DESIGNING
A FINE
LIBRARY
TOOLS FROM THE KLA
STANDARDS
COMMITTEE, THE REGIONAL
SYSTEMS
AND THE KANSAS STATE
LIBRARY
Table Of
Contents
PART ONE
Introduction
Needs
Assessment: The Starting Point
Evaluating
Alternative Building Plans
Selecting
an Architect
Marketing
the Building Project
Financing
the Building Project
Site
Selection
Developing
the Plans
Construction
Moving
The Celebration
Evaluation
PART TWO
Standards For Kansas Public Libraries - Physical
Facilities 2006
Space Planning For Physical Facilities
Bibliography of Publications on Library Building Programs
INTRODUCTION
This publication is intended to help
trustees and staff of smaller public libraries plan for building
programs.
This document places a heavy emphasis on early planning for
building projects, since many costly mistakes result from inadequate planning.
It also contains an outline of planning, construction monitoring, moving and
evaluation.
A building program is one of the most fascinating, yet stressful, projects
that a library board and staff can undertake.
A beautiful, effective public library is a source of pride for the entire
community. It enhances the quality of life for the community. It is a
surprisingly important tool for economic development for the community.
Library trustees have every right to be very proud when they bring this gift
to the community. It is worth doing but it is very important to do it right.
Many of the headaches and heartaches of implementing building projects and
many of the errors in the completed buildings could have been avoided with
effective communication and thoughtful planning.
A good building team can say:
- They have received effective input from the library director, the staff,
the janitorial staff, the system consultants, the heavy library users and the
community leaders.
- They have considered the needs of the children, the elderly and those in
fragile health in their building design.
- They have taken the time to consider the effective design of EVERY area of
the library.
- They are aware of the legal steps that must be taken to plan and implement
a building program.
- They have excellent two-way communication with the architect.
- They are keeping a copy of every document connected with the building
project.
- They know who will be most closely monitoring the actual construction.
- They have carefully considered how they will meet any additional costs in
operating the new facility.
A building team must be able to work together. If the library board has had
some communication problems or if some trustees do not have the building program
as a major interest, then it is better to assign the director a building
committee rather than have the board function as a committee of the whole.
Because a building program is a complex project with many details and legal
requirements, it is very important that someone be assigned to keep a copy of
every document connected with the building project, from early planning through
completion and evaluation. These documents should be kept as part of the
library's permanent records. The most legally critical documents, such as
titles, deeds and contracts should be kept in a secure location such as a safe
or safety deposit box.
A building team that doesn't keep a paper trail can find themselves in
serious difficulty if legal, logistical or financial controversies arise.
If you are in any doubt about the payoff for careful planning, please review
the following list of errors that turn up over and over again. They have been
collected for your use by Kansas consultants.
- incorrect cost projections that force the cutting of realistic space
requirements
- inadequate parking
- improper drainage
- carpets or
furnishings not durable enough to stand up to library use
- inflexible
furnishings than can never be moved
- lack of proper signage
- problems
with roof seams, flat roofs and skylights
- problems with heating and air
conditioning units
- north facing or poorly protected entrances
-
underestimation of the level of technology that will be needed by the library in
the coming years
- inflexible and inadequate wiring
- an extremely
inadequate number of outlets
- inadequate compliance with accessibility
requirements
- poorly lighted restrooms
- inadequate storage
-
inadequate work space for the staff, no private space for the director
- no
staff room
- poor visual control of library by staff
- lack of security
and unsupervised exits
- poor acoustics
- inadequate lighting
- meeting
rooms without storage, kitchen facilities or a separate entrance
- inadequate
arrangements for children's programs
- underestimation of the costs of
operating the new and expanded facility
- no provision for future
expansion
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NEEDS ASSESSMENT: THE STARTING
POINT
Determining the Library's Current Service Needs
A library board should not implement a building program without a good
understanding of the community they serve.
Sometimes the board and the director feel that they do know the community
well and they neglect to do any systematic information gathering. It is true
that they do know a great deal but they are usually working with limited
information about certain parts of the community and outdated perceptions about
others and this can result in a flawed building.
All planning, from the simplest to the most sophisticated, consists of four
basic parts. Where are we now? Where do we want to go? How will we get there?
How will we measure our success?
A public library's needs assessment should include:
- Current demographic information on the community, including a breakdown of
the population by age, gender, ethnic groups, language and education
- Current economic information on the community, including employment,
income, poverty, public assistance, industrial and commercial activities,
electronic communication, health services and educational facilities
- Current information on religious organizations, cultural organizations and
activities and recreational facilities
- Information on special interest groups in the community such as hunters,
sportsmen, boaters, gardeners, quilters, hot air balloonists, genealogists
- Circulation statistics and patterns of use
Check the number of times you would multiply the official service population
to get the annual circulation. If it is less than three, the library's
circulation is way too low. If it is more than twelve, there may be serious
strain on the library's current resources.
- A review of the current strengths and weaknesses of the library
What assets does the library have that you can build on? Is there a friendly
staff, a good reference librarian, a strong Friends group?
What weaknesses does the library need to correct? Is there a too-small video
collection, inadequate space for children, poor signage, an invisible
interlibrary loan program, poor public relations?
Assessing the Current Physical
Facility
What is the condition of the exterior of the building? What work does it
need?
What is the condition of the interior of the building? What work does it
need?
What would it take to make the restrooms welcoming, well-lit and completely
barrier free?
Is there elevator access to all floors?
What technology development does the library need and how much space will
this technology take? How does the wiring infrastructure need to be improved to
support it? Has the library conferred with the system automation consultant?
Is there enough stack space for the present collection? Is the collection
properly weeded? What is the net growth of the collection - acquired items minus
weeded items?
Is there adequate space for videos, audio tapes, periodicals, paperbacks and
other collections? Which of these need major expansion to meet community needs?
Is there adequate study seating for library users?
Is there a pleasant area where library users can sit in comfortable chairs to
read?
For information on projected space needs, please see Appendix B.
Planning for Barrier Free
Access
It is not only illegal, but legally hazardous, to plan a building that is not
completely barrier free. While small town residents may not see a lot of
wheelchairs or guide dogs, small communities usually have many older residents
with health conditions that are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
These can include but are not limited to: heart conditions, diabetes, cancer,
aids, bad backs, impaired eyesight, impaired hearing, impaired mobility,
impaired dexterity. Any community resident can become temporarily disabled by
injury or illness and they are also covered by the ADA. Information on ADA
compliance may be requested from the Kansas State Library.
Every library building project must result in:
- barrier free access to all floors via elevator
- well lighted,
completely barrier free restrooms
- adequate lighting
- large, clear signs
for both stacks and departments
- stack aisles of at least 36 inches, stack
perimeters of at least 42 inches
- periodical shelving that rises no more
than 50 inches off the floor
- computer and terminal access that can be used
in a seated position
- audible and visible smoke detectors and fire
alarms
For assistance in planning barrier free access, please see Appendix C in the
Public Library Standards at
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/kansas/KSL/development/standard2000.html#appendixA
NOTES:
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EVALUATING ALTERNATIVE BUILDING
PLANS
Remodeling the Present Structure
Remodeling the existing library facility is
usually the first alternative to consider. It may be a viable alternative if:
- The use of space in the present facility is awkward and unworkable, yet the
building has sufficient flexibility to allow the correction of these problems.
- There is a second level that could become public use space or another part
of the building is becoming available to the library.
- The site is a good location for a public library and offers opportunities
for future expansion.
- The basic fabric of the building is in reasonably good shape. Both the
building and the building site should be carefully checked before this
investment is made.
- The re-configured building will meet the needs of changing library
technology.
- The completed building will offer complete barrier free access.
- There is adequate parking.
A remodeling project is not a cost effective option if it offers only a short
term, band-aid approach to the library's space problems. Unless the advantages
of remodeling are clear, it would be wiser to work for an expansion.
Expanding the Present
Facility
Expansions are the most common kind of
library building project and often the most feasible. But an expansion is also
the type of project that demands the most rigorous and careful planning. The
board and staff must plan to meet user needs as effectively as though they were
starting from scratch and then integrate these needs into a building that is
partly in existence and partly in the future. The configuration of the existing
building should not be allowed to drive the project. Effective communication
between the building team and the architect is critical.
An expansion may be appropriate if:
- The building expansion will allow for at least twenty years of growth.
- There is room for both the building expansion and adequate parking.
- The existing building is in reasonably good condition. Both the building
and the site should be checked carefully for potentially expensive problems.
- The building is in a good location for a public library. A library in a
poor location is not a good investment.
- The community feels a strong loyalty to the existing building. In this
case, it will be easier to sell an expansion project than a new building.
- The project will result in a brand new library. A stranger should not be
able to tell where the old facility ends and the new addition starts. Both the
former facility and the addition should be beautiful, welcoming, up to date and
effective.
Converting an Existing
Building
Many attractive and effective libraries
were once markets, stores, banks or post offices. Converting an existing
building can be a good idea but this option must be approached with care.
The most common mistake that library boards have made is to underestimate the
costs involved in turning a building into a modern, effective public library.
The completed building will need to accommodate the heavy collections, extensive
technology, flexible furnishings, excellent lighting and barrier free access
demanded by modern public library needs.
Some buildings are so difficult to convert that they are actually MORE
expensive than building a new library.
Converting an existing building can be a viable option if:
- The building is in an excellent location for a public library.
- The building is properly priced for the benefits it will offer the library.
- The building will allow for at least twenty years of growth for the
library.
