Library design - flexibility and the future

A computer lab on the floor of Dakota Meadows Media Center, supported by in floor computer wiring and electrical outlets.

Red indicates under-floor conduit though which wiring can be run through the floor or the library.

About the only safe prediction about the future is that technology will change. Resources will change in format. Learning activities will change. Good school library design dictates that spaces are designed to be as flexible as possible. Running plenty of conduit and putting electrical outlets through spaces are still good practice. Try to place classrooms or other spaces adjacent to the media center so that they can be incorporated into the library if space needs increase. Or try to make sure there is an outside wall where an addition can be built if necessary.

At the same time, it's a mistake to design for technologies that do not yet exist, no matter how tantalizingly close they appear. E-books are not replacing print materials at this time. Wireless network access remains too slow, insecure and unreliable to replace Ethernet. Presentations are still given in physical space as well as virtually.

This "design principle" is probably the most important, but most difficult to practice. How have you seen library spaces made flexible and future-friendly?

Library design - aesthetics

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

Color schemes, interior designer selected, are carried out throughout the building and media center at Eagle Lake elementary school -top left, top right, center and bottom right. Bottom left photo shows informal seating with warm wood trim in the St Peter HS Media Center.

The respect shown to those who inhabit a building is demonstrated by the attention paid to the appearance, comfort and aesthetic attention given to it. Professionally selected color schemes, warm wood accents, and art work create beautiful, welcoming spaces. Natural light has proven to improve learning, productivity and attitudes. (Although care needs to be taken that UV rays do not unnecessarily harm carpets and book spins, that reflected  light does not make computer screens unreadable, and that areas can be darkened when projection devices need to be used.)

Beauty is less about expense than it is about caring during the planning and design process. 

 

Student art, including the handprints and signatures of graduating 8th graders decorate Dakota Meadows Middle School (Mankato MN). Wooden trim is inexpensive but adds warmth to a brightly laminated circulation desk at Eagle Lake.

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.