.
The second survey form may be printed in some set quantity and distributed from
library service points marked by the poster. This form is aimed at in-house users.
The staff survey is very important. It is best for morale to involve staff. Every op-
portunity for meaningful participation should be proffered to the staff. They will be
expected to make the new surroundings work effectively, and early involvement will
produce the best results. It should be explained, of course, that not all ideas will prove
feasible or, perhaps in some instances, affordable.
There are two mail type surveys. One is for direct mailing to a selected list of patrons,
possibly people who live in the community but are not registered; the other is for persons
residing in retirement centers. These need not be mailed, but may be left at the man-
Sample Survey Forms 137
agement counter for return and later pick-up by a library staff person. One telephone
survey is included.
The bookmark is inserted in any one book at check-out. This is simply to provide
even the busiest person an opportunity to make a suggestion.
With media attention and an obvious effort by the library to gather recommendations
from the community through various surveys and community meetings, the nal outcome
should be satisfying to everyone.
REFERENCES
Koontz, Christine M. 1994. Retail Location Theory: Can It Help Solve the Public Li-
brary Location Dilemma? In Research Issues in Public Librarianship, Trends
for the Future, edited by Joy M. Greiner. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
. 1997. Library Facility Siting and Location Handbook. Westport, Conn.: Green-
wood Press.
138 Appendix H
140 Appendix H
142 Appendix H
144 Appendix H
146 Appendix H
148 Appendix H
150 Appendix H
Selected Bibliography
The titles listed here include works on both academic and public libraries. The common
focus is library buildings and often problems encountered are very similar. What will
work in or for one type of building often will work in another. Innovative ideas raised
in one type of structure may and should be considered for another. If the project is a
joint-use facility between a public and academic library, then all titles may be of some
usefulness. The rst title, Americans with Disabilities Act Handbook, is essential for
planning any type of building. Some of the older titles (more than ve years old) may
lack much information on computer based technology and so thought to be out-of-date.
These titles contain basic information on other matters that is not often repeated or cited
in more recent works and so may be lost to librarians and others who have not reviewed
the literature of building planning in depth.
This book is essential for assisting in planning for the accommodation of physically
impaired persons. Every aspect of a building project must be checked against this volume,
but this alone is not sufcient. Regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Justice or
other federal agencies with ADA jurisdiction must be checked as well. The architect
bears primary responsibility for doing so.
Bazillion, Richard J., and Connie Braun. 1995. Academic Libraries as High-Tech Gate-
ways a Guide to Design and Space Decisions. Chicago: American Library As-
sociation.
There is no reason why public libraries cannot be high-tech gateways. There is much
152 Selected Bibliography
of value for public libraries in this book. Each chapter ends with a substantial list of
notes referring mostly to literature on buildings. The book concludes with a long bibli-
ography. This book may be best described as a compendium of current thinking on
academic libraries by many well-known library building consultants. The same can be
said for public library buildings. There are many useful ideas in this book.
brary Association.
Brawner is a well-known building consultant and a past chairperson of the Building
and Equipment Section of LAMA. Co-author Beck is a library building experienced
architect. With this combination of expertise, the book is certainly well worth acquiring.
It contains much useful information and advice for library planners.
Brown offers many helpful suggestions. The book has illustrations and photographs.
Chapter 7 on childrens areas is particularly informative.
Building Blocks for Library SpaceFunctional Guidelines. 1995. Chicago: American
Library Association, Library Administration and Management Association: Build-
ings and Equipment Section, Functional Space Requirements Committee.
This useful handbook serves as a guide to planning space allocations. The introductory
material may be described as required reading when a project is being developed.
Librarians considering rearranging service areas will nd this publication very helpful as
well.
Cirillo, Susan E., and Robert E. Danford, eds. 1996. Library Buildings, Equipment, &
The ADA: Compliance Issues and Solutions. Chicago: American Library Asso-
ciation.
This softcover book reports the proceedings of a LAMA Buildings and Equipment
Section preconference. All the chapter authors are authoritative and this book is a must
for librarians beginning a project.
Cohen, Aaron, and Elaine Cohen. 1979. Designing and Space Planning for Libraries.
New York: R. R. Bowker.
Still useful for practical advice, this book is worth consulting for clear and simple
explanations of such things as color and its effects on people, acoustics, the use of carpet,
and other matters. The section on Lighting, Power, and Energy offers good explanations
of basics. The illustrations include photographs and line drawings.
