Brewer Reading Summary for January 24, 2012

A Whole Systems Approach:

Rebekkah Smith Aldrich speaks of using the “IBD” or Integrated Building Design approach of working together  in a collaborative process,  putting every dollar you have to good use while making the necessary updates, renovations or building new library facilities.  This article also spoke of bringing the experts together in the beginning and conception of the project breaking down silos and listening to each idea…. Resulting at the “whole systems” approach.   Rebekkah also spoke of libraries using the “greenwave” practice because it makes sense and how there will be the reward of saing money long after the project is finished.

Shifting Spaces:

“Library Journal” hosts a day -long seminar with over 100 librarians, vendors and architects to brainstorm about challenges with renovations, new construction and additions to existing facilities.  There was a particular attention paid to rural vs. urban arriving that rural activity is a bit slower.  Architects led breakout sessions for various library challenges, using unusual approaches and tools to draw out issues while arriving at amazing solutions for the libraries in need.  This conference is in South Carolina and responds to changing technology and how that factors into user needs for libraries and the constant changes.  Once again forming partnerships and teaming up for greater brainstorming ability was recognized as important.  Green approaches were used again with a special focus on costs.  This article stressed you have to be flexible and understand things will keep changing while you have to be up to the challenges and ready to address in the best interest of the community.  One example I paid close attention to was Eastern Shore Public Library VA where they were given land for a facility double their old space….but…the project had to be completed in five years and they had to raise the funding for the construction and etc. beyond the land.  This teaming came up with wonderful ideas how to meet the challenges and utilize the space to greatest ability.

The Quiet Plug Crisis:

Michael Kelley addresses how libraries everywhere are having to find ways to meet the need for electrical outlet demand for patrons laptops and mobile devices…all a part of emerging technologies.  A strong constant from various people who were engaged by the Library Journal survey…was how expensive it is to update and expand these capabilities.  Michael pointed out university libraries have a great need for collaborative work with students…while public libraries do not see as much of this…in particular they serve a greater crowd who can’t afford the broadband service and equipment and eagerly look to the public library for this solution. 

Common and growing solutions to the outlet needs were new furniture that provides expanded electrical outlets via chairs, trough tables and raised floors that provide easy update ability as needed.  I know for one of our large groups PAGR is involved in renovations and we too are utilizing the “teaming” approach of bringing together the best at the conception to determine the best new open floor plan, visiting other recent similar updates and hoping to arrive at a new plan to entice our employees while getting the best cost efficient facility as possible.