Remodel or New Library

["Mrs. Morrow" <dmorrow@HARRIS-LP.K12.IA.US>]

>
>This should be the third HIT on this subject.
>
>We have a relatively new library and I am helping a friend preview
>plans for her new library.  I have learned that architects do not
>know that children are messy and they should not plan to use
>white tables.
>
> My second idea involves having the shelves on wheels.
>I have six big shelves in the middle of my room that house our
>fiction section.  We put wheels on the shelves last year ( you can
>purchase shelves with wheels already attached) and it has been the
>best thing I have ever done.  So many times our room is used for
>situations that need a flexible or different set up.  We are now able
>to accomodate these situations much more easily.  This was the best
>thing!!!!!  If I were going to do 1 thing this would be it.
>
>Also, be sure to check the placements of TV's, screens and computer
>stations for the layout of the room.  We just discovered the
>architect put a tv in the middle of the bookshelves and no one would
>be able to use this equipment.
>
>I hope this helps!
>
>I just designed a new elementary library but I think it would apply in
>any school:  Draw a layout that allows you to see all parts of the
>library during you normal day.  Off sets and nooks sound charming, but,
>at least in Kentucky, we are legally responsible for the students in our
>'rooms' and it's critical that you be able to see what everyone is
>doing.  I also have a separate reference room which will house a small
>group of researchers who won't be distracted by activity in the main
>room.
>
>My other recommendation is a story area which allows the librarian to
>see the rest of the library and turns the students away from the
>activity.  I have a circular area far to the right of the circulation
>desk with stepped seating sections in a sort of broken horseshoe
>configuration.  I sit at the 'back' of it, the students are on my right
>and left, and the walkway in between them allows me to still supervise
>the rest of the library.
>
>Your notes you have been sharing are very interesting. Since my sister, a
>media assistant in an elementary school, just moved into her new library, I
>had to add a note. She has a nice, large counter area to sit at and work.
>There is plenty of leg room under there--especially since her two drawer
>filing cabinet is about 1 inch too tall to fit under the counter where she
>wants it!! She did get some very wide drawers for posters, etc., and loves
>those.
>I've met with architects to help plan an elementary library. They seem to
>have no concept of "sections" of the library, such as easy books, fiction,
>nonfiction, etc. They think you just need shelves lined up in the middle of
>the floor. They also had no idea that we wanted to teach small groups and
>classes in the media center. Aesthetics are important to them, not
>functionality!
>
>One thing that I like that was done when our LMC was built was to angle the
>freestanding, nonfiction shelves toward the checkout desk so that it is much
>easier to see when students are in the stacks, either to help them or to stop
>that "rare" bit of horsing around, without leaving the checkout desk--just
>another example of librarian multitasking!
>We also have 2 walls (those w/o windows) lined with shelves for fiction.
>Good luck!
>
>We have a remodeled high school library, which is not exactly like your
>situation, but I can give some general info.
>
>In our case, using remodeled space means that there are columns in the
>library where the old walls were.  The columns hold up the second floor.  I
>would advise you to avoid this kind of situation if at all possible.  It
>dictated where walls in the new space had to be placed in some cases and it
>interferes with optimum furniture and shelf placement and with sight lines in
>the new space.
>
>I can't see any reason to prefer remodeled space over new space if other
>things are equal.
>
>
>Debra Ann Morrow
>Library Media Specialist
>Harris-Lake Park School
>105 Ave. A West
>P.O. Box 8
>Lake Park,IA  51347
>MWF 712-832-3616
>TTH 712-349-2340
>FAX 712-832-3640
>dmorrow@harris-lp.k12.ia.us
>

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