Cohen, Elaine, and Aaron Cohen. 1981. Automation, Space Management, and Produc-
tivity, A Guide for Libraries. New York: R. R. Bowker.
In this book, the Cohens again offer much basic information that is helpful to the
planning effort. Remarking on escalators for example, they point out that when used for
moving large numbers of people hourly they may be helpful but a library typically
doesnt have that level of trafc. Well illustrated with photographs and line drawings,
the captions are exceptional for offering lucid explanations.
90.
This excellent article is must reading for all librarians with a project. An excellent
summary of the major planning factors, the authors explain how architects and librarians
may differ on their views of a library building.
tion.
This helpful pamphlet has proven a mainstay to planners of smaller public library
buildings. Though somewhat dated now and formula dependent, it is still very useful for
such things as calculating collection space.
In this newer version of the preceding work with a modied title that signals a slight
change in scope, Dahlgren cautions against using older space formulas too rigorously.
He emphasizes consideration for automation and the resulting changes in furniture and
equipment sizes and consequent space needs. This version has more attention to detail
and simple explanations of technicalities than the rst edition. Practical advice is given
for certain areas and services. This small addition to library planning literature will prove
very useful, but there are portions of the rst edition that may serve as guidelines even
now.
. 1998. Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline/1998. State of Wiscon-
sin, Department of Public Instruction. Public Library Development. [last modied,
June 5, 1998] [23 pp.] http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dlcl/pld/plspace.html
This unique publication available at the listed web address is a must for librarians
facing a building project. The introduction states its intention to help librarians and
library trustees determine whether to initiate a facilities planning process. Beginning
with a means of estimating the population to be served, in a series of detailed but
summary presentations, possible assignable space requirements for the service and work
areas are determined and then supplemented by a guideline for determining nonassignable
space. Using this publication, Building Blocks (1995), and Brawner and Becks work
would provide a very well-dened statement for an approximate estimate of a librarys
space needs. Dahlgren, like Brawner, is a well-known consultant and past chairperson of
the Building and Equipment Section of LAMA. Librarians should be cautious, however,
in using any of these publications alone. They do not substitute for a qualied consultant,
nor are they intended to do so.
Drewes, Jeanne M., and Julie A. Page, eds. 1997. Promoting Preservation Awareness in
Libraries: A Sourcebook for Academic, Public, School, and Special Collections.
Though not directly concerned with library building planning, some of this books
chapters offer useful advice for preserving library materials. Harlan Greene in his chapter
Common Sense Solutions for Common Preservation Problems offers advice on hu-
midity and temperature levels. In planning for a new building, an understanding of pres-
ervation issues is important.
Foos, Donald D., and Nancy C. Pack, eds. 1992. How Libraries Must Comply with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Phoenix: Oryx Press.
This is a small and handy reference reference work with authoritative chapters sup-
ported by a very thorough index. It should be kept at hand to help answer questions that
may arise during the planning process.
Frawley, Ruth A., and Carol Lee Anderson. 1985. Library Space Planning, How to
Assess, Allocate, and Reorganize Collections, Resources, and Physical Facilities.
New York: Neal-Schuman.
In reality this book is a manual and a very effective one. Some of the practical advice
offered includes having photographs made of arrangements and lay-outs for future ref-
erence, reviewing old blueprints that may show forgotten details, etc. Some of the au-
thors advice is dated and now inconsistent with ADA requirements, for example,
increasing stack capacity by reducing open stacks aisle widths from 36" to 24". The book
is useful for reviewing specic information on a variety of still important topics.
Habich, Elizabeth Chamberlain. 1998. Moving Library Collections: A Management
Handbook. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
A comprehensive and very detailed explanation of the complexities of planning the
movement of library collections, this book is denitive. It has tables for measurements
and other matters and line drawings of shelving arrangements and ow of the classi-
cation scheme. Contributions by guest authors include information on pest and mold
infestation, a moving company executives viewpoint on moving a collection, and han-
dling a move of material that is badly arranged. There is an extensive bibliography with
annotations. Habich is a past chair of the Building and Equipment Section, LAMA, and
a frequent contributor to programs and preconferences offered at ALA annual confer-
ences.
Hawthorne, Pat, and Ron G. Martin, eds. 1995. Planning Additions to Academic Library
Buildings. A Seamless Approach. Chicago: American Library Association.