- The building supplies a satisfactory amount of open space. A load-bearing
wall in the wrong place can result in an unsatisfactory layout for the finished
library.
- The building is in reasonably good condition and the site poses no special
problems. Both the building and the site should be checked carefully.
- The structure is strong enough to withstand the 150 pounds per square foot
weight of loaded book shelving.
- The ceilings are high enough to accommodate full height shelving and still
have 12 to 18 inches to the ceiling to allow for proper light in the stacks.
- The site of the building allows for both adequate parking and future
expansion.
- The building is barrier free or can be made barrier free at a modest cost.
- The building offers enough flexibility to allow the comprehensive wiring
needed for library technology and an effective system of heating and cooling.
Building a New
Facility
Building a new facility is expensive but it should be seriously considered.
If this option is eliminated it should be for explicitly stated reasons.
A new building offers maximum efficiency of space utilization. It can be
designed with high energy efficiency, flexible wiring, flexible furnishings,
adequate outlets, adequate storage and maximum visual control for a small staff.
A new building can also be designed to anticipate future expansion, cutting the
cost of later additions.
A new building allows the architect to offer the best assistance to the
building team. If the new facility is well designed, it offers the best possible
public library for a small community. But such designs are the result of careful
planning and effective communication with the architect.
A new building may be the best option if:
- The fabric of the existing building is in bad shape.
- The existing building is shabby, outdated, inflexible, inefficient and
badly overcrowded.
- The site of the existing building offers no space for adequate parking or
expansion.
- The existing building is in a location that makes it difficult for the
community to use.
- The chosen site is not only a good location for a public library but has
space for adequate parking and future expansion.
- The preliminary site analysis indicates no potentially expensive problems.
Determining the Library's Current
Service Needs
If you are not using a professional building consultant, and most Kansas
projects don't, it is essential that the project team work with an architect for
the preliminary planning. This is frequently the same architect who works with
the building project but it does not have to be. The preliminary architect will:
- prepare preliminary designs
- prepare visual presentations to help
market the project to the community
- do the site analysis, if a site has
been selected
If the preliminary architect has a talent for public speaking, he or she may
help the board market the project to the community.
When the project's funding is in place, it is necessary to hire a project
architect. The selection of the architect is critically important to the success
of the project. The project architect is responsible for:
- design development
- construction documents
- bid forms and the
bidding process
- construction administration
- closing procedures
When a small library is selecting an
architect, there are several considerations to keep in mind:
- A local or regional firm will usually be able to give more consistent
communication with the project team and better monitoring to the project.
- An architect that has experience in building libraries is often easier to
work with, although a responsive architect who listens well and incorporates the
client's ideas can build a fine first library. If the architect does not have
experience with libraries, the project team and the system consultants must be
able to provide clear information on the library's needs, including preliminary
space projections for collections, technology, staff and meeting rooms.
- The project team must be able to interview the architect that they will
actually be working with during
the project.
- The architect must be willing to provide references, especially if they
have worked with library projects.
- During an interview, the architect is usually allowed to prepare a
presentation of agreed-upon length. But the architect's response to questions is
even more important. The architect should be willing to listen carefully and
respond to the project team's concerns.
- The architect must provide clear information on the services that he or she
will provide and the fees for these services.
- The architect must give clear evidence that he or she understands that a
small library's needs include:
- good visual control by the small staff
- adequate storage
-
attractive, durable furnishings
- ability to move furnishings in the coming
years
- complete compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act
-
energy efficiency
- adequate lighting
- a welcoming atmosphere appropriate
to the community
- maximum flexibility in the wiring and outlets to meet the
needs of changing library technology
- a durable roof
- a dependable
heating and cooling system that can be maintained and repaired by businesses in
the local area
- dependable assistance with all stages of the building
project
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MARKETING THE BUILDING
PROJECT
A small library is fortunate, in a way, if the present facility is so
decrepit and overcrowded that the need for a new facility is very obvious. But
in a library that has been loved and cared for and had its collection carefully
weeded, the need for a new or expanded library is not always evident to a
layman.
The need for a new building cannot be marketed to the community until the
staff, the board and the local government officials can all speak with one voice
on what is needed and why. The first marketing must be done by the director with
the staff, by the staff with the trustees and by the director and board to
community leadership. Winning the support of effective community leaders is
often the turning point in a successful building program.
The following points can be used to market the need for a new library
facility:
- An older building triggers ever-increasing maintenance costs as it ages and
it is usually neither cost-effective nor energy-effective.
- A public library needs the space to house a collection that meets the needs
of the community. The Standards for Kansas Public Libraries are often a
good starting point for assessing the size of the library collections.
Technology can marvelously supplement print information and recreational
materials. It cannot replace them. Videos, audiotapes and CD materials have been
growing in popularity in small communities. They have to have space for
effective display.
- A modern facility must support up-to-date library technology or it simply
isn't a viable library. A small public library that doesn't have effective
access to electronic information is cut off from the vast resources that would
enable staff to offer excellent library service. Such a library is very likely
to find itself increasingly irrelevant to community information needs.
The library must serve as an information utility that offers access to
information in the community, the state, the nation and the world.
This presents requirements for adequate space for staff and public computer
stations, telefax, public copiers, telephone connections, flexible wiring,
adequate outlets.
- Yet a library in a small community cannot afford to be simply a gateway for
technology and a circulation service for library materials. It must be a
community center as well. This means that it needs study tables, warm, friendly
reading areas and a meeting room for library and community events.
- A library in a small community cannot afford more than a few paid staff
members. A small town needs a library than can be safe and useful when only a
few staff members and volunteers are on duty. This means paying attention to
good working conditions, storage, safety, visual control, excellent signage,
reliable equipment and easy maintenance.
- A modern library must be completely barrier free to be in compliance with
the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is not simply a matter of law. In a
small town, it can be critical because of the large number of citizens who have
health conditions covered by the law. Many small town libraries are difficult or
impossible for those with impairments or fragile health.
- A public library in a small community must have an active, well-planned
program for children of all ages. This is not possible without adequate space
for the children's department. Fortunately, it is true that many citizens will
support services for children before many other library programs.
- A public library cannot expect to be heavily used unless it is in a good
location, with good exterior signage and adequate parking. A good location can
often be one reason to expand an existing facility. A bad one can be a good
reason to build a new library.
- Laymen don't always realize how little an excellent public library actually
costs the individual citizen. The board needs to find descriptive and creative
ways to tell them what their contribution actually is. It may be no more than
the cost of one paperback book.
Once the best arguments are mustered, they have to be presented. This can be
done in a variety of ways. But the staff and board need to keep in mind that it
is rarely possible to have a successful marketing campaign that doesn't have an
adequate budget of its own. Ways to market the new project include:
- having good coverage of the library's needs in the local and regional media
- including good information on the library's needs on the library's website
- distributing a glossy, full color information brochure throughout the
community
- leaving the information brochures with any persons or
organizations who are considering a financial contribution
- inviting key
leaders to tour the old facility and view its deficiencies
- having the most
articulate members of the building team make presentations, including visuals or
slides, to community groups, organizations and potential donors
- involving
the Friends of the Library in such marketing efforts as public speaking and
personalized direct mail campaigns
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FINANCING THE BUILDING
PROJECT
All
building, remodeling of or additions to public libraries must be approved by the
governing body of the municipality. The library board can ask that this action
be taken, but it is the responsibility of the governing board to initiate such
action. The library board does not have the authority to create a special
building fund on its own. However, the library can use the library's capital
improvement fund for building purposes.
The Capital Improvement Fund
Beginning in 1986, K.S.A. 12-1258 gave city, county and township libraries
the authority to create a capital improvement fund and place in this fund up to
10 percent of the library's certified operating tax budget. Prior to the passing
of this statute, tax monies could not be used for capital improvements, nor
could they be placed in accruing accounts. Now these funds may be accumulated
and do not have to be expended by the end of the budget year. Other funds that
are not tax funds may also be placed in the capital improvement fund. Money from
this fund may be used for improving, furnishing, equipping, remodeling or making
additions to the library. A capital improvement is a major, one-time
expenditure, which is not a regular or common expenditure.
Municipal Options for Financing
Most Kansas libraries use a combination of several methods to finance a new
or expanded library facility.
The governing body of any city has the authority to use several different
methods to finance the construction of a new library building. The governing
body may:
- receive and expend gifts
- receive and expend state and federal
funds
- issue bonds
- levy an annual tax on all tangible property in
the city of not more than one mill for any first class city and not more than
two mills for any second or third class city, for a period, not to exceed 10
years
- issue no-fund warrants
- use monies from the general operating
fund or other appropriate budgeted funds
- use money from the sale of public
buildings or sites
- combine any two or more of these methods for financing
construction
The local taxing authority (city, county or township) may choose to assign
local funds to aid a library building program. This is why members of local
government must have a clear understanding of the library's needs.
If an annual tax is to be levied under the authority of K.S.A. 12-1737, the
governing body must adopt a resolution authorizing the making of such a levy.
This resolution must state the exact purpose for the levy, the total amount
proposed and the number of years for which the tax levy will be made. This
resolution must be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in the
official newspaper.
After proper publication, the levy can be made unless a petition requesting
an election is signed by 10% of the voters who voted in the last city election
and submitted to the city clerk within 60 days. If a valid petition is filed,
the governing body will submit the question to the voters at the next regular
city election.
