Links to facilities planning materials

Seems like this question's been asked several times over the past few weeks:

I received a request from a fellow media specialist, for information on building a new media center.  I know many of you have been looking at plans for designing school library spaces. Could anyone out there in school library land share some of what you have learned and any good sources you found?

So as much for my own convenience as any service, here's a bibliography of things I've written on library facility design.

Imagining the Future of the School Library (with Rolf Erikson)
http://www.designshare.com/index.php/articles/school-library-future

Some design considerations when building or remodeling a media center
http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/some-design-considerations.html

Building Digital Libraries for Analog People: 10 Common Design Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/designing-digital-libraries.html

Facilities planning survey
http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2009/3/2/facilities-planning-survey.html

Library design advice from the ancients
http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2008/5/14/library-design-advice-from-the-ancients.html

• Community access
• Visual control
• Traffic patterns
• Multiple activities
• Aesthetics
• Flexibility and the future

Skylight and science department greenhouse above the circulation desk adds interest and beauty to the St Peter High School Media Center.

School libraries as a third place
http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2009/2/16/school-libraries-as-a-third-place.html

A Jolt of Java @ Your Library
http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2005/10/13/a-jolt-of-java-your-library.html

Jolt of Java Revisited
http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2005/10/27/jolt-of-java-revisited.html

What you see and what you don’t see: a tour of Mankato’s Dakota Meadows Middle School
http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/what-you-see-and-what-you-dont-see.html

I highly recommend Rolf Erikson and Carol Markuson’s Designing a School Library Media Center for the Future, 2nd ed, ALA, 2009: http://www.amazon.com/Designing-School-Library-Center-Future/dp/0838909450/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258714257&sr=8-1

Hope this helps. Remember, all my writing has been approved by the AMA as a non-addictive sleep aid!

I have re-created this bibliography on my regular website and will maintain it there.

Send me recommendations for other good library planning guides!

Comments

[Rolf Erikson]

Doug,
I recommend the school library facilities planning information on the "Whole Building Design Guide" website. The URL is http://www.wbdg.org/design/school_library.php

Kim Bolan's (author of "More Teen Spaces") blog has good information on the design of spaces for teens. The URL is http://indielibrarian.blogspot.com/

[Doug Johnson]

Thanks, Rolf, for adding these resources for folks.

I truly see you as THE expert in this area!

Doug

[Kat in CT]

If any readers are planning a new facility, they might consider attending the New England School Library Association's upcoming Leadership Conference -- Knowledge/Learning Commons: The future school library? -- in Boston on January 15, 2010 (hooked on to ALA mid-winter). Our presenters include, David Loertscher, Ross Todd, Rolf Erikson, Valerie Diggs, Roger Nevin, and Pam Harland. The morning session is lead by Ross Todd and the afternoon session is held at the new Chelmsford HS Learning Commons with discussions of different design models. It is going to be an inspiring day! Registration is due December 4th. Lodging is at the Sheraton. Here is a link to the conference announcement. http://neschoolibraries.org/leadership-conference/

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Kat,

Sounds like a wonderful conference. Have fun and thanks for letting Blue Skunk readers know about it.

All the best,

Doug