This is worth looking over for medium to larger libraries. Similar problems to those
described here may arise. Two of the libraries described in this book are medium sized
and one is a research library. While these are academic buildings, the problems of in-
creasing space, maintaining original architectural styles, and the buildings functionality
are not uncommon to public library renovation projects.
Hayes, Robert M., and Virginia A. Walter. 1996. Strategic Management for Public Li-
braries: A Handbook. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
Very useful to the planning process is a book like this one. Hayes and Walter illustrate
some of the changing needs that public libraries will be facing. Public libraries of all
sizes will nd much that is useful.
Holt, Raymond M. 1989. Planning Library Buildings and Facilities from Concept to
Completion. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press Inc.
Raymond Holt is revered as a wise and sagacious consultant. This book is extremely
useful. Holt conveys the wisdom of many years experience. This book lacks much in-
formation on space for computers, but this is a decit of its age and not of its continuing
value. There are other sources for current information on planning for computer services.
Koontz, Christine M. 1997. Library Facility Siting and Location Handbook. Westport,
Conn.: Greenwood Press.
This book will become the authoritative guide to location of public library buildings.
It is a comprehensive guide to a serious matter. Locating libraries where they will be
used to the maximum is something that cannot be left to guessing. Libraries are expensive
and the public must get the best possible return on its investment. Koontz covers the
beginnings of theory on location to Geographic Information System, computer software
with dynamic implications for sound decision making.
. 1994. Retail Location Theory: Can It Help Solve the Public Library Location
Dilemma? In Research Issues in Public Librarianship, Trends for the Future,
edited by Joy M. Greiner. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
This chapter explores the use of theory related to placement of retail stores applied to
public library buildings. The need for a successful location is critical for both: good sales
for the former and good service to the community for the latter are the objectives. This
chapter and the preceding work should both be read and used by library planners.
Library Administration and Management Association. (1999; published every two years).
Library Consultant List. Library Administration and Management Association,
Building and Equipment Section, Library Buildings Consultant List Committee,
Chicago: American Library Association.
This biannual publication lists many library consultants who work at improving their
skills and sharing their knowledge through participating in ALA activities. Currency in
trends for library buildings is critical and active service in ALA work is a certain sign
of that attribute.
Every library administrator should have a copy of this useful book. It will serve not
only as a guide to maintenance but also will assist the librarian in knowing what to
anticipate for maintenance costs in a new building. During a building planning process,
if unfamiliar with recommended materials, the librarian may consult this book to learn
what may be involved. One example is air quality and the way automobile exhaust
(because of close proximity to a parking lot) may affect it. The coverage of carpets is
very detailed. For daily management it includes a chapter on preventive maintenance.
This covers a full range of topics including schedules for re prevention systems and
elevators and escalators. Each is accompanied by a list of items that should be checked
and how frequently this should be done. Some elevator items are scheduled monthly
while others are scheduled at other times up to annually. Escalators have a weekly list
and an annual list. The HVAC system is also covered. Although maintenance contracts
will include service requirements, it doesnt hurt for the librarian to know what to expect.
The book concludes with a series of appendices that cover job descriptions, lighting
levels, regulations, codes, and other matters.
Lushington, Nolan, and James M. Kusack. 1991. The Design and Evaluation of Public
Library Buildings. Hamden, Conn.: Library Professional Publications.
At the early stages or even before beginning a project, this book should be read. It
contains many basics of excellent advice and will provide a strong foundation as the
planning starts. Lushington is a well-known library consultant active in LAMA BES.
Martin, Ron G., ed. 1992. Libraries for the Future, Planning Buildings That Work.
Chicago: Library Administration and Management Association, American Library
Association.
The proceedings of a LAMA preconference make up the content of this well-edited
publication. All the papers are worth reading, and like Lushington and Kusacks book,
this is also a fundamental source and should be read at the earliest stages of planning.
Mason, a highly respected library consultant and authority on lighting, writes primarily
about larger facilities. This book has ve chapters of text covering planning overview,
the building program, lighting, air handling, and interior design. Another six chapters
review a series of academic libraries. An appendix provides brief summary evaluations
of a series of school, academic, and research library buildings, and one branch library
of the New York Public Library. This book should be of interest to those planning larger
facilities.
McCabe, Gerard B. 1996. The Public Library Building and Information Services. Syra-
cuse, N.Y., ERIC, ED386208.
This short paper covers the potential impact of the National Information Infrastructure,
conguring library buildings for network service, libraries less than 30,000 square feet,
those over this gure in size, and space for workstations.
