Sometimes the inspiration is linear (the expected “next steps”) and sometimes it is decidedly non-linear.  In our charette with the Lafayette Public Library, we were focused on creating an arrangement of library spaces that would “better reflect the patron use and improve the interaction of the staff with patrons”.  The linear “next steps” might have meant playing with the location of the circ desk and perhaps the size of it, rearranging the layout of the shelving, and creating a couple more study rooms and even a meeting room.

Ah, but the non-linear proved to be the best solution by far:  Yes, we took some of the above steps, but we also proposed moving children’s to the upper floor to reside near Fiction…..and moving Non-Fiction into the former Children’s area!  That was definitely NOT linear.  Why was it the best solution?  It broke through all of our pre-conceived ideas about what we were going to do, and instead created a really cohesive layout.  It will work!  In fact, it will work “with benefits”!!

When a plan comes together like this one did, we revel in the way our clients take over the meeting, talking excitedly about all the ways it can work and what some of the challenges will be.  This was such a meeting.  It left us all smiling at each other with the satisfaction ofachieving something quite unexpected….and really good.

“Just 3 Things”

The “Just 3 Things” Newsletter for August 2011 has just been posted (on the last day of August, no less!).  Check out the “Share” tab to find it, and then sign up for future issues if you find it informative, entertaining and worth while.  We are nearing 500 subscribers who apparently think it is all of those things!

As promised, there is an in-depth article on aligning libraries with the Net Generation, as well as what is new in furniture for the discriminating library and a feature on the award-winning, new Green Valley Ranch Branch Library (see pictures here on Flickr).  Good stuff!

We hope to see all of you at the up-coming Conference of the Colorado Association of Libraries in Loveland, Colorado, where we will have a booth and also be giving a half-day workshop entitled “Sell It…or Close It!”  We are excited about this workshop.  It is designed to help us face the changing role of libraries and become dynamic, innovative and responsive in the face of these changes.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Because I am a planner, I tend to like to climb up “high”, ignoring the detail for the moment, in order to see the trends, look for patterns and directionality. I’m constantly looking for this type of “high” on the subject of libraries and their future. The sliced-and-diced-generations look is too narrow and detailed to get a good read (like the pun?) on where libraries might fit into tomorrow’s life styles, but looking at net geners (those born 1982 or later) is just about the perfect span of time, encompassing the technological shift impact on our culture.

I recently read a book called The Academic Library and the Net Gen Student, by Susan Gibbons. She focused on net gen students in higher education libraries, but I started thinking about net geners as adults and how they would expect to use the library. What kind of library would provide the value that net geners would support with their tax dollars? Are libraries of all kinds positioned to provide value to this generation and those that follow?

Public Libraries in the past few years have changed greatly, adding technology, becoming a community 3rd place that also has books instead of a warehouse for books, and providing online services at all hours. Will digitization of books and adoption of technology change it even more?

Academic libraries are reducing collections where the hard copy is redundant to the electronic copy, and converting that space into Learning Commons, community study areas, tutorial areas, bringing needed services for students within the physical library. They are also offering incredible interactivity on their web site and communicating via social media.

If net geners are expecting access to information as currently provided by the academic library described above, what will they expect from libraries post-graduation? Who are these net geners? What is important to them? To mention just a few characteristics, they are: possibly the best-educated in US history, sheltered and protected, confident and optimistic, team-oriented, time-constrained valuing speed over accuracy, highly comfortable with technology, convinced that they are “special”.

What will the net gener want in a future library when they are cultivating careers and raising families? I will be sharing more of my thoughts about trends and Susan Gibbons’ insights into this net generation in our next newsletter to be published first part of August. I invite you to sign up for the newsletter and to share your thoughts here.

Library Journal has named the new Wright Farms Anythink Library as one of the New Landmark Libraries. There are many aspects of this library to merit this designation; foremost, in our opinion, is the passion and commitment to customer experience on the part of the library’s leadership. We were privileged to work with them on the Humphries Poli Architects’ team, providing space planning, furniture and shelving selection and specification. We have actually worked on a total of four new libraries and three renovations for this dynamic library team. Pam and her team expressed over and over the importance of how their customers would use the space: the need for smaller reading spaces, the intended interruption of shelving to provide a customer-delight space, the attention to visibility and display of materials, the emphasis on convenience and efficiency. Together with the Rangeview design team, a great library experience emerged to please the community and challenge it to “Anythink”! Congratulations, team!

You will find pictures of this wonderful library via Flickr here, and the Library Journal announcement here.

…planning and designing libraries.

Libraries are our focus and passion!
We plan spaces for relevant, future-sensitive libraries.
We design interiors for enticing, welcoming and responsive libraries.
Libraries should always reflect the community they serve.