Kudos!

Thompson Library wins architectural award is a post from: EngLib

Any SLA member can publish on the Future Ready 365 blog, simply send 250 words (or so) on how they are future ready to futureready365@sla.org.

The New Academic Library Building
Posted on April 4, 2011. Tags: collaboration, design, flexibility, insights, services, space planning, space use, strategic, user-centered

by Catherine Lavallée-Welch, Florida & Caribbean Chapter, Academic, IT and Sci-Tech Divisions

Could you describe the design of an academic library constructed in 2016? It’s easy to imagine following current trends: emphasis on the learning process and the creation of a learning community, more collaborative work, the increasing amount of electronic resources, the use of technology, increased interdisciplinarity, accountability and sustainability.

What about designing the building for 2031? Or 2061? Today’s librarian in charge of designing a new building must cope with a library evolving at a rate faster than any time since Gutenberg.

Faced with such an opportunity, I recently attended a conference on library space planning and revitalization. My main takeaway was to put the emphasis on the infrastructure, and not on fixtures or furniture. Key components are flexible, multi-use space, lots of natural light, extensive electrical wiring and the presence of quiet study zones. The types of services offered and the roles and functions of librarians and staff are evolving.

The new library is a place that is used simultaneously physically and virtually; a place that permits users to participate and collaborate in a learning, scholarly community.

Should we mention the “p” word? Yes, there will be “print” collections. Some new libraries opt for a digital-only collection through extensive storage and digitizing. Other lean toward the digital-heavy approach – see Helen Josephine’s excellent post on this blog on the new Engineering Library at Stanford University. I believe that libraries will utilize select print monographs until publishers use business models for e-books that meet all libraries’ and users’ needs. Don’t hide your print books; use the stacks as architectural elements to create zones. Libraries still have a huge symbolic value and book stacks are the clearest representation of such.

Conference attendees had the opportunity to visit the recently renovated Thompson Library at the Ohio State University. With large glass walls, the book tower is a prime visual focus. However, the building stays user-centered with a variety of seating areas for individual, communal and collaborative work.

I spoke to students about their library habits. A finance junior admitted to not checking out books and rarely using the electronic resources. Still, he chooses the library to study over myriad options spread over the campus. He found when students go to the library, it’s to hunker down, get to work and study seriously. It’s the building – and the atmosphere within – that attracts him.

User studies offer one of the best ways to develop the library design. Users are usually thrilled to be a part of the process and the studies provide insights into unarticulated needs. Don’t limit recruitment to library staff, student workers or your regular users. Most important are the people who are not currently using your library.

What is keeping them away? What tools, spaces or services are you missing? What will convince them to utilize the facility? Don’t neglect to poll the school’s administration. What are the organizational strategic goals?

Gather input beyond surveys and focus groups. You can use design charrettes; usage observation; user diaries; photo surveys; usage mapping; interviews outside the library; late-night residence hall visits; reply cards left around the facility, etc.

Campus space is at a premium and financial resources are scarce. This situation may continue for a long time. Rest assured though that success in the short and long term will go to the flexible academic library closely aligned with user and organization culture and goals.

Catherine Lavallée-Welch is the Director of the University of South Florida Polytechnic Library. One of her current projects is planning and design of a library and learning commons for her institution’s new campus. Catherine is a board member of the Florida and Caribbean Chapter and of the Academic Division. She’s a candidate for Division Cabinet Chair-Elect for the 2012 SLA Board of Directors.

The New Academic Library Building is a post from: EngLib

Found via the Libology Blog, a program at the University of Florida Smathers Libraries are doing just that.

• An item with a Virtual Bookplate from the University of Florida Smathers Libraries, which utilizes an 856 MARC field link to the virtual bookplate.
• A search box on their Donor web page gives donors (and others) an easy way to locate the donated items.
• The virtual bookplate for the item.
• A presentation on Slideshare (14 slides) providing an overview of their process.  

Simple, elegant and more visible. Yes, some time is still needed to design the bookplates and I would still have to work out the financial processes with the administration AND the cataloging issues with the powers that be. However, I’ll keep this idea in mind.

Virtual bookplates is a post from: EngLib

Is this a increasing trend or is it more covered by the media? While I think the students have good intentions, the possibility of injury is present (crowd surfing, jumping off the building like at UTC). And, how does the event ends? At UNC, the crowd seemed to disperse rapidly on its own. At UTC, security shot mace over the crowd. At UK, someone pulled the fire alarm. Do you know of a library emergency plan that cover that situation?

Another library flash mob is a post from: EngLib

• Concordia University Libraries, in Montréal, Qué is using a web form (?) to gather comments and publishes responses via a blog. Questions/comments and answers are coming at a good clip. The Libraries administration actually uses the comments to improve services (as evidenced by double-sided printed by default and a Working Group on Noise)
• Western Washington University, in Bellingham, WA held a “14 Days to have your say” event this past spring. They open up a blog where students could just say what they wanted about the libraries for a two-week period. Students could also comment on other posts. The libraries provided input and comment after the period and offered a report on what’s been acted on and addressed.

I’m interested in these initiatives because it has proved difficult to get my users’ opinions (I’m not naive enough to believe they don’t have any comments to make about the library). We have a webform that has basically been unused. The Facebook discussion board is silent as well. Sometimes, students will comment to the evening student assistant but do not wish to put their comments in writing. Maybe turning the thing into an event could bring the comments out, short of organized surveys or focus groups.

