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Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners Resource Guide Collection

Developing a Library Building Program: Area Descriptions

Patience says:

The area descriptions should be written as independently as possible from your present building, even if the building is to be retained. Don't preconceive where things 'ought to be' in an addition/renovation ...try to describe the 'ideal' library areas appropriate for your community, and don't tie them to the limits of your existing building.

Area Descriptions

Make a list of all the rooms and spaces you want in your new facility: lobby, circulation desk, picture book collection, director's office, etc. Don't limit yourself to the types of space you currently have; add new spaces, both "needed" and "wanted" ones -- see the list at right for suggestions. Trim existing rooms that are unnecessary or superfluous. Don't worry about square footage or relative importance yet.

Once you have your list, you can use standard square footage numbers (such as those in the ALA's Building Blocks for Planning Functional Library Space, 3rd ed., Scarecrow Press) to estimate the ideal size for each area. For collections, make sure you are taking into account current trends, such as smaller Reference and Nonfiction areas and expanded nonprint collections.

Describe requirements for relationships (see also Adjacencies), occupancy, general design, seating & other furniture, equipment, lighting and acoustics.

A sheet something like this one should be filled out for each area:

Summary Table

One of the requirements for the MPLCP grant program is the inclusion of a "summary of facility space requirements in the form of a table." The link below leads to an Excel spreadsheet with a suggested format, including formulas for total square footage and reader seats. The chart uses the complete list of spaces shown at right; feel free to edit it to fit your needs.

Rooms & Areas

Entrance/Lobby
Circulation Desk
Circulation Workroom
Automated Sort
Self-Check(s)
Photocopier(s)
Browsing/New
A/V Materials
Current Periodicals
Internet Computers
Reference
Reference Office
Adult Seating
Adult Nonfiction
Adult Fiction
Local History
Teen
Tween
Children's Room
   Service Desk
   Preschool Area
   School-Age Area
   Program Room
   Office/Workroom
Café
Meeting Room(s)
Meeting Room Kitchenette
Meeting Room Storage
Multipurpose Room
Conference Room
Board Room
Quiet Study Room(s)
Group Study Room(s)
Classroom
Art Display/Gallery
Periodical Backfile
Director's Office
Administration Office
Technical Services
Delivery/Receiving
Custodial Office/Workroom
Server/Network Room
Staff Break Room
Friends/Book Sale