LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Thanks to all who responded.
There's some good stuff in the LM_NET archives ... the main things I
gleaned were tons of electrical outlets and computer drops, lots of
light,
flexible room arrangement, easy supervision of kids no matter where in
the
room.
______
You need more electric than any architect can imagine. Next to each
electric outlet you need data ports for telephone and video. Even if you
don't pull the wires at this point in construction - if the conduit is
laid and the boxes installed - cable can be pulled easily later BUT if
there's no conduit and no box - sheesh. It's costly to add.
Electric/data ports, etc in the floor, along the wall.
Architects have NO CLUE what goes on in a library.......
You need super site lines. You need to SEE what is going on. I just was
in a K-5 library where the architect had placed the circulation desk
facing the front door with the back to the center......You need GLASS
walls and GLASS doors so conference rooms are blocked off - they can be
sound proof but you need to SEE what is happening.....
Short shelves so you can see over them....
Wide aisles so wheelchairs can get down them.
STORAGE - wide enough for equipment.
Shelving SOLID WOOD SHELVES - yes they cost more however - BOOKS WEIGH A
TON> The shelves WILL sag.
_____
Check out Steve Baule's new book from Linworth: Library Facilities
Planning. It will have what you need.
_____
The best thing that we did when planning our library's renovation was to
create a building program which outlined what our needs were, where we
wanted things and why, adjacencies, and specs for shelving, number of
seats/total student body and so on. It was a wonderful exercise which
resulted in a building that is very workable---we made a few mistakes,
but
they weren't major ones. The building program clarified and justified
our
needs. We have another building on campus for which there was no
building
program created and it's not the most workable building and they forgot
some
big things.
_____
We moved into a new library media center in our middle school this past
January. I had no input in designing it and offer several suggestions
so
that you might avoid the design "errors" that we are living with.
1. Ask for electrical outlets everywhere. Visualize doing mini-lessons
or
presentations throughout your new space and you will recognize the need
for
extra outlets for overheads, TV's, a fishtank, etc.
2. Remember to include in your design a large-group instructional space
which has a demonstration computer available with large screen, or,
better
still, the capability of projecting the computer image onto a screen or
blank
wall through the use of a data-video projector.
2.5 Arrange computers so that you can see screens. This arrangement is
so
helpful during instruction and also for monitoring use of the computers.
3. Ask for placement or sectioning off of this instructional space so
that
noise isn't a problem either for the instructor or for those in the
other
part of the library.
4. Require ventilation (air conditioning) of the room where the servers
and
the cable TV "head end" will be.
5. Choose almond-colored book shelves if you purchase metal ones. The
black
metal shelves show the dust instantly.
6. Insist on blinds on south-facing windows or that windows be covered
with
UV-resistant film.
Here are some things about our library media center that I LOVE:
1. Large, lighted display cases set into the walls.
2. A silent reading area with soft, stuffed chairs. The kids and
teachers
just love this part of the media center.
3. A conference room with large glass windows on three sides. This
room is
used constantly by teams of teachers, for staff training, for small
luncheons, by our reading club, by visiting groups, etc.
4. Good visibility from the circulation desk of the whole room.
5. Deep shelving in the AV storage room close to the circulation desk.
6. Access to the out-of-doors. (It's lovely to open the large doors to
the
court yard and let in the breezes and sounds of the outside.)
______
I came across this site and thought may be of interest. I plan to use it
when I talk with the architect in the next couple weeks. I also found
other
sites when using the key words library, school, design, plan- hope this
is
of some help.
http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/dougwri/buildingquestions.html
-
Roz Goodman, Media Specialist
Southwest Region Schools
PO Box 90
Dillingham, AK 99576
907-842-5287, FAX 842-5428
rgoodman@dillingham.swrsd.schoolzone.net
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