The governing body also has the authority to submit the issue of a building
levy to the voters in any general or special election. If the voters approve the
issue, the governing body can levy the tax and create a special fund that will
be used for the library building. After half the tax has been collected, the
municipality can begin making expenditures from the special fund. If this money
is not sufficient for the project, the governing body may also issue and sell
bonds to supplement the special fund but these may not exceed 25% of the total
amount authorized.
A bond issue is often needed to meet a substantial share of the costs. By
passing a bond issue, the electorate agrees to pay for bonds which are sold to
pay for capital improvements. The city and the library board will need
professional advice to consider the length of the term of the bond issue in
relation to the actual yearly cost of the bond.
In order to issue bonds, an election is required. A majority of the votes
must be in favor of the bond issue. The notice of the election and the ballot
must contain the entire cost of the project and the different sources of
funding.
The Library's Board
Authority
The library board has legal authority to build for the library if they have
the approval of the governing body of the city. The governing body has the right
to veto the decision to acquire property or erect a building but it does not
have the right to take general supervision and administrative control of the
building project.
The board may choose to implement a fund drive to obtain enough funds to
begin a building project. This requires time and planning and genuine dedication
on the part of the trustees, staff, Friends and community leaders but it can
often raise enough money to help fund the project.
Fundraising often turns out to be the most effective form of marketing and
raising support since the need for the new building must be made very clear to
financial contributors.
Library consultants are often asked about grant monies for building programs.
This option is not very promising, especially since federal library funds are no
longer assigned to construction. But grants from local foundations or
corporations are sometimes part of the fundraising for a library building
program.
Financial planning for the new building must include:
- costs of marketing the project and achieving the financing
- site
selection, acquisition and preparation
- design costs
- construction
costs
- cost of furnishings and equipment
- moving costs
- cost of
operating a larger facility
- cost of staffing a larger facility
More detailed information on the financing of public library building
projects is available in The Kansas Public Library Handbook, published by
the Kansas State Library, 1998.
NOTES:
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SITE SELECTION
Selecting a site for a new library
involves many of the same considerations that would be involved in selecting a
site for a business. It should be located where people go to conduct business,
not where they live. It should be located on a major street with easy
accessibility and high visibility.
Site selection criteria includes:
- area size
- configuration (square or rectangular parcels are most
desirable)
- suitable soils and drainage
- location
-
accessibility
- neighborhood compatibility
- visibility
- compliance
with local regulations
- assessed value
A qualified land surveyor should prepare a survey that includes:
- property lines
- adjacent property owners
- zoning or land use
classification
- topography
- infrastructure for utilities
- water
service
- sewer service
- use restrictions
- existing landscape
-
total space available
An analysis of the site, which is based on the survey, will include
consideration of the following elements:
Access:
Where will people come from?
Will pedestrians be safe?
How will people
enter the site?
Where will they park?
How will service and delivery
vehicles access the site?
Setbacks and Zoning Criteria:
Site features to be preserved might include:
- trees
- existing structures
- stone walls
- good views
Site features to be screened or de-emphasized might include:
- bad views
- noise
Orientation:
The best use of sunlight and prevailing winds will depend on latitude and
climate.
Site limitations might include:
- Steep slopes are difficult to develop.
- Rock areas are expensive to
excavate.
- Low areas can be subject to flooding.
- Limited space can
prevent future expansion.
[The material in this section was prepared by Hans Fischer, architectural
consultant for the Northeast Kansas Library System.]
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DEVELOPING THE PLANS
By the time the funding is arranged, the
library should already have preliminary plans and visual presentations.
As the project progresses, the architect will share more detailed designs
with the project team. The project team should work patiently with the architect
until they understand the drawings and can be sure the building will meet their
needs.
There are various types of drawings, including floor plans, elevations,
sections and detail drawings.
The architect is the best person to design construction materials, use of
space and operating systems. But the architect should be aware of the library's
needs for every area of the library.
Exterior - The exterior of the building should be attractive and durable,
appropriate to the climate and the community. There should be enough parking
(There is information on parking in the Standards for Kansas Public
Libraries.). There should be large, clear exterior signs so that the library
can be easily identified from the street.
Adult Services - Adult services should be large enough to house the
collection without overcrowding and allow for years of growth. The physical
relationship between the reference collection and access to electronic
information should be carefully considered.
There should be space for the attractive display of new books, periodicals,
newspapers, videotapes, audiotapes and music collections. Adult services should
include study tables, a comfortable reading area and public access computer
terminal[s]. All adult areas should have large signs with excellent contrast.
Children's Services - The children's department should be large enough to
house the collection and attractively display storybooks, videos, magazines and
toys. Children's public access to the Internet should be planned for in all but
the smallest facilities. The children's department should be designed to offer
good visual control by staff.
It is ideal to have some area with fun furnishings for the children to play
and read in. Some provision should be made for children's story hour and other
programs.
Lighting - Libraries should be well lighted with both natural light and well
designed lighting. Restrooms must have strong light to be considered barrier
free.
There are guidelines for lighting in the Standards for Kansas Public
Libraries.
Furnishings - Library furnishings receive extremely heavy use and should be
purchased from library supply vendors, not office supply houses.
Preparation of furniture and equipment specifications should take place
concurrently with the design of the building. There should be good communication
between the architect and the project team so the furnishings are not only
comfortable and of good quality but beautifully coordinated with the rest of the
building design.
The design development phase is the most critical phase of the design process
because it is still possible to make changes without slowing down the process
and adding cost.
BIDDING AND
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
For most public building projects there are some basic steps
to the bidding process:
- assembling the bid documents
- making the invitation to bid
- opening
the bids at a specified time and place
- assessing the bids and evaluating
the bidders
- awarding the contract
The accuracy of previously completed cost estimates is finally determined
during the bidding process. The architect should review the bids and make
recommendations as to which contractor[s] should be awarded the construction.
The building project team has an obligation to understand the contract and be
apprised of their obligations under the contract. Legal counsel should review
the contract.
NOTES:
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CONSTRUCTION
Groundbreaking
The groundbreaking is probably the most symbolic event connected with the
building program. It means "We're on our way, Hurray!" It can be simple or
elaborate but it should be a genuinely joyous occasion and it should garner as
much effective publicity as possible for the library.
If the groundbreaking takes place on a cold day (and it often seems to), it
is a pleasant courtesy to invite the participants into the existing library for
a small party. If it takes place on a pleasant day, a small lawn party might be
appropriate.
Pre-construction
The project may have a pre-construction meeting where the building team meets
with the contractor and subcontractor. The architect reviews any outstanding
paperwork and makes sure that all contractors and subcontractors have copies of
the blueprints and specifications.
The architect should give the building team a schedule of what will happen
during the construction process but he or she should also emphasize that it is
rarely possible for a building project to stay on a rigid timeline. The weather
can be a major factor. A variety of circumstances may require modifications to
the original plans. These change orders will be reviewed by the architect and
approved by designated members of the building project team.
Construction Monitoring
It is part of the architect's responsibilities to monitor the progress of the
construction and make sure that all is proceeding correctly. In a larger firm,
this may be the responsibility of a project manager rather than the designer.
However, it is wise for at least one member of the project team to also visit
the construction regularly.
The member of the project team should respect
all safety regulations and be unfailingly courteous to the workmen. But if the
project team has any questions about the process of the construction, they
should relay these to the architect or project manager.
Regular construction meetings between the building team and the architect or
the project manager are essential. The architect may charge extra for this
service but it is well worth the expense since it eliminates many
misunderstandings and problems.
The building team should give regular updates on the progress of the building
to local media. The public will be interested and concerned. Giving them
accurate, up-to-date information will prevent damaging rumors and build
affectionate support for the new library.
Closeout Procedures
When the building is sufficiently complete for the owner to take possession,
the architect and at least one member of the building team, often the library
director, do a walk-through and prepare what is called a punch-list of items
that have not been completed or are deemed unacceptable.
Before this walk-through takes place, library staff members should review the
building and turn their observations and suggestions over to the library
director or the building team representative.
The items on the punch-list should not be major ones but a carefully prepared
punch-list is important clarification for the contractor and important
protection for the building project team.
When this review is complete, the architect will issue a certificate of
substantial completion. This is when the clock starts running on guarantees and
warranties and when the owner of the building assumes responsibility for it. The
board may not take possession of the building until substantial completion is
received.
Final completion will probably not be declared until the move is finished and
the building is open to the public. But at some point, the architect will
confirm that all the items on the punch-list have been completed and he or she
will issue a certificate of final completion. Final payments will be made and
the period of contract will end.
The building will probably need a certain amount of "debugging" during its
first year. But good planning, meticulous monitoring and careful closing
procedures can help keep this to a minimum.
NOTES:
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MOVING
Planning the Move
The process of moving into a new facility is an area where the building team
can benefit greatly from advice from other library staff and trustees who have
been through a move. Planning for the move takes time and the planning should be
done concurrently with the design and construction of the building.
Some of the procedures for the move include:
- developing a complete list of items to be moved
- determining the
disposal of items that will not be moved
- deciding whether the move should
be done by library staff, volunteers, commercial movers or a combination of
these options
- carefully orienting and training the volunteers
- making
sure that all boxed materials are carefully labeled and organized for the move
to the new facility
- scheduling the move
- deciding if the library should
be closed, and if so, for how long
- developing a written set of instructions
for staff and volunteers
Staff
Orientation
Throughout the moving process, the library staff should meet briefly every
day to iron out problems and plan the next day's work.
During the entire building program, the library director should have been
careful to make sure that staff understood what was happening, was apprised of
problems, shared in good news. All of this pays off, not only in staff goodwill,
but in staff that can plan and implement the move effectively.
