From American Libraries Sept. 2002 p.79 Building Buddy

"Librarians who have lived through a renovation or a new building project often have the scars to show for it. But you can minimize those "growing pains" with Libraries Designed for Users : A Twenty First Century Guide. Author Nolan Lushington examines actual plans, sketches, budgets, forms and blueprints for renovation and new facilities. He takes readers through all the steps so that the final result is a building that meets the needs of both staff and users."

From Library Bookwatch June 2002 p. 10

"…very highly recommended for anyone involved in planning for the construction or expansion of public, academic, corporate or private libraries"

From Reference & Research Book News August 2002 p.221

"Library facilities can be planned, designed and remodeled with this handbook."

From Midwest Book Review June 7, 2002

"A solidly presented and informational guide... a thorough comprehensive user friendly guide to evaluating exactly what is needed. Libraries designed for users is very highly recommended."

From the Independent review panel for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners program and plans for the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Massachusetts.

"Excellent Planning with a high degree of community input has resulted in an outstanding proposal. The building program is throughtful and has obviously had a great deal of staff involvement."

Review of The Design and Evaluation of Public Library Buildings from Norman Stevens in the Wilson Library Bulletin:

"For more then ten years Nolan Lushington's Librarires Designed for Users has served as the the standard public library building guide. This totally new version by James Kusack and Nolan Lushington who remains one of the premier public library building consultants, should be used by any public libarian contemplating a library building project."

From Patience Kenney Jackson review in March/April 1993 issue of Public Libraries:

" ...this book will provide vital insights and details from a very sophisticated, complex yet practical point of view."

Reviews of Libraries Designed for Users published in 1979:

From the library Journal November 1, 1979 page 2290. by Edward N. Howard, Vigo Public Library, Terre haute, Indiana:

"This is an exceptional book...well written, authoritative, timely with a pleasing format...a delightful book, one that will make you think, and perhaps dream."

From the British Library Association Record March 1980 by E. J Chapman:

"An outstanding book-comprehensive, authoritative, and readable, which marries the practice of oibrary design more successfully than any I have encountered."

from Public Libraries May/June 2003

"Nolan Lushington's new book is a complete revision of his 1979 bestseller; this new title has a much stronger emphasis on managing the planning process, technology, and overall ergonomic design for both customers and staff. Although useful to architects and board members, the books first audience is public librarians. Both experienced and neophyte planners will benefit from Lushington's guoidance on what to do before the architect is hired: the diagrams, list and tables in the needs assessment chapter are exceptionally good. How to choose and work effectively with an architect are topics also covered very well. But Lushington gives his most valuable advice in his ten short chapters on such prolematical functional area as meeting rooms, refrence services, browsing and magazine areas, public computer work stations and staff work rooms. Numerous checklists, diagrams and fllor plans are sprinkled throughout the very informative text. The chapter containing model templates for specifications of various library areas is a goldmine."

Professional References:

Shirley M. Thorson at Southbury CT Public Library‹ 860-262-0626

William Schell, CEO Martin Library York, PA 17401 717-846-5300

Jeff W. Cannell Director Albany Public Library 518-427-4300 161
Washington
Ave. Albany, NY 12210