Library design - multiple activities

 

Light blue blocks show individual work spaces, lavender blocks show small group areas, and dark blue blocks show where entire classes can be seated.

Students may come to the library as individuals, in small groups or as part of an entire classed. In all likelihood, media centers have all types of user groups doing a variety of activities at the same time. The area should be designed to accommodate each size group. Personally, I like libraries that carve out small niches for quiet reading or study -  simple benches at the end of library shelves are a nice way to provide this. Conference rooms (with windows) provide workspaces for small groups. And of course groupings of 6 to 8 tables or computer labs allow entire classes to work together.

Be careful not to provide seating or work areas for more students than the library staff can adequately supervise. It's rare that a single professional can help more than 2 classes at one time. 

Library design - traffic patterns

 

In the St Peter High School Media Center the busy area near the circulation desk and entrance has high durability tile rather than carpet flooring.

The concept is simple - put the busiest places and noisiest activities closest to the entrance of the library. Put the study and classroom spaces away from the entrance. It makes little sense to walk completely through the media center to return a book or to get a magazine. Entrances to computer labs, reference materials, catalog stations, and casual reading spaces should be near the entrance. Check the location of your equipment storage areas - would you need to push that TV all through the story area to get it to the hallway?

Library design - visual control

 

View from the St. Peter High School Library Media Center circulation desk. Every area of the room is easily seen.

 

Library media centers should not have areas that are difficult to supervise, even when there is only a single adult in the room. This means no hidden corners, no rooms without windows into them, no high bookcases behind which students can hide. (Note in picture above how book cases are perpendicular to the main area.)  And increasingly this means computer arrangements that make monitor screens easily visible.

Floor plans should be carefully studied to determine where kids might be - that YOU can't see.

(I am a big fan of breaking up spaces with walls that include interior windows - noise abatement but easily supervised.)

Any hidden space horror stories?