HIT #2: Library Floor Plans

[Cathy Subbiondo <CATHY5555@AOL.COM>]

My first transmission a few days ago was cut short and I finally figured out=
=20
how to send it for those of you who expressed an interest. I received this=20
message:


Below, find what I gave my architect for our Media Center renovation.  Good=20
Luck.
                  Design Considerations

Jefferson Information - Technology Library
     Submitted by,
     Charles L. Kindgren
     Information technology Librarian
        6/26/98

Basic Objectives: The central function of the information technology library=
=20
is the indexing and organizing, the accessing and or housing, the circulatio=
n=20
and distribution of information resources and equipment used in the schools=20
instructional
program. The plan for facilities shall carefully interpret the mission of=20
Jefferson Elementary School and Faribault Public Schools 1 ; its program=20
functions and curriculum.2.3. This document shall define the spaces,=20
facilities and technologies
required to facilitate the instructional program while making life more real=
=20
meaningful and profound for children and staff.
     Basic to these considerations are the following  principles. 1. Site=20
based management , selection, ordering and processing of resources and=20
technologies. 2. The facility shall be designed so that the patron moves fro=
m=20
the entrance through
information area, the Keys, displays and resources to quiet study, reading,=20
viewing, and listening areas. 3. The integration of all formats of=20
information=20
shall create an environment  that encourages the choice and use of a variety=
=20
of media formats
for specific needs; facilitates freedom of inquiry; helps motivate students=20
to=20
use materials and equipment with responsibility for shared resources and=20
technology in the spirit of community.4   4. The design shall facilitate the=
=20
integration of
information resources with curriculum and instruction through cooperative=20
planning and selection of resources with teaching staff, accessible=20
electronic=20
indexing,  and the application of technology at all points of the use of=20
information.5   5. The
total area should accommodate 30 % of the student body (120 students in all=20
areas).  6. Form shall follow functions for all facilities and accouterments=
=20
of the center.
Design recommendations:  1. It is recommended that all areas have temperatur=
e=20
and humidity control for preservation of materials and comfort of users.=20
2.Lighting should permit rearrangement of stacks and display and conform to=20
latest standards for
conservation of library materials. 3. Interior materials and furnishings=20
should be durable, easily maintained for minimal operation costs.  4. If=20
smoke=20
and fire detectors and a sprinkler system are installed, a sprinkler system=20
not using water is
recommended. 5. Windows should be able to be opened for ventilation.
6. Elevator to be added to the building must accommodate a full sized book=20
truck, computer or television monitor cart.
7. The main reading and research area having a celling of sufficient height=20
to=20
allow sound to dissipate, mobiles and other materials to be hung to enhance=20
attractiveness, motivate use of resources, and facilitate effective signage=20
would be a great
enhancement.
8. An attractive signage system, in keeping with the interior decoration of=20
the library, is to be designed to indicate special resource and special=20
function areas.

Circulation, Information Area:
Activities: Electronic charging and discharging print, non-print, software=20
and=20
equipment;  Work area for Media-aid;  Accessing inter-library loans;=20
Preparing=20
and inspecting returned materials and equipment; Identifying overdue=20
material;=20
sending out
overdue notices; housing reserve materials.
Relationship to other Areas: Near entrance so users do not go through other=20
areas to reach it;  Located so that staff at this workstation have some=20
standing visual control of browsing, leisure reading, and reference areas.
Equipment: Circulation counter with stools, two computers for check-out and=20
return, printer; shelving behind counter for 20-30 books video=B9s and CD=
=B9s; =20
Desk with telephone for inter-library loans and chair for Media-aid.
Special needs: Circulation desk should have lower level on picture book side=
=20
of counter for younger children and handicapped. It should have an area for=20
inspection and return of equipment, a locked drawer for payment of lost=20
materials, parking for
a book truck and a depressable book return; telephone jack at Media-aid=B9s=20
desk=20
behind counter.



Keys:
Activities: Electronic card catalog; Index to periodicals.
Relationship to other Areas: Should be located between charging desk and=20
reference area. Could be located on the back side of circulation module.
Equipment: Two computer catalog look-up stations connected to network and=20
nearby printer. One standing station and one low for handicapped and younger=
=20
children. (The card catalog will be networked to all computers in the=20
building=20
but these two
would be dedicated to keys in the event others are being used for word=20
processing and HyperCard multi-media writing projects); a two station table=20
for periodical indexes (handicapped accessible)(computer outlet available=20
when=20
these indexes go
electronic). [ The periodical indexes could be integrated into this area wit=
h=20
slot shelving for 25 back issues of 25 periodicals, (each slot 12 issues,3=20
slots per title, 25 titles) (see reference in Periodicals Area to housing=20
back=20
issues. This
area would be preferred.)]
Special needs: Computer and electric outlets for three stations.