Comments to libraries is a post from: EngLib

Arabian Library, Scottsdale Public Library, Scottsdale, Arizona
richard+bauer architecture, LLC
about the project

C.V. Starr East Asian Library, University of California Berkeley
Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
about the project

Chongqing Library, Chongqing, China
Perkins Eastman

Biblioteca Central Estatal Wigberto Jiménez Moreno, León, Guanajuato, Mexico
Pei Partnership Architects LLP

NYPL Francis Martin Library, Bronx, New York
1100 Architect, P.C. (not a direct link to the project)

Gentry Public Library, Gentry, Arkansas
Marlon Blackwell Architect
about the project

Minneapolis Central Library, Minneapolis
Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
about the project

Palo Verde Library / Maryvale Community Center, Phoenix
Gould Evans Associates + Wendell Burnette Architects (no direct links to the project)
about the project

2009 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards is a post from: EngLib

Because of the size of the system and its importance as a research library, this should be a very interesting process for anyone who works in an academic/research library system. No doubt a multi-year effort.

Harvard Libraries Provost calls for improved libraries is a post from: EngLib

A few months ago, I gave a seminar using synchronous electronic classroom software (Elluminate). While I was presenting my slides, the chat room was full of questions and back and forth among the participants. It was a bit distracting for me. However, it permitted some participants to answer other’s questions without having to interrupt me to get access to the microphone (and helped me in the process because I didn’t have answers for all of them). It permitted participants to create relationships and compare their experience. I imagine a Twitter back-channel to be very similar to this experience.

Twitter and presentations is a post from: EngLib

List of libraries on Twitter is a post from: EngLib

It made me wondered though about cats in academic libraries. So I started looking and found this map listing library cats around the world. It’s produced by Gary Roma, who once filmed a documentary on the very subject entitled Puss in Books. Turns out most felines are in public libraries, but there are/were a few in colleges and universities.

As for my present library, it would not be a good environment for a cat, although it is small library – most likely too small. I wouldn’t be too sure about the future either. Maybe an aquarium in a quiet study area would fly better. Where is the map for those?

Library cats is a post from: EngLib

And the top three are:

#1 Georgia State University Sued by Publishers over E-Reserves
#2 Harvard’s OA Mandate
#3 The Google Book Search Settlement

Top 10 news in academics libraries by LJ is a post from: EngLib

Since then though, the collections focus has been greatly broadened to include the arts, business, literature and social sciences. But I bet the special collections still have great technical and scientific books. Borrowing is reserved to members but tours are open to non-members.

Mechanics’ Institute Library is a post from: EngLib

The editors of Library Journal need your help in identifying the emerging leaders in the library world. The sixth annual Movers & Shakers supplement will profile 50-plus up-and-coming individuals from across the United States and Canada who are innovative, creative, and making a difference. From librarians to vendors to others who work in the library field, Movers & Shakers 2007 will celebrate the new professionals who are moving our libraries ahead. The deadline for submissions is November 1, 2006.

You can use the online form at http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6358087.html [warning: print out a copy before you submit, in case your submission fails and everything you wrote vanishes]. Or, if you prefer, print out the PDF
http://www.libraryjournal.com/contents/pdf/LJMoveShakeForm.pdf and return it to Ann Kim at LJ, 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010, or fax to 646-746-6734.

Nominations of sci-tech moving and shaking librarians would be greatly appreciated by Ms. Block and her colleagues. The deadline is November 1st.

Movers and Shakers sci-tech librarians wanted is a post from: EngLib

New format for the job postings is a post from: EngLib

Sorry for the hiccups… is a post from: EngLib

The Linda Hall Library has a blog is a post from: EngLib

I’ve started updating the job openings listing. I should have new content for the central column soon as well.

Back from vacation is a post from: EngLib

• the 7.2 issue of LiveWire, the ACS newsletter for librarians features an article by Emily Wixson in the form of a blog. The title of the post/article is Promoting chemistry librarianship through library science graduate school practicum experiences: field projects to inspire future chemistry librarians. Readers are invited to leave their comments.
• Linda Eells is conducting a survey on the factors on the recruitement and retention of science librarians. You will find her research statement in the extended entry.

From an email sent by Linda Eells to various listserves:

Colleagues:

Please excuse any duplication or cross posting. I am trying to reach as many practicing science and technology librarians and information professionals (post-MLS) as possible.

Please share your educational background and work experience with me by completing a short survey! The results will be used in a study designed to refine the focus of sci-tech librarian recruitment initiatives, and identify new venues in which to advertise science librarianship as a challenging, rewarding career choice. In addition, results could prove useful in identifying useful or important education and experience requirements to include in job descriptions, and help identify factors important in retaining those highly qualified individuals hired as a result.

Participation involves the completion of a short online survey requiring an estimated 10-15 minutes of your time. Please note that completing the survey is voluntary, and responses do not identify specific individuals or their institutions. All responses will be published in aggregate form.
The survey is available at:

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2252DS5KPCM

I will collect responses until March 13, 2006.

Thank you!

Linda Eells
Science Librarian
Entomology, Fisheries and Wildlife Library University of Minnesota
612-624-4799
mailto:lle@umn.edu

Promoting science librarianship is a post from: EngLib

I would like to bring your attention to one candidate in particular, James Manasco, who’s running for Chapter-Cabinet Chair-Elect. I’ve had the pleasure to work with James in the Kentucky Chapter of SLA and later, as a colleague, at my old employer, the University of Louisville. He’s a member of the Sci-Tech, PAM and IT divisions (I do believe he was also in the past a member of Engineering and Biomedical & Life Sciences divisions as well). I think James is most qualified for the position he’s running for, as he’s very engaged in the future of the Association and in the good working of its chapters – take into account his leadership role in the Kentucky Chapter’s proposition about new management and retention methods to the Chapter Cabinet of SLA that lead to the dues restructuring. Plus, he’s the poster boy for conviviality, affability and hard work. His office decorating style is above par too

Voting ends March 3rd; please consider James’ candidacy during this period.

SLA vote starts today is a post from: EngLib

In Houston is a post from: EngLib