Metcalf, Keyes D. 1986. Planning Academic and Research Library Buildings. 2nd ed.
by Philip D. Leighton and David C. Weber. Chicago: American Library Asso-
ciation.
This volume serves as a useful reference work, a place to look when a difcult question
arises. Some of its recommendations are just as applicable to small public libraries as
they are to the larger research facilities. Lighting and site selection are two examples.
North Carolina. 1988. Standards for North Carolina Public Libraries. A Joint Project of
the North Carolina Library Association and the North Carolina Public Library
Directors Association. Raleigh: North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources,
Division of State Library.
This pamphlet is the result of the cooperative effort by the two named associations.
Intended as a guide to standards it includes checklists for measuring progress on aspects
of library planning.
Parker, Donald E., and Alphonse J. DellIsola. 1991. Project Budgeting for Buildings.
New York: Van Nostrand.
The intended audience is professionals in the building industry. It is listed here for
awareness. Librarians involved in a large library project may nd it helpful to their
understanding of the factors that go into technical aspects of a project.
This book may appear dated, nevertheless, it contains some very useful advice. The
author, a well-known consultant active in LAMA BES, visited an extensive number of
libraries in preparing this book; a list is included. For many years Pierce was associated
with the Pennsylvania State University Libraries. He had advised on many projects
throughout the country. The book goes beyond furniture and service equipment and
discusses other matters as well. His comments on elevators and escalators, for example,
are valid today. Because the advice given in this volume comes from a respected library
consultant, the book is indispensable and should be consulted.
Sannwald, William W., ed. 1997. Checklist of Library Building Design Considerations.
3rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association.
Indispensable and strongly recommended as essential for any building related projects,
Sannwalds compilation of logically detailed questions arranged under headings in twelve
chapters has earned a solid reputation in planning literature. The intent of this publication
as explained in the introduction is to help librarians assure that no important details are
overlooked or omitted. It succeeds exceptionally well. Sannwald is a past president of
LAMA and has long been active in BES.
Shuman, Bruce A. 1999. Library Security and Safety Handbook: Prevention, Policies,
and Procedures. Chicago: American Library Association.
In his preface, Shuman states that the focus of the book is on security. He uses the
anecdotal method to convey a strong sense of need for security precautions in all types
of libraries. There is coverage for a full range of security issues. Chapters cover loss of
materials, behavior of patrons, developing policies, and one chapter deals with misuse
of computer systems and the security concerns for these systems. Shuman also insists
that libraries develop policies to cover a variety of matters. These policies should cover
handling patron health problems, other emergencies, and disasters. A security team in
every library should conduct audits of security preparations. The book ends with a bib-
liography. Surprisingly, the book by Dianne Lueder and Sally Webb, Administrators
Guide to Library Building Maintenance (1992), is not included. This is an American
Library Association publication and includes material on safety, emergencies, and dis-
asters.
Solomon, Nancy. 1998. Understanding Accessibility Laws. . . . Architectural Record
(July): 10914.
This article reviews current information concerning the ADA and other laws as they
pertain to architects. This article is especially important to architects as they plan for a
library building.
Switzer, Teri R. 1999. Safe at Work? Library Security and Safety Issues. Lanham, Md.:
Scarecrow Press.
This selective bibliography offers representative citations under broad topical headings.
There are eight subject chapters supported by separate author/title and subject indexes.
Each chapter has an introductory text followed by annotated citations. The annotations
are precise and very useful. This book will save time for library committees or staff
persons who are responsible for drafting or overseeing library policies on safety and
security. The citations are comprehensive enough to give good background coverage for
any special problem areas. Although there are some omissions, the coverage is broad
enough in depth to give satisfactory coverage.
Wisconsin Library Building Project Handbook. 1990. Wisconsin Department of Public
Instruction. Raymond M. Holt, Library Consultant. 2d rev. ed. by Anders C.
Dahlgren, DPI Library Consultant. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Public
Instruction.
Although intended for use by Wisconsin libraries, this volume is quite helpful on many
aspects of the planning process. Much practical advice, as well as excellent illustrations,
make this a useful reference and planning tool. The two consultants, Holt and Dahlgren,
are an effective combination in this presentation.