Once the building is substantially complete and the board or the city takes
possession, the staff should be encouraged to explore the new facility very
thoroughly, both alone and in partnership with the
director. The director
and staff should try to anticipate as many queries as possible from the public.
The director should also meet with the custodial staff to make sure they are
familiar with the building and have everything they need to maintain it.
NOTES:
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THE CELEBRATION
The Grand Opening should be a gala occasion, a genuinely happy and
lighthearted celebration of a great accomplishment. For that reason, it is
usually best if the dedication does not take place until the building is
complete and the move is finished. It is perfectly acceptable for the building
to be in use for some time before its completion is celebrated.
The committee working on the celebration need not necessarily be the same as
the one working on the building project itself. Some quite different skills and
interests are called for when planning a party. But it is essential that every
member of the building project team be recognized during the opening ceremonies,
as well as the architect and the contractor.
The following decisions need to be made for the Grand Opening:
- When will the ceremony be held?
- Where will the ceremony be held?
-
Who will preside?
- Who will be introduced and how much time, if any, will be
allotted for speeches?
- Should a local dignitary or someone from outside the
community be invited to make a brief address?
- Will there be a formal ribbon
cutting ceremony?
- How many can be expected to attend?
- How will the
open house and library tour be handled?
- Who will arrange for refreshments
and who will serve them?
- Who will handle publicity, including the design of
the dedication program?
- Should the architect or someone else be asked to
prepare a fact sheet covering the building's most notable features?
- How
will invitations be handled and by whom?
Wisconsin Library Building
Project Handbook, 1990, Raymond Holt and Anders C. Dahlgren, pp.
173-174.
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EVALUATION
After a building program is completed, the building project team
usually wants to rest for awhile. It is hard to blame them, since the experience
is usually intense and fairly lengthy.
But the staff and the board have an obligation to continuously assess the
effectiveness of the new building. The director needs to incorporate into
reports to the board:
- if the new library needs more effective marketing to the public
- how
the circulation is changing
- how the use of library services is
changing
- what the library users particularly like and what they don't
like
- what the library staff particularly like and what they don't like
-
how easily the staff is able to monitor the building and offer assistance to
library users
- how effectively the library is able to use technology
-
whether there are any special problems with the building's operating
systems
- what minor changes are needed to make the building more
effective
- what problems need to be solved
There are no libraries
that are perfectly designed from everyone's point of view. The staff and the
board have the right to say what they would do differently if they could do it
over again. The library users have the right to comment on what they don't like.
But everyone should keep in mind that even positive change can be hard for
people to accept at first. An absence of total rave review does not mean that
the building is a failure.
Working with a new library is usually a
delightful experience for both staff and trustees. The library users may not see
all the features that make it possible to offer more effective service. But they
do appreciate beauty, comfort, space, peace, welcome, convenience and good
service. And they will express their appreciation.
With good marketing
and excellent service, the new library will become an information center, a
recreation center, a community center and a source of civic pride.
NOTES:
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PART TWO
INTRODUCTION
The
material in the second section of this publication is from the 2000 revision of
the Kansas Standards for Public Libraries 2006. The Kansas library standards
are revised every few years by a KLA committee and by the consultants at the
systems and the State Library. With each revision, the standards for physical
facilities are reviewed and updated.
If there are questions about this material, it is wise to call the regional
library system or the local library development staff at the State Library.
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STANDARDS FOR KANSAS PUBLIC LIBRARIES - PHYSICAL FACILITIES 2006
VII. PHYSICAL FACILITIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Space Analysis
- Collections and
Reading Areas
- Recommendations Drawn from Library Building
Manuals
- Public Service Areas
- Staff Areas
- Special
Use Areas
- Nonassignable Areas
- Interior
Environment
- Lighting and
Acoustics
- Signage
- Exterior Environment
- Library
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response
Plan
- Checklist
INTRODUCTION
7.1 The library building should be efficient in organization for use by users
and library staff, flexible in design to allow for changing needs, and
expandable. The most important consideration in facility design would be to plan
for the future, keeping in mind your specific community. A long-range plan with
a clearly articulated mission statement, goals, objectives, and an action plan
provides a basis for evaluating whether a library has a facility that adequately
meets community needs. No single, standard library building could be duplicated
for every situation. Local service needs differ and the nature of the library
service required in each community will determine the type of physical facility
required. For this reason, an analysis of the library's functional needs is as
important as the identification of quantitative standards. Plans for the future
should begin with a careful evaluation of the particular community, its
environment, its current and future needs and its current and future services.
System and State Library consultants should be involved early in the process.
Their input on effective facilities can be valuable.
7.2 The library must ensure accessibility for all persons according to
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (See Appendix A). All public
libraries should comply with safety, fire, sanitary, and other local building
codes. Libraries in cities without local building code jurisdiction should
strive to meet a national building code such as the Uniform Building Code (UBC)
or the Building Officials and Code Administrators, International (BOCA) code.
7.3 An attractive facility is an important way to bring the benefits of
library service to the community's attention. To provide modern, comprehensive
library service there must be a welcoming atmosphere of freedom and openness
that will encourage a wide segment of the population to use the library and
regard it as an essential component of community life. A regular maintenance
plan plays an important part in keeping the facility attractive and useful.
7.4 Regular maintenance, and prompt repair as needed, will extend the usable
life of the library building and its components. Thus, the development and
implementation of a building maintenance plan is recommended. A building
maintenance plan will identify a schedule for maintenance of components of the
structure, the exterior building envelope (roof, etc.), mechanical equipment,
etc. The building maintenance plan will also serve as a budgetary planning tool
so that major replacement expenses can be better predicted, and funding secured.
(See the Maintenance Checklist in the appendices).
7.5 When it is determined that an existing facility restricts the delivery of
needed services, improvement of the physical facility must be considered. The
improvement and maintenance of the physical facilities should be planned as a
part of a long-range library development program, anticipating needs for a
twenty year period, with minimum five-year updates. A planning and needs
evaluation process should be conducted for a totally new facility or for any
significant renovation project.
7.6 Planning a new library building, renovating or expanding an existing
structure, or considering the adaptation of a building in another location as a
library facility all start with a methodology of informed and thoughtful
programming which should result in a carefully written building program
statement. This should be developed by the librarian, the library staff and the
Board of Trustees, with the assistance of a qualified architect and/or building
consultant. A new or expanded building should result in a completely
barrier-free building. A library plan for compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act should be included in the planning process. Further information
about developing a building program statement is contained in Appendix B.
(See also the publication Designing a Fine Library: Tools from the KLA
Standards Committee, the Regional Systems and the Kansas State Library)
SPACE ANALYSIS
7.7 The space analysis refers to the study of those things directly related
to fulfilling the library's role in the community. The analysis is not limited
to the interior of the facility, and includes consideration of site activities
such as parking, service, and vehicular and pedestrian access.
| Library Type |
|
Total Space (sq. ft.) |
| |
|
|
| Gateway |
|
2,000 - 2,800 |
| Linking |
|
2,800 - 4,450 |
| Service Center |
|
4,450 - 6,600 |
| Major Service Center I |
|
6,600 - 12,600 |
| Major Service Center II |
|
12,600 - 21,200 |
| Major Resource Center I |
|
21,200 - 58,300 |
| Major Resource Center II |
|
58,300 or more |
7.8 To analyze the space requirements for the library, the library building
committee, working closely with staff, should employ the following three-step
procedure:
- Identify each activity function and list the occupant and/or fixture
requirements. For example, if the activity is checking out books, the
committee should work with the staff to determine the number of work spaces
necessary to do the task, and also any special needs such as computer
terminals or file drawers.
- Identify the relative location of activity areas to each other so that
different activities that can give mutual support are together and activities
that are less compatible are separated. For example, should the young adult
reading area be near the juvenile materials or the adult materials? How close
should the workroom be to the circulation desk? Should staff parking be
separated from public parking?
- Identify any special requirements for each activity such as lighting,
acoustics, security, supervision, equipment, electrical circuits and outlets,
etc. Make the lighting appropriate to the use in each area, i.e., avoid glare
near computer terminals, softer lighting for reading areas. Special emphasis
should be placed on including a generous number of data ports and electrical
outlets.
7.9 At least the following should be considered when analyzing the activities
of the library:
- collections and reading areas
- staff areas
- public service areas
- special use areas
- storage areas
- nonassignable areas
- interior environment
- exterior environment
- public and staff security and
- general requirements.
COLLECTIONS AND READING AREAS
7.10 Materials and reading areas should be easily accessible to users upon
entering the building. It should be possible to move shelving, and stacks should
not be so high that library users can’t reach them.
| Library Type |
|
User Seating (chairs) |
| |
|
|
| Gateway |
|
10 - 20 |
| Linking |
|
15 - 18 |
| Service Center |
|
18 - 30 |
| Major Service Center I |
|
30 - 60 |
| Major Service Center II |
|
60 - 100 |
| Major Resource Center I |
|
100 - 200 |
| Major Resource Center II |
|
200 or more |
7.11 Includes seats for both children and adults in reading areas, but does
not include chairs necessary for group activities.
| Library Type |
|
User Seating Space (sq. ft.) |
| |
|
|
| Gateway |
|
300 - 450 |
| Linking |
|
450 - 550 |
| Service Center |
|
550 - 900 |
| Major Service Center I |
|
900 - 1,800 |
| Major Service Center II |
|
1,800 - 3,000 |
| Major Resource Center I |
|
3,000 - 6,000 |
| Major Resource Center II |
|
6,000 or more |
7.12 Based on 30 square feet per seat.
| Library Type |
|
Collection Space (sq. ft.) |
| |
|
|
| Gateway |
|
600 - 700 |
| Linking |
|
700 - 1,000 |
| Service Center |
|
1,300 - 2,000 |
| Major Service Center I |
|
2,000 - 6,000 |
| Major Service Center II |
|
6,000 - 10,000 |
| Major Resource Center I |
|
10,000 - 30,000 |
| Major Resource Center II |
|
30,000 or more |
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DRAWN FROM LIBRARY BUILDING MANUALS.
