This will allow additional space for future expansion. In addition, public libraries should have a "weeding policy" whereby outdated material is omitted from collections. Since the needs of the design population are projected over 20 years, the collection size must also respond to the 20-year projection, i.e., collection space must be projected over a 20-year period. Step 2: Determine Needs for Collection Space Since most public libraries serve residents of outlying communities, it is important to include the effect that non-resident use will have on library space allotments. Population estimates can be gathered from local municipalities, county, or regional planning commissions, or from a state's Office of Policy and Management. This design projection will allow the library to serve the future needs of its population of users and allows the designer to determine the space needed for the preceding categories of library spaces.
Step 1: Determine the Service PopulationĪ projection of the needs of the design (service) population for 20 years is the start of the library design process. The steps below do not assess exterior space needs such as parking and site amenities, which vary widely depending on site selection as determined in the library program. The following steps can be used to determine the library's general building attributes. Estimation of space needed for entry halls, mechanical rooms, bathrooms, etc.Estimation of miscellaneous public- and staff-use space (special use space).Estimation of floor space needed for meeting rooms.Estimation of floor space needed by staff.Estimation of floor space needed to accommodate seating areas.Estimation of the collections provided by the library and the space needed to accommodate those provisions to meet the future needs of its users.Identification of the library's population of users.Non-assignable space (including mechanical space)Ĭareful analysis of the following will allow designers to determine the space needs for the seven general spaces listed above, which are common to public libraries:.Collection space (including public electronic workstation space).
There are seven broad types of public library space: Reference desk at Issaquah Public Library, Issaquah, WA by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Whereas, a public library that serves the needs of a community with a large population of elderly people will included design criteria to meet their needs, i.e., easy access into the building, adequate lighting, large-print media, etc.
For example, if a community has a large population of young children, which can result from a community with a high-quality elementary school system, the public library design must address the needs of children and how they use libraries, i.e., story-telling spaces, books within easy reach for children, nap areas, etc. The members of those communities are the service population of public libraries and their needs affect the design and planning of public library spaces. In contrast, academic libraries serve college and university faculty and students school libraries serve elementary, middle, and high school students and faculty and special libraries (such as Presidential Libraries) serve scholars and experts within narrowly defined fields.Īlthough public libraries serve the public at large, including those who are also served by other types of libraries, they are used primarily by members of the local community in which they are constructed and secondarily by members in communities in immediately outlying areas. Public libraries can be differentiated from academic, school, and special libraries because they function to serve the needs of a diverse service population including small children, students, professionals, and the elderly.
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