Index
Accessories, 47
Acoustical control, childrens area, 86
ADA. See Americans With Disabilities
Act
Adelaide, Australia, 1
Adult services, 9091
Adult work surfaces, 4344
Age of readers and lighting, 38
Aird, Glenys, 113, 114
Aisle width and volume capacity, 23
Alarm system, 103
Albright, Gary, 8
ALIA Statement on Joint-Use Libraries,
113, 114
Allman, Maureen, 115
The American Community Survey
Your Communitys Key to the Future,
10
American Institute of Architects, 15
American Libraries, 2, 43
American Library Association, 9
Americans With Disabilities Act, 23, 48,
53, 71, 103; aisle widths, 23
Anderson, Carol Lee, 154
ANSI/AIIM, 8
Archeological sites, 30
Architect, selection of, 13
Architectural details. See specic features
Architectural Record, 2, 40, 50, 99
Archives, genealogy, local history, rare
and unique material collections, 7981;
furniture and equipment, 81; rooms
and shelving areas, 8081
Area of (locale of library buildings), 68
69
Arizona State University, 2
Aslin, Verna, 115
Atriums, 9798
Attractive nuisance, 71
Audin, Lindsay, 98
Audiovisual materials, 91
Auerbach, Barbara, 64
Australian Library and Information Asso-
ciation (ALIA), 5th Biennial Confer-
ence, Adelaide 98, Pathways to
Knowledge, 1, 113; listserv, 55
Australian Television News, 33
Auxiliary spaces, 1045
160 Index
Back rests, 47
Back strain, 96
Banner, 107
Bazillion, Richard J., 69
Bean bags, 47
Beck, Donald K., Jr., 22, 25, 31, 44, 87,
88, 152
Bequests, 19
Bergoc, Albert, 114
Birthrate and population projections, 86
Booker, Di, 115
Bookmobile service, 109
Bookstores, super, visit to, 43
Borenstein, Seth, 99
Braille messages, 37
Braun, Connie, 69, 151
Brawner, Lee B., 22, 25, 31, 44, 87, 88
Brightness, 38
Brown, Carol R., 39, 42, 48, 50
Brownelds, 30
Bubble diagrams, 6061, 6970
Budget: cost projections, 16; and mainte-
nance supplies, 53
Budget for Furniture and Equipment,
master list, 4142
Building program, 6770
Built-ins, 50, 96
Burial site, 30
Cable television, 100
Cabling, 59
CAD. See Computer assisted design
Camping, 33
Carnegie libraries, 27
Cat 5 Cabling Tips, 100
Caywood, Carolyn, 63
CD-ROM, 77, 78
Ceiling height and sprinkler system, 96
Chairs, 43, 4647; distinction, for public
and staff, 47; selection fundamentals,
4647; sizes and styles, 46
Charette approach, 17, 59
Children and escalators, 102
Childrens furniture, 48
Childrens library, 8586; budget plan
for, 86. See also specic features
Circulation, 7273
Circulation counter, 4849; straight line,
49
Circulation workroom and workspace, 73
74
Climate and weather factors, 69
Climatic conditions, 96
Cochran, Sally, 65
Coffee bar, 75
Cohen, Aaron, 102
Cohen, Elaine, 102
Collection areas, 61
Collections, 8; for childrens area, 8687
College & Research Libraries News, 53
College library planning steps for a pub-
lic library setting, 5963
Colman, Price, 82
Color: and contrast of reading surfaces,
3738; and personal taste, private
ofces, 36; and staff issues, 36;
trendy, 36
Color and matching in bid process for
furniture, 43
Color scheme and patron comfort, 36, 39
Color selection, 36
Columbia, Maryland, Public Library, East
Columbia branch, 2
Comfort station, 33, 72
Commercial and sales space, 75
Communications, 99101
Community, 68
Community involvement, 1617, 59
Compact shelving, 46
Computer assisted design (CAD), 14, 15,
16, 42, 45, 53
Conference room, 92
Construction features, 95101
Construction module, 95
Consultant. See Library consultant
Contrast, of reading surfaces, 37
Conversion or renovation of other types
of buildings, 13032
Couches, 47
Curry, Ann, 13, 14, 31
Cushions, 47
Dahlgren, Anders, 22, 23, 25, 29, 31, 87
Danford, Robert E., 152
Index 161
Daniels, Stephen H., 97
Day care centers, 85, 104
Delivery timing of furniture and equip-
ment, 54
DellIsola, Alphonse J., 69
Demographics, 910, 2324
Design needs, 89
Diaper changing, 106
Discovery area (displays), 92
Display shelving, 45
Displays and bulletin boards for teens, 65
Docking stations, 52