Please see Bibliography in the Appendices for additional resources for
building projects.
7.13 Space should be allocated for materials and services to adults and
children with areas for non-fiction, fiction, videos, periodicals, audio
collections, reference and other collections. Shelving and furniture intended
for use by children should be sized appropriately, and additional room for
age-appropriate display should be allowed for in areas for children and young
adults. Future growth of these collections must be accommodated. Expansion room
should also be provided for future collections that may be developed.
7.14 Accommodations for materials in non-book formats must be considered.
Plans should be flexible to allow for changes as dictated by technology and
changing community needs.
7.15 The catalog should be in electronic format and located in an area easily
accessible to the user, the staff, and to the materials with at least one access
point that can be used in the seated position that complies with ADA.
7.16 Appropriate seating and accommodations for older adults and those with
mobility impairments should be considered when making furniture selections.
Comfortable and ergonomically correct library seating is considered part of ADA
compliance.
PUBLIC SERVICE AREAS
7.17 Circulation desk, entrance area, drinking fountain and public phone,
room for patrons to greet each other without blocking service areas are
considerations when analyzing these areas. Room for public access catalogs,
public use typewriter and computer areas are based on the assessed community
needs and the library's roles and function.
STAFF AREAS
7.18 Circulation, reference and technical service areas should accommodate
supporting technologies.
7.19 The staff area should be sufficient to ensure that staff members can
perform their daily tasks effectively. This includes separate or shared work
areas, equipment needs, numbers of stations in each work area, immediate access
to sinks, etc. Make sure that adequate storage and adequate outlets are included
in the plans.
7.20 Facilities should be provided for the personal needs of the library
staff, such as a lounge, kitchen, lockers, and restrooms. A space should be
provided to secure personal belongings of staff and volunteers.
| Library Type |
|
Staff Work Space (sq. ft.) |
| |
|
|
| Gateway |
|
300 - 450 |
| Linking |
|
450 - 600 |
| Service Center |
|
600 - 900 |
| Major Service Center I |
|
900 - 1,200 |
| Major Service Center II |
|
1,200 - 1,500 |
| Major Resource Center I |
|
1,500 - 3,000 |
| Major Resource Center II |
|
3,000 or more |
7.21 Based on 150 square feet per workspace.
SPECIAL USE AREAS
7.22 Space designed for group activities is an asset to the library,
especially if the space can accommodate children's or adult programming. Access
to a multi-purpose room should be considered one of the library’s services. A
multi-purpose room should include a separate entrance to the room so that it may
be used after library hours while ensuring the security of the rest of the
library. Auxiliary space for chairs, folding tables, coats, audio and exhibit
equipment, restrooms and a kitchenette should also be provided. Exhibit space
and a bulletin board should be provided for use by the library and the
community.
7.23 Programming space for children may be separate or may be merged with
multi-purpose meeting rooms. These areas should be visible from adjacent public
areas. Acoustical treatment of the children's area and/or a separate children's
room is important.
7.24 Accommodations for a Kansas room and a local history area or special
collection of local materials should be considered. The area should have
adequate electrical and data outlets to support computer technology.
7.25 The number and size of meeting rooms should be determined by the
library's anticipated programming activities and by the availability of similar
rooms elsewhere in the community for use by local groups.
| Library Type |
|
Meeting room space (sq. ft.) |
| |
|
|
| Gateway |
|
200 - 300 |
| Linking |
|
300 - 500 |
| Service Center |
|
500 - 700 |
| Major Service Center I |
|
700 - 900 |
| Major Service Center II |
|
900 - 1,200 |
| Major Resource Center I |
|
1,500 - 3,000 |
| Major Resource Center II |
|
2,400 or more |
7.26 Special use space includes terminals to access an automated catalog,
index tables, newspaper racks, AV shelving, photocopiers, etc. Special use space
typically constitutes approximately 10 percent of the overall total area in the
building. This percentage declines in larger buildings.
| Library Type |
|
Special Use Space (sq. ft.) |
| |
|
|
| Gateway |
|
200 - 300 (10% of Total Space) |
| Linking |
|
300 - 500 (10% of Total Space) |
| Service Center |
|
500 - 700 (10% of Total Space) |
| Major Service Center I |
|
700 - 900 (10% of Total Space) |
| Major Service Center II |
|
900 - 1,200 (7% of Total Space) |
| Major Resource Center I |
|
1,200 - 2,400 (6% of Total Space) |
| Major Resource Center II |
|
2,400 or more (5% of Total Space) |
NONASSIGNABLE AREAS
7.27 Nonassignable areas include stairways, corridors, restrooms, elevators,
book lifts, and spaces for mechanical, electrical and communications equipment.
When possible, these areas should be located so as not to interfere with
flexibility in arrangement of future alterations. If the building occupies more
than one level, an elevator or ramp must be included.
7.28 Restroom(s) for staff and the public should be provided. They should be
located to permit adequate supervision. Restrooms must meet the specifications
required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
7.29 Space should be available to permit adequate storage of maintenance and
cleaning supplies, decorations and craft materials, and building and lawn
maintenance equipment. Include adequate, conveniently located janitor closets.
Clutter is considered a legal hazard under ADA and should be avoided.
| Library Type |
|
Nonassignable Space (sq. ft.) |
| |
|
|
| Gateway |
|
400 - 600 (20% of Total Space) |
| Linking |
|
600 - 1,000 (20% of Total Space) |
| Service Center |
|
1,000 - 1,400 (20% of Total Space) |
| Major Service Center I |
|
1,400 - 1,800 (20% of Total Space) |
| Major Service Center II |
|
1,800 - 4,300 (20% of Total Space) |
| Major Resource Center I |
|
4,300 - 14,500 (25% of Total Space) |
| Major Resource Center II |
|
14,500 plus (25% of Total Space) |
INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
7.30 Building layout should be arranged to maintain ease of traffic flow.
Future growth, flexibility, and the need for adequate visual supervision must be
considered when placing interior walls. The needs of the disabled and people of
all ages must be considered when planning aisles, shelving, stairs, elevators,
restrooms, telephones, cabinets, furniture, computers, etc.
7.31 Proper climate control must be provided for the comfort of the public
and the staff, as well as the preservation of library materials. Special
collections may require separate climate control.
7.32 Special attention must be paid to the energy efficiency of the entire
facility. Adequate building insulation and insulated window glazing should be
included in all new or renovated buildings.
7.33 Construction materials, equipment and furnishings should be selected
considering aesthetics, commercial-grade durability, comfort, ease of
maintenance, and applicable local and state building and fire codes.
LIGHTING AND ACOUSTICS
7.34 Lighting should be maintained at adequate levels to achieve visual
comfort and effectiveness, in accordance with current Illuminating Engineering
Society (IES) standards.
7.35 Lighting should be glare-free and uniform. Consideration of use, cost,
location and ease of replacement should guide the choice of lighting fixtures.
Special care should be taken to position lighting and book stacks relative to
each other so that all shelving is evenly illuminated. Accommodation for future
book stack arrangements should be made.
7.36 Consideration for the special needs of older adults, and those who are
visually impaired, should be included when choosing lighting. Particularly
strong light is needed at right angles to the stacks, in the leisure reading
area and in the library’s restrooms. White, cream or yellow paint will aid the
lighting. Paneling or blue paint will weaken the lighting and may make it
necessary to install supplementary lighting.
7.37 Acoustical treatment should be used to control sound as needed in each
of the spaces in the building. Also consider noise from external sources.
SIGNAGE
7.38 Signs locate public services and are part of the interior design. They
should be attractive, concise and use terminology that is meaningful to the
public. When possible, a consistent design quality adds to the aesthetic of the
space.
7.39 Collection and department signs are critical even in small libraries.
They should be at least 5 inches high, with excellent contrast. Stack signs
should offer an accurate mix of verbal and Dewey information. They should be at
least three inches high, with excellent contrast.
7.40 Adequate and appropriate signs should identify the library's service
areas as well as the library collection; i.e., Adult Service, Reference,
Children's Room, as well as computer workstations, elevators, exits, and
restrooms.
EXTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
7.41 The exterior of the library should be aesthetically pleasing and
functional. The architecture should meet the requirements of the library's
program needs. Landscaping should enhance the architectural design of the
building and building security, to require minimal maintenance and to allow for
possible exterior programming uses.
7.42 The library’s public parking should include one van-accessible parking
space for every 25 public parking spaces. A van-accessible space is 8 feet wide
with an 8 feet aisle. Two handicapped parking spaces may share a common aisle.
