Designing a HS Library

[Carolyn Brook]

Our district is planning to do some major construction and it will include the library. I was asked for my input, which I gave-(we need more space, more rooms, air-conditioning, more computers, etc) but now I need to get more specific. I know there are some books on the subject-but I'm looking for any ideas or info. thanks.

[Alan Jacques]

Hi Carolyn

Design is such a huge subject and so much of what is decided depends on your school body.
I'm about to start work in a private international school in Ho Chi Minh and the admin recently asked for my input on re-design of the library. Personally I'm just loving being asked, better than the state school I'm at in QLD, Australia where all changes are made top down with no collaboration.
Here are the ideas I submitted as early issues to be considered pre-design, they might do to get a conversation started. Also, I might direct you to my blog (http://ajacques123.blogspot.com/) which started as an academic archive of a library renovation I did last year. I wasn't totally satisfied with the results, again because there was a lot of top-down control rather than collaboration. However, I think some of the ideas are still good. Try posts 14, 10, 7 & 5 if you have time.

Libraries have more competition for their clients than ever before. Books have gotten cheaper, bookshops have gotten friendlier and of course there is Google. Current library trends in the western world are focused more on user needs and customer service, the roles of archiving and protecting information are still there but more in the background. Public and university libraries are quickly moving in this direction; school libraries have been slower to change, probably because we think we’ve a captive audience. However, as university readiness becomes increasingly important we are under pressure to change.

Recent Australian and English research indicates that students largely use the library for access to computer technology, digital information and group work. It also indicates that we need to improve how we provide for: leisure reading, the hardcopy collection and independent work.

Off the top of my head, here are a few ideas that I think are important to consider:

• A library shouldn’t assume it has users that need it, it should respond to their needs. We can learn a lot from the retail model, i.e. why would you go to the library rather than the local internet café or book shop?

• Information is relatively static, interaction is what changes it to knowledge. Thus access is a prime consideration. Access to all resources should be natural and not require special knowledge or training.

• The Google generation are used to ready information (even if that information is of poor quality). Even hardcopy should emulate this, make collections lean and relevant. If students have to fight through an old non-fiction collection to find a good book they won’t bother. Also, culling your collection frees up more floor space.

• I’m a big fan of zoning a library. It makes a library easy to use and guarantees the user-ship is diverse (less clicks). If possible furnishings should be mobile so that the library space can be adapted to different teaching and social activities.

• Wi-fi laptops double the size of a library because you don’t need to provide space for desktops. Desktop space usually is poorly designed for any type of learning other than computing, thus it’s a frozen, inefficient space.

There is more to think about but these came up as issues to be considered at an early stage.

Cheers - Alan.

[R Scroggi]

Think about all the things that will be going on in your library:

How you are going to get your patrons connected with the books. I use lots of displays with book covers showing. These displays can be table tops (books flat or standing up), top of the shelf displays (depends on your shelves), etc. A colleague purchased acrylic counter-top book holders that she places a copy of the book cover in the back so when the book has been checked out, the cover still shows. Awards are a great way for patrons to find books they can enjoy fast. How are you going to make those awards known? The acrylic book holder, a specific table/book case, a bulletin board or two? Do you need wall space for posters explaining the awards or for awards themselves? Is there an easy way for the patron to know where the awards are? We use labeling, posters, a three-ring binder of award-winning books, Excel documents on their computers, and links off our website.

Shelving-against the wall opens space in the middle (single-side shelving) and can allow for more visibility of patrons. In-the-middle-of the room double-sided shelves can be either tall or short depending on if you are wanting zones and need to separate classes or if visibility is more important. Do you want tables next to your computers so a teacher can keep her/his class together when some are working on a project and others are using the electronics?

Do you need a spot for staff meetings with LCD projector & screen?

Flooring-tiles are easier to keep clean (food & drinks) and look nice longer but noisier than carpeting.

etc. etc. Gotta go!

[Susan Geiger]

If you can get moveable shelving on castors, it makes for a more flexible floor plan. Lighting, both natural and installed are a major consideration as well as sightlines. Having really good presentation facilities (ceiling mounted LCD projectors, a sound system, smart boards or white boards in the teaching area) will make the library much more attractive to your faculty, and administration. I'd also try to get set up for wireless for laptops.