Doors, main entry, sliding, swing-out, 71
Downey, Claire, 34
Drag racing, 32, 33
Drawings, 12627
Drewes, Jeanne, 8, 80
Dunford, Helen M., 113, 114
Dwyer, James G., 114
Earthquake prone areas, 29
Electrical room, 104
Electronic information center (EIC), 78
Electronic workstation, space for, 22
Elementary schools, 85
Elevators, alarm or communication sys-
tems for, 101
Elevators and escalators, 1012
End panels, 46
Entry to public catalog, 7076
Entryway content and surroundings, 71
72
Environment, 8
Escalators, 101, 102; and child safety,
102
European Parliament building, 33
Evaluating open land, 29
Exterior, 10610. See also specic fea-
tures
Exterior color selections and the interior
designer, 36
Fabric upholstery, replacement time, 42
Facility sharing, 62
Factoring for an increase in service activ-
ity, 2425
Fire hydrants, 108
Fire station, unstable land, 33
Fixed function, 21
Flag, banner, and pennant displays, 107
Flexibility, 59
The Flood of 97 Wreaks Havoc, 29
Flood plain, 29
Floor and wall coverings, childrens area,
86
Flynn, John E., 38
Formulas, 2223
Free land syndrome, 31
Function determines form, or form fol-
lows function, 13
Funding the project, 1718
Fund-raiser, 17, 18
Fullers earth, 29
Furnishings, 60
Furniture: for children, 48; outdoor, 50;
for young adults, 4748
Furniture and equipment, 9, 36, 81;
budget and early planning, 41; delivery
timing, 54; lay-outs, 5354; longevity,
36; options for public libraries, 11925;
other, 48; replacement cycle, 42
Gantt chart, 12
Garage, 109
Genealogy collections, 7980
Geographic information system, 10, 11,
28, 31
GIS. See Geographic information system
Gisol, Peter, 65
Glare, 37, 38
Glass, 9798; safety and children, 86
Glossy surfaces, 37
Goldsmith, Francisca, 64
Gradations of brightness, 38
Grants, 19
Greensboro News & Record, 2
Greensboro, NC, Central Library, 2, 55,
76
Greiner, Joy M., 136
Grosslight, Jane, 38
Group noisy functions together, 60
Group study opportunities, 60
Guards, security, 32, 102
Gwin, James E., 80
162 Index
Hamblin, Deb, 113, 114, 115
Handicapped parking, 109
Hang-out location, parking lot, 32
Harold Washington Library, Chicago, 1
Hayes, Robert M., 24, 25
Head librarian: ofce, 74; responsibility
of, 911
Hearing assistance devices, 48, 52
Henriquez, Zena, 13, 14, 31
High school students, 52
Hill, David, 103
Holt, Raymond M., 31, 32
Hopkinson, R. G., 37, 38
Humphreys, Judy, 113, 114
Hyperspace, 89
inCite, News Magazine of the Australian
Library and Information Association, 2,
3
Information services cluster, 60
Interior design and recycling, waste, and
trash, 39
Interior designer, 35, 98; childrens area,
86; selection of furniture and equip-
ment, 42
Internet services for children, 89
Introduction, for building program, 68
Janitorial closet, 105
Johnson, Carolyn, 89
Joint use libraries in Australia, 11315
Joint use of space, 62
Jones, David J., 17
Jones, Theodore, 27
Juchau, Madeleine L., 113, 114
Kay, J. D., 38
Kindergarten, 85
Kitchen, 92
Koontz, Christine M., 27, 28, 29, 30, 31,
131, 136
Land: evaluation of open, 29; lled in, 29;
unstable, 29
Landscape architects and planners, 107
Laptop computers, 51
Las Vegas/Clark County library system,
Nevada, 2, 76
Lead paint, 131
Lead time for ordering furniture and
equipment, 41
Lease, 30
Lewis, Audrey, 78
Librarian and activity space, childrens
area, 8889
Libraries becoming day care centers, 104
Library Administration and Management
Association, 9, 15
Library Building Awards Program, 15
Library Building Consultants List, 9
Library building longevity, 27
Library building program, checklist of
contents, 133
Library consultant, 919; rst meeting,
1113
Library in a public park, 3033
Library Journal, 2, 16, 57
Library of Congress, 1
Library sinking into ground, 29
Library staff, 8
Life safety code, 103
Lighting, 59, 9899; absence of prob-
lems, 3; metal halide, 5960; up light-
ing, 59
Line of sight, 107
Literature collection, 91
Live load-bearing, 9596; capability, 131