Off street parking is desirable if possible. Potential building sites that do
not meet the parking standards below should not be selected.
| Library Type |
|
User parking (spaces) |
| |
|
|
| Gateway |
|
7-9 |
| Linking |
|
9-15 |
| Service Center |
|
15 - 22 |
| Major Service Center I |
|
22 - 42 |
| Major Service Center II |
|
45 - 71 |
| Major Resource Center I |
|
75 - 190 |
| Major Resource Center II |
|
190 or more |
7.43 Based on 1 space per 300 square feet of Total Space. Local codes may
vary from this formula.
| Library Type |
|
Staff parking (spaces) |
| |
|
|
| Gateway |
|
1 - 2 |
| Linking |
|
2 |
| Service Center |
|
2 |
| Major Service Center I |
|
2 - 5 |
| Major Service Center II |
|
5 - 12 |
| Major Resource Center I |
|
12 - 45 |
| Major Resource Center II |
|
45 or more |
7.44 Based on 1 space per .75 FTE staff.
7.45 A conveniently located exterior book return should provide for
after-hours access. The book return should be designed for ease of maintenance
by the library staff and should fireproof and protected from vandalism. It
should also be in a barrier-free location that does not involve any steps.
7.46 Exterior lighting should be sufficient to provide ease of access,
security, and personal safety to and from parking areas and along all walkways
around the exterior of the building. Sufficient exterior lighting provides an
additional measure of security for the building.
7.47 A highly visible exterior sign placed at eye level should identify the
library from adjacent public roadways. The municipality should provide
directional signs to the library from major thoroughfares. A flagpole with
lighting should be considered.
LIBRARY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER RESPONSE PLAN
7.48 Every library must have a written Emergency Preparedness and Disaster
Response Plan. This plan should be compiled by a committee consisting of staff
members, a member of maintenance, a board member, and a representative from the
fire and police departments. Planning should include the areas of prevention and
preparedness, response, and recovery and the final plan should be approved by
the Library Board of Trustees.
7.49 The Director and other members of the Emergency Response Team should
have access to a copy of the plan at the library as well as a copy at home. A
copy of the plan should be located off-site where it is accessible to the
Emergency Response Team if the emergency prevents the team from accessing the
library building. This may include copies at residences, or it may be another
copy at a secure location. There are many Emergency and Disaster plans available
online or in printed materials to use as templates. Assistance and advice in
preparing this document may be requested from system and State Library
personnel.
7.50 The Emergency and Disaster Plan should be reviewed annually for any
corrections or updates necessary. All copies of the plan should be updated,
including those located off-site.
7.51 The Emergency and Disaster Plan may include, but should not be limited
to, the following list of emergencies:
- bomb threat
- bombs
- explosions
- earthquakes
- fire
- flood or severe water leak
- gas, steam or hazardous materials
- hostage
- heating/air conditioning/ventilation malfunction
- medical emergency
- mold/mildew/pests
- power failure
- terrorism
- tornadoes or severe weather
- vehicle accidents
- work place violence
7.52 Sections on each emergency/disaster may include, but should not be
limited to, items from the following list (excerpted from http://www.solinet.net/):
- emergency information sheet: one-page summary of immediate steps to be
taken and individuals to be contacted
- introduction to the plan
- communication plan (telephone tree)
- institution-wide collection priorities
- prevention/protection strategy
- checklist of pre-disaster actions
- instructions for response and recovery
- recovery/response team members
- record-keeping forms
- detailed building plans
- resource lists
- vendors
- accounting information
- insurance information
- location of keys or other security devices
CHECKLIST FOR PHYSICAL FACILITIES
1. The library has a schedule for the on-going maintenance of all facilities.
____ Completed ____ In progress ____ Not planned
2. The library facility is attractive and welcoming.
____ Completed ____ In progress ____ Not planned
3. The library facility meets space and furnishing guidelines for its size,
collection and programming needs.
____ Completed ____ In progress ____ Not planned
4. The library facility meets lighting guidelines for its size. Lighting is
adequate to the tasks performed and strong enough to serve the visually
impaired.
____ Completed ____ In progress ____ Not planned
5. The library has adequate signage.
____ Completed ____ In progress ____ Not planned
6. The library facility meets the parking guidelines for its size.
____ Completed ____ In progress ____ Not planned
7. The library has a written ADA compliance plan.
____ Completed ____ In progress ____ Not planned
8. If the library facility restricts the delivery of needed services, a
building program is planned or in process.
____ Completed ____ In progress ____ Not planned
9. The present facility, or the facility being planned, meets the
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
____ Completed ____ In progress ____ Not planned
10. The library has an emergency preparedness plan.
____ Completed ____ In progress ____ Not planned
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PART FOUR
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
COMPLIANCE WITH THE
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT - INTRODUCTION
This document is intended to serve as an aid to the early stages of ADA
compliance planning. It is not a substitute for legal advice or expert
arbitration in dealing with complaints alleging non-compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
OUTLINE OF ACTIVITIES FOR ADA COMPLIANCE
1. Make your Board members aware of the concerns connected with ADA
compliance. Obtain a motion of approval for the staff to study the facility and
prepare a plan documenting the steps the library can and cannot take to comply
with the requirements.
2. Make sure your staff is aware of proper procedures for helping disabled
patrons. Extra levels of courtesy are sometimes necessary for equal service.
Make sure that all library staff members have the same information about the
library's plans to study ADA compliance
3. Conduct a thorough review of your library facility, noting every condition
that could prevent a disabled person or a person in fragile health from using
the library services comfortably. Every barrier should be described, whether you
have the ability to remove it or not. If you know citizens with covered
disabilities ask them to come in and move through the building with you. The
Kansas State Library has an ADA Compliance Coordinator who works with individual
libraries on ADA Compliance Review.
4. Consider holding a well-publicized library forum for citizens dealing with
or interested in disabilities covered by the ADA. Encourage open discussion on
what the library can do to meet the needs of the disabled. But make it clear
that the trustees and the director will make final decisions based on all
available factors, including budget constraints.
5. Draft a plan that indicates what action you will be able to take for each
barrier identified and when you will plan to take this action.
6. If a barrier cannot be removed, document the unreasonable expense or
hardship that prevents the library from removing it. It is not sufficient to
simply state that the library cannot afford to solve the problem. Actual costs
and their relationship to the library budget should be part of the
documentation.
7. If you have not already prepared one, draft a written plan for ADA
compliance with a proposed timeline and with preliminary costs for
implementation. The plan should be formally accepted by the Board and reviewed
by the staff so they will be familiar with the library's plans. This plan should
be kept on file and reviewed annually to see if additional barriers should be
removed or additional services offered by the library.
8. If a person with a disability, or any other citizen, lodges a complaint
about a barrier in the library, or about available library services, they should
be referred to the director or to a specifically designated department head. The
best weapons for defusing complaints are documented evidence of good faith
effort or documented evidence of unreasonable expense; both delivered with
impeccable courtesy. If a person making a complaint is not satisfied and
threatens further action, the library should seek outside assistance as soon as
possible. But keep in mind that most citizens with disabilities do not want to
resort to legal action, they simply want their needs met.
ADA COMPLIANCE FOR LIBRARY FACILITIES
LIBRARY CHECKLIST
INTRODUCTION:
Kansas libraries need to have the Americans with Disabilities Act as a high
priority. Kansas already has a high population of older residents and that
number will be increasing rapidly. That means Kansas is bound to have a very
high number of people with covered disabilities.
Covered disabilities include, but are not necessarily limited to: heart
conditions, diabetes, cancer, AIDS, bad backs, impaired vision, impaired
hearing, impaired mobility, impaired dexterity, impaired speech, impaired
cognition. Temporarily disabled citizens are also covered by the ADA.
ADA compliance is an area of the law that is rarely in black and white but
contains many shades of grey. Compliance reviews speak of fair compliance, good
compliance, fullest compliance and other terms that are somewhat relative.
The disability community has usually been reasonable in understanding that
neither libraries nor their parent governments have unlimited funds. Undue
hardship can be documented in many cases as a reason for non-compliance. But a
library that has no plan for developing their ADA compliance and shows no
evidence of good faith effort is inviting criticism that might escalate into
legal problems. A library building program that does not result in full
barrier-free access makes the library very vulnerable to legal problems.
PARKING:
A library that has less than 25 parking spaces needs one handicapped parking
space, but it must be van-accessible. That means a parking space 8 feet wide
plus an aisle 8 feet wide. The parking space must be on a level, hard surface
with a vertical sign and a curb cut. It must be as close to the library entrance
as possible. If you have more than 25 parking spaces, but less than 50, you must
have two handicapped parking spaces. However, two parking spaces may share a
common access aisle.
EXTERIOR SIGNAGE:
The library should have clear, large, exterior signs that can be read from
the street even by people with impaired eyesight. One of these signs should be a
yard sign, since pediment signs are usually above eye level. Another common
problem with exterior signs is lack of sufficient contrast.
The library hours should also be posted on an exterior sign with print as
large and clear as possible.
MAIN ENTRANCE:
The path to the main entrance should be hard-surfaced, smooth surfaced,
barrier-free and at least 36 inches wide, with no slope greater than a one inch
rise in a 20 inch run.
The door should have a clear opening of 36 inches. Automatic doors are not
required in small libraries but excessively heavy doors should be regarded as a
barrier. The door should have some sort of push-type handle rather than a
twist-type handle. Doorway thresholds should be no more than 1/4 inch high but
these can usually be ramped.
A library that serves more than 5,000 people should have an automatic door
opener.
Exterior steps are a serious problem that cause a library to be regarded as
barrier-rich.
Book returns should always be placed in a barrier-free location.
RAMPS:
If a ramp is necessary to access the building, it should have a maximum rise
of 1 in 12 (a one inch rise to a twelve inch run).
There can be no run greater than 30 feet without a level platform. A level
platform at the doorway is required and it must be a minimum of five feet by
five feet. Ramps should be equipped with railings and guard curbs.