Information Technologist=B9s Office
Functions and Activities:  Administrative work with resources (reviewing,=20
selection, indexing and promoting of resources), curriculum  consultation an=
d=20
planning with staff and students; Administration of technology and network=20
management with data,
voice and video servers and off cable and digital satellite system dish=20
recording .
Relationship to other Areas: Easily accessible and close to production room,=
=20
library workroom; permit visual control of circulation - information area,=20
production area; head in and networks in the same room because these are the=
=20
direct
responsibility of the information - technology librarian.
Equipment: Desk and office chair; 3 drawer lateral file; movable cart with=20
computer connected to the data server for catalog management; printer;=20
shelves=20
for 75 books; bulletin board; two comfortable stackable chairs for teachers;=
=20
table (could be
planning bar attached to built in desk); four stackable chairs for children.=
;=20
Telephone.
Head-in for fax net-modem; head-in for cable and digital satellite dish=20
controller with two programmable VCR=B9s; servers for voice ,data, video to=20
computer lab, classrooms, card catalog, production and story corner areas.=20
[see specs. from technology
engineers for space needs]
Special needs: Glass panels in  walls above desk to provide visual control o=
f=20
research, circulation and production areas. Appropriate wiring and outlets=20
for=20
computer applications, telephone and dedicated telephone for modem.=20
Ventilation for
removing heat build-up from server equipment.  (see technology engineers for=
=20
other special needs for servers).

Information Technology Workroom Area:
Activities: Receiving, processing, repair of resources and equipment; housin=
g=20
media-library supplies; housing  and preparation of display materials;=20
[storage of shared multi-media equipment; housing for three years  back=20
issues=20
of 25 periodicals.
(Total 900 issues) if not housed in main reading room].
Relationship to other Areas: Readily accessible from circulation and media=20
technology office.
Equipment: A 10=B9-14=B9 x28=B2-30=B2 counter (table height) with sink and e=
lectrical=20
outlets; lighting and supply shelving above the counter, two stools;  deep=20
flat shelving for display materials (could be 2 units below the counter with=
=20
slots between them
for work stations).
Special needs: Sink for clean-up; electrical at counter for repair of=20
equipment and materials; open floor space for AV carts for shared material;=20
easy exit for equipment to classrooms and production area.



Flexible Area for Production, Conference, Teaching:
Function and Activities: To encourage and support the production and=20
communication of students ideas and information in a variety of formats;=20
facilitate teacher production; Video recording, editing (using Mac AV=20
computer=20
and DIRECTOR software) and
copying; Group study and instruction; conferring,  housing of materials and=20
equipment used in multi-media production work,  paper copying, lamination,=20
sign-making and production of display material.
Relationship to other Areas: Close to media-technologist=B9s office; accessi=
ble=20
without having to go through quiet study area; Away from areas reserved for=20
quiet study; Sound proofed from other areas; door to
workroom Area.


Equipment: 28 stackable chairs ; Video camcorder; adjustable lighting; =20
computer with CDRom drive on cart; hook-up to VCR=B9s and Laser Disc for=20
digitizing, editing and captioning; two VCR=B9s; audio recorder, record play=
er;=20
desktop paper copier;
laminator; large paper cutter; shelving for production materials (paper, tag=
=20
board, Video cassettes, cables).
 Movable tables (one drawing size for sign making); computer and AV=20
carts,;bulletin board; cubbies on walls for student projects; electrical=20
outlets on walls for production equipment.
Special needs:  Sound control (soundproofing). Lighting control for video=20
area=20
and for adaptation to conference use; electrical and computer outlets on=20
walls; Computers, VCR=B9s, for multi-media design, digitizing and editing, o=
n=20
movable carts and
tables; Two-way communication to and from video server so that programming t=
o=20
the building can originate live from this location. Open floor space for=20
flexibility. Wedge tables should be easily movable so floor space can be use=
d=20
flexibly. A sound
booth for audio recording would be a plus.



Reference Non-Fiction Area:
Functions and Activities: Functions to encourage free inquiry, independent=20
processing of information; to interact and work cooperatively with other=20
students and receive informal and formal instruction from teachers and=20
information technology
specialist. Activities include:   access to information (including hard copy=
,=20
CDRom and Internet); processing of information (including word processing an=
d=20
hyper- media softwar for organizing,  designing and producing the students=20
own=20
information
sources 6
Relationship to other Areas: Must have partial visibility from the=20
circulation=20
area and total visibility from the information technologist=B9s office for a=
id=20
to students needing assistance. Close to keys area and housing of non-fictio=
n=20
materials.
Equipment: Counter height integrated shelving for 400 reference materials=20
(print and non-print); counter dictionary stand; counter display area; Atlas=
=20
stand; Picture file; four drawer, legal size pamphlet file ( a lateral file=20
preferred);
Non-fiction (integrated print and non-print) adjustable shelving for 2,750=20
(combined print and non-print) resources; Seating for 30 students at study=20
stations (see 4,5, or 6 station computer modules with shared laser printer)=20
(Phase I could provide
access to 15 stations for computer access now, with the remaining 15 station=
s=20
provided with wiring for computer and electrical access for computers to be=20
added as needed). Two Laser disk players (on mobile carts housed in this=20
area)=20
that can be
interfaced with any computer on the floor , moved to Production, Classroom,=20
or=20
Computer lab for multi-media production or presentations via hyper-media=20
software.
Special needs: Dedicated telephone access to at least one station (for=20
internet access until net-modem is viable).  CDRom resources and card catalo=
g=20
networked on computers in the area.