Load-bearing capability of land, of library
foundation, 29
Loading dock (freight), 105, 109
Local history collections, 7980
Location, 27; in relation to where most
users come from, 28
Logan Hyperdome Library (Australia), 89
Loitering, 71
Longevity of a library building, 27; of
furniture and equipment, 36
Los Angeles Public Library, 1
Lueder, Dianne, 102, 131
Lythgoe, R. J., 37
Machines, 5152
Magniers, 52
Main entry, 7071
Maintenance equipment, 53
Maintenance room, 104
Index 163
Mall locations, 30
Management checklist, 11618
Managing the incoming funds, 19
Manseld University of Pennsylvania
Library, 2
Maps, 11
Mason, Ellsworth, 12, 67, 72
Mediavilla, Cindy, 4748
Meeting and instructional spaces, 62
Meeting spaces, 9193
Metal halide lighting, 5960
Metcalf, Keyes D., 29, 37, 39, 95, 102,
104
Minudri, Regina, 64
Miscellaneous items for libraries, 52
Mitchell Library, Sydney, Australia, 2
Multipurpose room, 9192
Munsell value, 38
Nadel, Barbara A., 97
Negative feelings of board members or
others, 11, 15
Networked wiring, 61
New Mexico, public library sinking into
ground, 29
New South Wales State Library (Austra-
lia), 2
Nichols, C. Allen, 47, 89
Nichols, Mary Anne, 47, 89
Noise containment, childrens area, 86
Notebook computers, 51
Novitski, B. J., 15
Of Drag Loads, 69
Ogden, Sherelyn, 8
One Small Room, 63, 64, 89
Other furniture and equipment, 48
Other items for libraries, 51
Outdoor furniture, 50
Outdoor objects. See Signicant ob-
jects, outdoor
Out source, 75
Page, Julie, 8, 80
Parental kidnapping, 104
Parents lounge, 87
Parker, Donald E., 69
Parking, 1089; handicapped, 109
Parking signs, 108
Park location, 3033
Patron comfort and color scheme, 36
Pennant, 107
Pennsylvania real estate transfer tax, 17
People movers, 1013
Peoples university, 57, 58
Periodical dispensers, 108
Periodicals, 9091; shelving for, 45
Perkins, Sue, 114
Personal safety, 103
Philosophy of service, 68
Phoenix, Arizona, Public Library, 1, 76
Photocopiers, 105; placement of, 51
Pierce, William, 37, 39, 42, 50, 101, 102
Pinellas County, Florida, 2
Planning the Small Public Library Build-
ing, 22
Plantings, 107
Population projection and birthrate, 86
Posters for teens, 65
Power and communications, 99101
Printing service policy, 51
Program description for childrens area,
86
Prospect identication, 18
Public address system, 100
Public furniture, 4344
Public library in a shopping center or
mall, 30
Public online catalog, 7576
Public park. See Park location
Public telephones, 100, 108
Purchasing and delivery timing, 54
Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Malaysia, 3
Queensland, Australia, 89
Quit clause, 30
Rain water on roof, 69
Rare materials collections, 7981
Raynes Rail, 37, 52
Reading and collections areas, 61
Reading surfaces, color, and contrast, 37
39
Receiving room, 105
Recliners, 47
164 Index
Recycling, trash, waste, and the interior
design, 39
Red River Flood Takes Toll, 29
Reference collection, 7879
Reference desk or counter, 4950
Reference services, 7778
Reectance, 38
Renovation: conversion of other types of
buildings, 130; in twenty-fth year, 27
Request for Proposal (RFP), 9
Restrooms, 1056
Retail Location Theory, 31
Rizzo, Joe, 1213
Roads and highways, 11
Roofs, 96
Rooms and shelving areas for special col-
lections, 8081
Safety and security, 1034
Safety glass, 86, 97
Safety procedures handbook, 12829
Saffady, William, 8
Sales and commercial space, 75
Sample survey forms, 13637, 13850
San Francisco Public Library, 1
Sannwald, William, 28, 31, 102
Satellite television, 100
School libraries, 86
Schwartz, Robyn, 115
Scottsdale, Arizona: Civic Center Library,
2; Mustang branch, 2
Scranton, Pennsylvania, 93
Screens, 97
Seating, 4647; for children, 87
Security, 5051, 80, 103; consultant, 103;
guards, 33; staff space, 93
Segil, Arthur W., 38
Selecting an architect, 1316
Selecting an interior designer, 35
Seminar room, 60
Sensors for lighting, 98
Service activity increase, 24
Services and annual report, 10
