PLA Blog

Here’s my favorite soundbite: You’re getting something right when they’re sleeping in the library.

This session looked at some recent academic library building projects, but the design principles are relevant for public libraries, too. Lots of emphasis on collaborative spaces, modular furniture, natural light. The computer workstations weren’t crammed one on top of another. Instead, there’d be one computer, several chairs, and glorious space so that people could meet, spread out, and work together. They’ve mostly done away with the dividers that split up tables and formed carrels for the sake of privacy. There are private study rooms for people who opt for quiet or privacy. Otherwise, the library is a place to see and be seen. And, it’s comfortable (one of the libraries was packed with Aeron chairs). One model for a learning/research workstation had a computer that was low to the ground, and several large, comfy looking footstool-type seating elements. There was a wall divider that arced overhead that defined the space as separate without closing it off.

As for technology, the goal is for it to be fully integrated with the facility. The only way to do that in the face of such rapid change is to build in flexibility — furniture and spaces that can be easily reconfigured (by your users, even). Moreover, the devices people use are getting smaller. Don’t expect your users to bring in their laptops when they can carry around something the size of an iPod. And why carry anything at all when you can store your information on a server?

View the Ferris State University and the JDB Thinktank (password ala0605) presentations.

Tags: ALA2005, conferences

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 26th, 2005 at 4:33 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.