MULTI-LEVELS:
A patron should be able to access all areas of the library. If necessary,
non-public services can be transferred to non-accessible areas but this will not
be considered full compliance.
Any new construction that involves multiple levels requires an elevator. A
lift is acceptable only in a very small library. Chair lifts are not acceptable
compliance.
Stairs should be 36 inches wide with risers no more than 11 inches high.
There should be handrails on both sides. Stairs are a legal back-up to elevators
and lifts in all public libraries.
FLOORS:
Ripples, edges or worn places in the carpet are a hazard to uncertain footing
and should be repaired or eliminated.
A carpet for a library should not have a busy pattern that could cause
dizziness or difficulty for those who have mobility impairments.
Open drains in restroom floors can be a hazard if they are deep or loosely
covered.
Cords across the floor can pose an unintended hazard and should be eliminated
as much as possible.
Too many toys on the floor in a children's department can pose an unintended
hazard to those with impaired vision or impaired mobility. It is best if the
children's play area is contained in some way, so clutter does not spread to
path areas.
LIGHTING:
Library lighting should be as strong as possible in all areas. Lighting
should be glare-free and uniform. Lighting should run across the stacks rather
than parallel to them, although this cannot always be corrected.
A review of lighting for ADA compliance is NOT a review of lighting codes.
Rather, it is an assessment of whether the lighting needs to be strengthened or
supplemented before the collection can be easily used by someone with visual
impairment. Dark shades in the paint, carpet or shelving can sometimes weaken
the available lighting.
Paint shades in white, cream, ivory, yellow or pale peach can assist library
lighting. Blue and green shades and dark paneling will steal the available
lighting. Light colored carpet will also aid the library's lighting.
Lighting in library restrooms is frequently not strong enough to serve the
visually impaired.
CIRCULATION DESK:
A new circulation desk must include a lower section for the use of children
and disabled patrons. This section should be no more than 36 inches high. If a
tall circulation desk cannot be restructured, a small table nearby should be
used for supplementary service when needed.
PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOGS AND COMPUTER STATIONS:
An accessible catalog should be considered a top priority since it is
essential to library service. The top of a card catalog should be no more than
48 inches off the floor and there should be a 36 inch clear space around it.
Card catalog drawers should have the largest and clearest print possible.
Public catalog access stations and Internet access stations should be used in
the seated position unless there are more than three of them. Larger libraries
should have mix of higher and lower stations.
Public catalog and computer stations should offer the option of increasing
the print size. Chairs for computer work stations should be comfortable and easy
to use.
FURNITURE:
There should be a clear passage of at least 40 inches between sets of study
tables and/or carrels. Tables should have a 27 inch high clearance, a 19 inch
deep knee clearance and a surface height of 18-24 inches.
Many libraries have such a severe lack of space that the clear passage space
cannot always be observed. But every library should make sure that at least one
table could be reached and used by a wheelchair user.
READING AREA:
The library should have comfortable chairs, in addition to study tables.
These should be armchairs to facilitate mobility. An end table should serve each
armchair. The area should have good lighting for easy reading. Usually the
reading areas are placed near magazines and newspapers or new books.
PERIODICALS:
The top row of periodicals should be no more than 50 inches above the floor.
Most library periodical shelving is higher than this. It is strongly recommended
that the top shelf not be used, if possible. If the periodical shelving must be
high, there should be a sign advising library users to ask for any needed
assistance.
Besides periodical shelving that is too high, many libraries have periodicals
that are not well arranged or do not have large, clear signage. These are also
barriers to effective use. Periodical names should be three inches high.
REFERENCE:
It is preferable, although not legally specified, that ready reference
materials be in half height shelving. If the reference collection is in full
height shelving, the reference staff needs to be fully aware of their
responsibilities to disabled citizens.
STACKS:
Stack areas should have aisles of at least 36 inches. The perimeter aisle
around the stacks should be 40 inches. If there is no stack perimeter and one
cannot be created, the aisles should be 42 inches. There is no legal limit on
stack height but if the library must use extra tall shelving, there should be
plenty of stools and signs advising patrons to ask for any needed assistance.
A common problem with stacks in public libraries is that the legal clear
space gets blocked with furniture or other intruding objects. A conscious effort
should be made to leave the legal clear space unimpeded.
Stack signs should be at least three inches high and with excellent contrast.
White on black, navy or chocolate is considered much more visible than black on
white.
INTERIOR SIGNAGE:
The library should have clear, large signs with maximum contrast directing
people to departments, restrooms, elevators, stairs, meeting rooms, public
service desks, exits, emergency exits and specific collections. White on black,
navy or chocolate is considered the best contrast. Department and Collection
signs should be at least five inches high.
Stack signs should be large enough for people to read with impaired vision.
Three inches is considered a reasonable compliance. Stack signs should contain
an accurate and up-to-date combination of Dewey and print information that will
pilot people easily through the stacks.
Inadequate signage is the most common citation in ADA compliance reviews.
Good signage is not only an ADA issue, but is a key element in making a library
welcoming and easy to use.
COLLECTIONS:
The more residents a community has that are elderly and/or disabled, the more
emphasis the library should place on large print materials, videos and
audiobooks. Many small libraries are supplied with rotating collections of large
print books. The Kansas Talking Books Service should be visibly marketed in
public service areas and supplied to eligible library users.
It is preferable, though not legally mandated, that reference collections
should be in half-height shelving. Signage for reference stacks should be as
clear and informative as possible and the department should be clearly
identified with a large sign.
There should be good signage for all special collections.
Large print copies of articles or other brief materials should be supplied
upon request.
Few small libraries can afford Braille materials but they still have an
obligation to supply such materials through interlibrary loan when they are
requested.
WATER FOUNTAIN:
Water fountains in libraries should be low. If the library has a full-height
water fountain, the addition of a water cooler and a cup dispenser will bring
the library into good compliance. Cup dispensers are often recommended, in any
case, because difficulty in swallowing can be a covered disability.
TELEPHONE:
The top of a public service telephone should be no more than 48 inches above
the floor. The rapid growth of cell phone use has gradually made telephone
compliance a less urgent issue. Many small libraries also allow library users to
make very brief use of an accessible staff phone.
COPIER:
The copy plate of a copier should be no more than 36 inches off the floor.
Most library copiers are in compliance.
RESTROOMS:
The path to a public restroom should be barrier-free and 36 inches wide. The
doorway should have a 36 inch clear space. The doors should be push-type or have
push-type handles.
A single service restroom should have a clear space of at least five feet by
five feet. Five feet by eight feet is considered fullest compliance.
A multiple service restroom should have one handicapped stall. The entrance
to the stall should be at least 36 inches wide and should have a clear space of
at least five feet by five feet.
All toilet commodes should be equipped with grab bars at the side and back.
These should be no more than 36 inches above the floor. The back grab bar should
be 36 inches long and the side grab bar should be 42 inches long. The paper
dispenser should have continuous paper delivery.
All restroom fixtures should be less than 48 inches off the floor, including
mirror, soap dispenser and towel rack. Sink faucets should have push-type
handles rather than twist-type.
Pipes should be covered or wrapped to prevent burns. This is considered a
child safety issue as well as an ADA issue.
The restroom should be strongly lighted. A visually impaired person should be
able to refresh make-up or replace a contact lens. White or yellow paint can
help correct weak lighting. Blue and dark tan have a tendency to drain light.
The mirror should be as large as possible and strongly lighted. A mirror
shelf is recommended for fullest compliance.
The restroom door should carry both verbal and pictorial signs. However, it
should not carry the symbol for barrier-free access unless the restroom is truly
in very good compliance with the law.
For small libraries, it is better to have a unisex restroom than to have one
that is in poor compliance with the ADA. If the library serves more than 5,000
people, however, this would not be considered good service.
Restroom compliance is a common problem for small libraries and older
libraries. Some of these problems cannot be solved without a remodeling program.
But minor compliances, such as grab bars, correct fixtures and strong lighting,
should be put in place. Problems that cannot be solved without undue hardship
should be carefully documented.
MEETING ROOMS:
The library meeting room should have directional signage, a large door sign
and a door clearance of at least 36 inches wide.
Most library meeting rooms do not have serious problems when they are empty.
The most common problem is inadequate lighting. Side and center aisles should be
40 inches wide when audience seating is in place. There should be one wheelchair
space for every twenty-five seats and this should be placed with an excellent
view of the front of the room.
Microphones should be used for every program that has an audience of more
than twenty-five people. Signers should be supplied when requested, unless this
is clearly an undue hardship.
Water should be available at all meetings and programs, whether refreshments
are served or not. There are no formal regulations in regard to refreshments,
but it is best to avoid very spicy or very hard food.
OUTREACH:
Outreach service to those in residential institutions and to the homebound
should be offered. If outreach service cannot be offered, undue hardship should
be documented.
Larger libraries often have a staff member who works with outreach. Small
libraries often need to find an effective volunteer to handle such a program.
Generally, the rule is that the less accessible the library is to the public,
the more important outreach becomes.
Outreach is often very poorly marketed to the public, even when it is
available. The library should try to have enough resources devoted to outreach
to make it possible to market the program.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS:
Emergency preparedness is considered an ADA issue because the library staff
is responsible for library users during an emergency, whether they are
able-bodied or disabled. A library that does not have written procedures for
emergencies and a staff effectively trained in using these procedures cannot be
considered in good compliance with the ADA.
There is information in the Kansas Public Library Policy Manual to help
libraries create an emergency preparedness plan. System consultants can also
help with this project.