Shared space, 62
Shelving, 44; compact 46; display, 45;
height and capacity, 23; installation, 45;
liveload, 46; specialty, 45; standard, 44;
utility, 46
Shepherd, Cathy, 114
Shopfronts (Australia), 30
Shopping center locations, 30
Signicant objects, outdoor, 107
Signs, 36
Sign specialist, 3637
Silent alarm, 103
Skate boarding, 32
Skylights, 9798
Slide areas, 29
Smaul, Joseph M., 106
Snow loads on roof, 69
Sofas and couches, 47
Software, 52
Soil engineer, 29
Soil tests, 29
Space formulas, per capita, 22
Special public use equipment, 52
Specialty shelving, 45
Specications book, 67
Specications for furniture and equip-
ment, 42, 43
Sprinkler system: and ceiling height, 96;
for lawns, plantings, etc., 1078
Staff involvement in planning, 59
Staff lounge and kitchen, 9293
Stained glass overlay, 98
Stairs, 101, 1023
Stairwells, 1023
Standard shelving, 44
Steffy, Gary R., 38
Stools, 47
Storage room, 7475
Storefronts, 30
Story hour, 8788
Strickland, Susan Dawn, 78
Strip mine, 29
Study carrels, 61
Supply budget, 53
Table of spaces, 69
Targets of opportunity, 32, 103
Taste and cultural interests, 10
Technical and Further Education System
(TAFE, Australia), 113, 115
Technology, 61
Teens, a special place for, 6365
Telephones. See Public telephones
Index 165
Tempe, Arizona, Public Library, 2
Test borings, 29
Theme for childrens area, 86
Three-foot rule, 95
Time line, 12
Todays Librarian, 2
Trafc signs, 108
Trash, 39
Travel cost and library location, 31
Two Component Lighting, 99
Uninterruptible power supply, 100
Unique materials collections, 7980
Unstable land, 29, 33
U.S. Bureau of the Census, 10
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commis-
sion, 102
Utility shelving, 46
Vacuum cleaner system, 105
Valliancourt, Renee J., 64
Vandalism. See Targets of opportunity
Vavrek, Bernard, 106
Vending machines, 106
Video surveillance systems, 104
Walter, Virginia A., 24, 25
Waste, 39
Wastebaskets, 39
Water fountains, 106
Webb, Sally, 102, 131
Weston, H. C., 38
Wetland, 34
Wilson, William K., 8
Window boxes, 47
Windows, 97
Wireless technology, 81
Work-in-kind, 11
Workstations and oor-based power sup-
ply, 43
Wynar, Bohdan S., 78
Young adult furniture, 4748
Young adult services, 8990
Young people and library planning, 89
Z39.731994, and Test Reports, 44
About the Author
and Contributors
GERARD B. MCCABE retired as Director of Libraries at Clarion University
of Pennsylvania in 1996. Among his public library projects are three new build-
ings in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at Ephrata, Mount Joy, and Lititz. Since 1988,
McCabe has been Editor/Series Adviser for the Greenwood Library Management
Collection. Among his edited works are: The Smaller Academic Library: A Man-
agement Handbook (1988), Operations Handbook for the Small Academic Li-
brary (1989), Academic Libraries in Urban and Metropolitan Areas: A
Handbook (1992), Academic Libraries: Their Rationale and Role in American
Higher Education with Ruth J. Person (1995), Introducing and Managing Ac-
ademic Library Automation Projects with John W. Head (1996), and Leadership
for Academic Librarians: A Handbook with Terrence F. Mech (1998).
JAMES R. KENNEDY is Library Director at Buena Vista University in Storm
Lake, Iowa. Kennedy currently serves as Chair of the Building and Equipment
Sections Publications Committee in the Library Administration and Manage-
ment Association, a division of the American Library Association. He is co-
editor of The Great Divide: Challenges in Remote Storage (1990).
BERNADETTE STORCK is the Administrator of the Pinellas Public Library
Cooperative, Inc., which serves as the coordinating agency for member libraries
in the central west coast of Florida.
REBECCA M. WENNINGER is employed by the Enoch Pratt Free Library in
Baltimore, Maryland. She is co-author of The Coming Generation of Computer
Procient Students: What It May Mean for Libraries (1994).

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