A Libris Design workshop is scheduled for April 24 & 25 in San Francisco. Registration is on the Infopeople website.
Did you know that an estimated 30% of library customers live within a two mile radius of their library and that juvenile use decreases outside of a one mile radius? Beyond 10 to 15 miles or 30 minutes of travel time, use diminishes even in rural areas. Distance may decrease use in high income areas where residents may opt to purchase the material instead of spending travel time; and library use may decrease in low income areas when residents are required to pay for transportation.
GeoLib, a division of the Florida State University College of Information, provides a wealth of information on library facility siting and geographical and marketing research in determining the best site. The Libris Design publication, Site Selection for Libraries, includes a useful checklist for evaluating potential sites.
Remember, a good library that is out of sight may well be out of mind.
Rolling Prairie Library Executive Director Beverly J. Obert writes “Welcome to 2006, a new year, a clean slate just waiting for new ideas and plans to take shape. What are your New Year’s resolutions for your library? Whatever you wish to do, planning is the first crucial step…Last fall, I was privileged to attend a workshop on Libris Design. This is a software program developed by the California State Library through an LSTA Grant. By using this massive access database, you can design a library down to the smallest detail….In the end you can print out reports that show exactly what is in each area, the furniture and space needs, collection space and approximate cost. This is a very powerful and versatile tool.”
Beverly attended the Libris Design workshop which was sponsored by the North Suburban Library System last September. Over 600 librarians and library planners are now trained in the use of Libris Design.
New libraries posted to the Recently Constructed Libraries database include Rohnert Park, Livermore, Vineland in San Jose, Buena Vista in Burbank, Central Park Library in Santa Clara, Mission Valley in San Diego and Saratoga in Santa Clara County. We invite you to take a virtual tour of these magnificent new buildings and to share your new library by posting to this site.
Collection Preservation. The collection is your library’s single largest asset. All library facilities should be designed to maximize protection against major losses, including earthquake, fire, water damage, and theft. Addressing these needs early in the planning process can help to minimize the risk of catastrophic loss. This topic is covered in depth in Collection Preservation in Library Facility Planning. Assistance with implementation of guidelines in this document is available from the California Preservation Program. See http://calpreservation.org for information on consulting services. For further information on collection preservation and disaster planning see the WebJunction Focus, Disaster Planning and Recovery in Libraries.