Story Corner - Easy Book Area:
Activities:  Storytelling, reading, dramatization, puppetry, and video=20
presentations ; browsing for, display, and housing of picture books.
Relationship to other Areas: Removed from Research and Circulation area so=20
sounds from these areas do not interfere with one another. Story corner=20
should=20
be adjacent to picture book storage and display.
Equipment: 28=B2-35=B2  picture book shelving for 4,300 picture books, video=
 and=20
CD=B9s; display for media with appropriate sized table or browser=B9s bench=20=
with=20
stackable chairs or stools; freestyle display for half dozen primary=20
periodicals(browser=B9s
bench could be used for this).
In story corner:  movable seating for 30 students;  Large screen TV on two=20
way=20
network with VCR option (or electronic control of video for instructional=20
purposes);  portable puppet theater.
Special needs: networked  two ways to Video servers so programming can=20
originate from this location.  Light control so there is no reflection off=20
large screen and children do not  face direct harsh sunlight (Eg. vertical=20
blinds).  Area in front of
large screen could by used for pupetry and live performance.

Fiction - Leisure Reading Area:
Activities:Storing, locating, browsing, reading, previewing, listening,=20
retrieving print and non-print fiction materials.
Relationship to other Areas: Separate from Circulation and Reference -=20
Nonfiction Area. Could be near Browsing and Periodical leisure reading area.=
=20
Patrons should go through displays and stacks to reach  leisure reading,=20
previewing, and listening
facilities to include: individual chairs, one or two small tables with=20
VCR/monitors, CD=B9s, Audio tape with earphones checked out from circulation=
=20
desk.
Equipment:  Capacity for integrated shelving for 3,900 print and non print=20
fiction materials;  Listening viewing and reading facilities for 28 students=
;=20
display (eg. slatwall display units) between circulation and this  area.
Special needs: If shelving in free standing re-arrangable stacks is used, it=
=20
should be no longer than 15 ft., four shelves max. in height; shelving shoul=
d=20
be arranged to allow continuous shelving from left to right by author. Chair=
s=20
at listening,
viewing, reading stations should be single seating and comfortable but avoid=
=20
the appearance of a lounge.
Periodicals - Leisure Reading Area:
Activities: Individual browsing and reading.
Relationship to other Areas: Separate from research and reference area=20
periodicals integrated with comfortable seating.
Equipment: Comfortable individualized seating to accommodate 15-20 students;=
 =20
Open  display shelving for 30 periodicals. Hanging newspaper rack for three=20
newspapers.
Special needs: Electrical access for CD=B9s and tape recorders with earphone=
s=20
(checked out from circulation desk). Good natural light for reading.  Displa=
y=20
shelving could be free standing or (some wall shelving has storage for back=20
issues so they
could be stored here rather than in a workroom) (another option would be to=20
store back issues on slotted shelving located near reference area with the=20
periodical indexes, {my personal preference} see- Circulation, Keys,=20
Information area.

Computer Laboratory Area:
Activities: Large group instruction in computer applications and keyboarding=
.=20
Word processing  and composition.
Relationship to other Areas: Windows in one wall should allow monitoring fro=
m=20
other areas
Equipment: 30 Computer outlets with 28 active; instruction wall with large=20
monitor (wall or celling mounted); white board; bulletin board; teacher=20
station with networked computer on mobile cart connected to large monitor. =20
Two laser printers in
back of room networked to lab computers.
Special needs: Students should be seated so as to give them easy view of=20
teacher and large monitor, white board; easy monitoring of student=B9s work=20=
by=20
the teacher (may be achieved electronically).  Computers should be networked=
=20
to main data server,
including card catalog and CD Rom servers. Large monitor should be switchabl=
e=20
VHS, RGB or a second VHS monitor on video network should be available for=20
instruction.

Charles L. Kindgren  Media-Librarian retired Faribault, MN
Good art is that which makes life more real meaningful and profound than I=20
would otherwise know it to be. The same goes for good relationships. Thanks=20
for being there!

Cathy Subbiondo
graduate student(student teacher) Long Island University, CW Post
New York

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