THE LIBRARY IMPROVEMENT PLANNING PROCESS

The library improvement planning process is a highly interactive complex task involving the library governing body, administrative staff, consultant and architect in a wide variety of interdependent activities. Its goal is to provide a sound basis for improving library services and facilities firmly based on community needs and library capabilities.

It serves these varying purposes:

• Identifies overall size and general cost of the project
• Assists staff in determining space needs, capacities and spatial relationships.
• Provides the architect with a program for designing the renovation, addition or new building.
• Provides staff with a document for the review of architecturalplans.

The Process in Brief includes these steps:

Mission, Goals and Objectives

Review and discuss the mission, goals and objectives of the library with the staff and trustees in order to understand the town, library and overall priorites

 

Community Analysis

Analyze library history and community demographics in order to place the present conditions in an evolutionary perspective and relate project goals

 

Library Analysis

Conduct focus groups in the community to understand individual perceptions of library services and their related facility requirements.

 

Interview library use and existing physical facilities in relation to the community and to the mission, goals and objectives of the library in order to develop library improvement objectives.

Analyze library use and existing physical facilities in relation to the community and to the mission, goals and objectives of the library in order to develop library improvement objectives.

 

Library Building Program Preparation

Work with the staff to prepare a brief outline program delineating major functional areas and capacities needed.

 

Discuss the preliminary program with the library governing authority and town fiscal representatives

 

Revise outline program.

 

Work with the staff to prepare detailed functional area sheets for each library functional area. This will include:

• Name, function and square footage
• Occupants, equipment, furniture and storage capacity
• Accoustical, computer, environmental, equipment, lighting, shelving, security systems, wiring, flexibility
• Area relationships

With extensive staff participation the consultants prepare a preliminary library building program. In addition to written recommendations for facility improvements based on the evaluation above, this work involves interactive sketching of each individual functional area with the appropriate staff members.

Revise functional area sheets based on staff review.

Analyze renovation and addition alternatives with the library director to determine how preliminary program could fit into the existing building envelope with or without an addition.

Modify preliminary program.

Prepare schematic plans for chosen alternative.

Prepare the final library building program.

Present the final document to an audience to be determined. (Usually the funding authority)

Work with the architect on design development and further refine cost estimates.

Work with the architect on construction documents and bidding.

Work with the architect and design consultants on furniture and equipment, lighting and graphics.

Work with the staff and architectural team on moving and installation.

Conduct post occupancy evaluation after the first year of occupancy to determine the changes necessary to repond to new library uses.