New staff members and new board members should be given a copy of the
library's emergency preparedness plan. All staff members and volunteers should
read and sign off on it once a year.
All public libraries should have portable fire extinguishers. Even small
libraries usually need three of them. The staff members should be trained in
their use.
Public libraries should also have smoke alarms, though small libraries may
use the same kind as used in private homes.
All public libraries should have a second exit that can serve as an emergency
exit. The emergency exit should have a large sign and the path to it should be
kept clear. The exterior of the emergency exit should have a handrail to help
people get away from the building quickly and safely.
All public libraries should have a battery operated radio, powerful
flashlights and extra batteries. These should be checked every six months.
Blankets and bottled water are also good supplies to have, especially in larger
libraries.
All public libraries should have a procedure for severe weather. If the
library doesn't have a lower level, library users should be directed to a nearby
building, to a restroom without windows or to a central, protected part of the
building.
STAFF PROTOCOLS:
Library staff should be trained in impeccable courtesy to those who are
disabled, in fragile health or elderly. This training can be handled through a
written staff manual, but staff should have to sign an agreement that they have
read and understood it. Training for staff is also available from the systems,
the state library and sometimes from the municipality.
Staff and volunteers should be advised of the following:
When a library user is accompanied by a caregiver, communication should still
be addressed to the library user, if possible. He or she should not be ignored.
When speaking to a hearing-impaired person, the staff member should not only
speak clearly but make sure they are facing the person.
A person with speech impairment may be asked, politely, to write their
request, but only after an honest attempt has been made to understand what the
library user is saying.
Visually impaired persons should be escorted to the service they need. Even
in a small library, pointing is rarely helpful.
A wheelchair is considered part of the user's body and should never be
touched without permission. A wheelchair user should be asked if they need
assistance only when the situation clearly warrants.
If it is feasible, the staff member should sit down when talking with a
person in a wheelchair.
Persons with mobility impairments should not be hurried. A staff member may
ask if he or she can retrieve something or write something down, if the library
user seems to be having difficulty.
Under Kansas law, all service dogs can go wherever their masters go. A
service dog can be complimented or admired, but it should never be petted or
spoken to directly while it is on duty.
It is good practice to allow service dogs in training to examine the library,
although it is not legally mandated.
Disfigured persons and amputees should be neither stared at nor avoided. A
conscious effort should be made to treat them with standard courtesy.
Any person complaining about the library's ADA compliance, or any barrier to
using the library, should be treated with impeccable courtesy. There should be
an understood procedure that they will be referred to someone who is trained to
help them. This is usually either the library director or the library's
designated ADA coordinator.
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Space Planning for Physical Facilities
Physical Facility Summary of Standards Assumptions
Physical facility standards for the various library service levels were
largely developed by applying the principles contained in Public Library
Space Needs: A Planning Outline, by Anders C. Dahlgren, Bulletin No. 8210,
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 1988. This document defines six
broad types of library space: collection space, user seating space, staff work
space, meeting space, special-use space, and non-assignable (including
mechanical) space. It describes the process for estimating space needs as
involving the following steps:
1. Identify the library's projected service population, known as the design
population. Determine projected population figures using a 20-year planning
timeframe.
2. Estimate the number of items the library will need in its collection to
meet future service requirements and identify how much floor space is needed to
house that projected collection.
3. Estimate the number of seats the library will need to accommodate in-
house use of the collection and how much floor space these seats will require.
4. Estimate the number of staff work stations that will be necessary to
support the staff's projected routines and how much floor space they will
require.
5. Estimate the type and capacity of meeting rooms that the library will need
and how much floor space these will require.
6. Calculate an allocation for miscellaneous public- and staff-use space.
7. Calculate an allocation for vestibules, furnace rooms, restrooms, and
other types of non-assignable space.
8. Assemble the estimates for the six types of space into an overall estimate
of space need.
Dahlgren notes that projected space needs design and allocation is important
in physical facilities planning, but is by no means the only consideration. One
should also look at energy efficiency and the condition of heating, ventilating
and air conditioning systems, accessibility for those with disabilities,
adaptability to meet the electrical and telecommunications needs for emerging
technologies, and the general effectiveness of work flow.
Below are reproduced the user seating schedule and space needs worksheet from
Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline. These tools will help with the
calculation of a library's projected overall space need.
USER SEATING SCHEDULE
| Population |
|
Seats per 1,000 population |
| |
|
|
| 2,000 |
|
12.5 |
| 4,000 |
|
10.0 |
| 8,000 |
|
7.0 |
| 15,000 |
|
5.0 |
| 25,000 |
|
4.0 |
| 50,000 |
|
3.0 |
| 100,000 |
|
2.0 |
| 500,000 |
|
1.0 |
PARKING SPACE FORMULA
User Parking - 1 space per 300 sq. ft. of building
Staff Parking - 1 space per .75 FTE staff
Required Parking Area - 350 sq. ft. per space
ADA Parking Requirements - see Department of Justice, Code of Federal
Regulations, 28 CFR Part 36, revised as of July 1, 1994.
SPACE NEEDS WORKSHEET
(adapted from Dahlgren, Anders C.,
Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline, Wisconsin Department of
Public Instruction, 1998)
Step 1. Design Population
| |
a. Current local population (for comparison only) |
______ |
| |
b. Projected local population |
______ |
| |
c. Projected nonresident population |
______ |
| |
d. Design population (b+c) |
______ |
[Relate the design population (from l.d) to collection standards by library
service levels to identify collection size figures for step 2 below.]
Step 2. Collection Space
| |
|
Sq. ft. |
| |
a. Books ______volumes ÷ 10 ______ |
______ |
| |
b. Recordings ______ items ÷ 10 ______ |
______ |
| |
c. Periodical display ______ titles ÷ 10 ______ |
______ |
| |
d. Periodical storage ______ titles x 0.5 x 5 ______ years retained |
______ |
| |
e. Total (a+b+c+d) |
______ |
Step 3. User Seating Space
a. seats x 30 ________
[Consult the User Seating Schedule (above) to identify the appropriate number
of user seats.]
Step 4. Staff Work Space
a. stations x 150 ________
[To determine the appropriate number of work spaces and appropriate staffing
levels at each space, examine present staff assignments and workloads. A work
space frequently is shared by more than one staff member. On occasion, a staff
member may have more than one work space.]
Step 5. Meeting Room Space
| |
a. General meeting space ______ seats x 10 |
______ |
| |
b. Conference room space ______ seats x 25 |
______ |
| |
c. Children's programming space ______ seats x 10 |
______ |
| |
d. Total (a+b+c) |
______ |
[The number and size of meeting rooms should be determined by the library's
anticipated programming activities and by the availability of similar rooms
elsewhere in the community for use by local groups.]
Step 6. Special Use Space
| |
a. Collection space (from 2.e) |
______ |
| |
User seating space (from 3.e) |
______ |
| |
Staff work space (from 4.e) |
______ |
| |
Meeting room space (from S.d) |
______ |
| |
b. Subtotal 1 |
______ |
| |
c. Multiply subtotal 1 by 0.1 |
______ |
[Include in this area the public card catalog or group of terminals to access
an automated catalog, index tables, newspaper racks, AV shelving, photocopiers,
etc. Special use space typically constitutes approximately 10 percent of the
overall total area in the building. This percentage declines in larger
buildings.]
Step 7. Nonassignable Space
| |
a. Subtotal 1 (from 6.b) |
______ |
| |
b. Special use space (from 6.c) |
______ |
| |
c. Subtotal 2 (a + b) |
______ |
| |
c. Multiply subtotal 2 by 0.25 |
______ |
[Some representative types of nonassignable space are furnace rooms,
janitor's closets, storage rooms, vestibules, corridors, stairwells, elevator
shafts, and restrooms. Such space is necessary to support the operation of the
building, but cannot be used directly for library service. Nonassignable space
typically constitutes approximately 20-30 percent of the overall total area in
the building. This percentage is higher for libraries with more than one floor
level and more open space. This percentage tends to increase in larger
buildings.]
Step 8. Putting It All Together
| |
a. Collection space (from 2.e) |
______ |
| |
b. User seating space (from 3.a) |
______ |
| |
c. Staff work space (from 4.a) |
______ |
| |
d. Meeting room space (from S.d) |
______ |
| |
e. Special use space (from 6.c) |
______ |
| |
f. Nonassignable space (from 7.d) |
______ |
| |
g. GROSS AREA NEEDED (a+b+c+d+e+f) |
______ |
When reviewing the physical facilities space, shelving, seating and parking
recommendations by library service levels, it is important to note that these
are only guidelines of the most general nature. The careful calculation of space
needs guidelines using Dahlgren's worksheet above must take into account the
local library's design population figures.
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Bibliography of Publications on Library Building Programs
American Institute of Architects, You and Your Architect, 1995.
Black, J.B., O'Donnell, Ruth, and Scheuerle, Jane, Surveying Public Libraries
for the ADA, State Library of Florida, 1993.
Brawner, Lee, and Beck, Donald K., Determining Your Public Library's Future
Size, American Library Association, 1996.
Brown, Carol R., Planning Library Interiors, 1995.
Childers, Tom A., and Nancy A. Van House, What's Good?: Describing Your
Public Library's Effectiveness. Chicago: American Library Association, 1993.
Cirillo, Susan E. and Danford, Robert E., Library Buildings, Equipment and
the ADA: Compliance Issues and Solutions, American Library Association, 1996.
Dahlgren, Anders C., Publi