LIBRARY
A MODEL LIBRARY HAS THE
A LIBRARY CAN BE CONSIDERED A STORE –
HOUSE OF KNOWLEDGE. IN DICTIONARIES THE WORD
“LIBRARY” HAS BEEN DEFINED AS “A BUILDING OR
ROOM CONTAINING A COLLECTION OF BOOKS”. A
LIBRARY RENDERS A GREAT SERVICE TO THE SOCIETY.
THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES
MAINTAINED BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES
THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND.
A LIBRARY PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE
IN PROMOTING THE PROGRESS OF KNOWLEDGE.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO LOVE READING. BUT
THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO BUY BOOKS BECAUSE THE
PRICES OF BOOKS ARE VERY HIGH. SO, WHEN ONE
BECOMES A MEMBER OF A LIBRARY, HE CAN
BORROW VALUABLE BOOKS. A MEMBER CAN
BORROW TWO BOOKS AT A TIME AND HE CAN KEEP
IT WITH HIM FOR TWO WEEKS. LIBRARIES ARE
PARTICULARLY USEFUL FOR POOR CHILDREN. EVEN
THOSE WHO ARE BETTER OFF CAN’T AFFORD TO BUY
ALL THE BOOKS THEY REQUIRE FOR THEIR STUDIES.
FOR INSTANCE, INVALUABLE BOOKS LIKE
ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND LARGE DICTIONARIES CANNOT
BE PURCHASED.
A PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A PLACE THAT IS OPEN
TO POOR AND RICH ALIKE. THERE ARE MAINLY TWO
SECTIONS IN A LIBRARY. THEY ARE THE LENDING
SECTION AND THE REFERENCE SECTION. ANY
MEMBER CAN BORROW BOOKS FROM THE LENDING
SECTION. NONMEMBERS TOO CAN USE THE
REFERENCE SECTION. THEY ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER
THE SECTION FREE OF CHARGE. THEY CAN
TAKEDOWN NOTES FROM THE BOOKS. IN ADDITION
TO THESE TWO SECTIONS, THERE IS ANOTHER
SECTION IN A LIBRARY. HERE ANY ONE CAN DO HIS OR
HER STUDIES UNDER A CALM AND QUIET
ENVIRONMENT. THIS SECTION IS CALLED “THE STUDY
ROOM”. SOME STUDENTS FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO
DO THEIR STUDIES AT THEIR HOMES DUE TO VARIOUS
REASONS. THIS SECTION IS PARTICULARLY USEFUL
FOR SUCH STUDENTS.
A LIBRARY IS VERY USEFUL FOR RURAL
YOUTHS TOO. IF THEY TAKE TO READING THEY WILL
BE ABLE TO REFRAIN FROM EVIL HABITS SUCH AS
LOITERING AND GAMBLING. THERE ARE NOT ONLY
BOOKS, BUT ALSO NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES,
PERIODICALS AND GOVERNMENT GAZETTE IN A
LIBRARY.
IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE FACTS IT IS
APPARENT THAT A LIBRARY IS A VERY IMPORTANT
PLACE IN THE SOCIETY.
CHARCTERISTICS OF A LIBRARY
LIBRARY ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL SPACE
IN ORDER FOR A LIBRARY TO FUNCTION WELL, IT
NEEDS TO HAVE ADEQUATE SPACE THAT IS WELL
ORGANIZED AND PLEASANTLY PRESENTED TO SERVE
THE COMMUNITY.
FOLLOWING PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
 SUFFICIENT WORK AREAS THAT CAN BE
ARRANGED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
VARIOUS USERS, ORGANIZED BOOK STACKS
THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO USERS AND
PLENTY OF LIGHT TO READ AND WORK.
 SPECIAL DISPLAY AREAS THAT INVITE
EXPLORATION, DISCOVERY AND A LOVE
FOR LEARNING. THEY CAN RANGE FROM
INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT AND
HISTORICAL EVENTS TO THEMATIC
DISPLAYS OF BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY’S
COLLECTION.
 SPECIAL ACTIVITY CORNERS, SUCH AS A
CHILDREN’S CORNER, AUTHOR’S CORNER
OR GAMES CORNER, WHERE THE LIBRARY’S
PATRONS CAN PARTICIPATE IN
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN AN ENGAGING
ENVIRONMENT.
 DECORATIONS AND DISPLAYS THAT CREATE
A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. THEY CAN
REFLECT THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL
CULTURE, REINFORCE ACADEMIC CONTENT
OR PROVIDE INFORMATION TO LIBRARY
PATRONS.
ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
A MODEL LIBRARY IS WELL STAFFED AND WELL
MANAGED. THAT INCLUDES HAVING TRAINED
LIBRARIANS WHO ARE CUSTOMER-SERVICE
ORIENTED AND SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT THE
DIVERSE INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
A MODEL LIBRARY HAS THE FOLLOWING
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN PLACE:
 THE LIBRARY DEVELOPS AND MANAGES AN
INVENTORY OF BOOKS THAT REPRESENT
THE NEEDS OF THE POPULATION SERVED.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LIBRARY SHOULD HAVE
A GOOD COLLECTION OF FICTION AND
STORYBOOKS TO ENGAGE YOUNG
READERS, SUFFICIENT REFERENCE AND
TEXTBOOKS FOR STUDENTS TO DO
HOMEWORK AND FIND ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS THAT PEAK THEIR CURIOSITY,
RESOURCES ON VOCATIONAL OR HOME
ISSUES, AND BOOKS ON LOCAL, NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS.
 THE LIBRARY’S BOOK COLLECTION
IS INVENTORIED AND CATALOGED IN A
REGULARLY UPDATED DATABASE AND
SYSTEMS ARE IN PLACE TO TRACK BOOKS
BORROWED AND RETURNED, AS WELL AS
NUMBERS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
USERS.
 LIBRARIANS DO REGULAR PLANNING,
EVALUATION AND MONITORING SO THAT
THE LIBRARY HAS SUFFICIENT
INFORMATION TO IMPROVE ITS SERVICES,
IMPLEMENT NEW PROGRAMS AND
 IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF THESE
ACTIVITIES
 THE LIBRARY’S HUMAN AND MATERIAL
RESOURCES ARE MANAGED TO PROVIDE
ITS PATRONS THE BEST POSSIBLE ACCESS
TO ITS SERVICES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE
LIBRARY HAS ESTABLISHED REGULAR
HOURS WITH SUFFICIENT STAFFING,
PROVIDES OPEN BOOK STACKS TO ENABLE
BROWSING AND DISCOVERY AND OFFERS
PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES TO THE
COMMUNITY
 THE LIBRARY HAS CREATED AN ADEQUATE
BUDGET THAT ALLOWS IT TO MANAGE ITS
RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS. THE LIBRARY
ACTIVELY DEVELOPS ITS OWN SOURCES OF
FUNDING AND VOLUNTEER SUPPORT.
 THE LIBRARY USES APPROPRIATE
TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS COMPUTERS,
PHOTOCOPIERS, PRINTERS, INTERNET OR
OTHER AUDIOVISUAL AIDS THAT HELP THE
LIBRARY BEST SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
 LIBRARY PERSONNEL ARE TRAINED TO
ASSIST PATRONS WHO VISIT THE LIBRARY
FOR PERSONAL OR ACADEMIC REASONS
AND CAN PROVIDE ORIENTATION TO
VISITORS ABOUT HOW THE LIBRARY RUNS,
ITS RULES AND ITS SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
A MODEL LIBRARY PROVIDES A VARIETY OF
PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT LEARNING AND LITERACY
AND HELP BRING THE COMMUNITY INTO THE
LIBRARY. LIBRARY PROGRAMS MAY INCLUDE
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES:
 BOOK LENDING PROGRAMS THAT MAKE
BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUAL USERS
TO CHECK OUT AND TAKE HOME AS WELL
INTER-LIBRARY LOANS AND BOOK SHARING
PROGRAMS WITH SCHOOLS THAT GET THE
LIBRARY’S RESOURCES INTO THE
COMMUNITY.
 LITERACY PROGRAMS THAT HELP
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IMPROVE THEIR
ABILITY TO READ, WRITE, DEVELOP
CRITICAL THINKING AND ANALYTICAL
SKILLS, AND INSTILL A LOVE FOR READING,
WRITING AND LEARNING. THESE MAY
INCLUDE A WEEKLY READ-ALOUD STORY
HOUR FOR KIDS, BOOK CLUBS OR THE
ADVENTURES IN READING SCHOOL BREAK
READING PROGRAM.
 OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT HELP THE
COMMUNITY DISCOVER HOW THEY CAN
ACCESS SERVICES AT A LIBRARY. THESE CAN
INCLUDE A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES SUCH AS
HOSTING A BOOTH AT COMMUNITY
EVENTS, CREATING BOOK BOXES THAT CAN
BE USED IN CLASSROOMS, HOSTING
SEMINARS ON ISSUES OF INTEREST OR
OTHER NEEDED COMMUNITY SERVICES
LIKE VACCINATION OR VOTING LOCATIONS.
 LIBRARY EXCHANGE ACTIVITIES THAT HELP
DEVELOP A PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY
OF LIBRARIANS WITHIN A REGION AND
PROMOTE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
LIBRARIES. THIS COMMUNICATION
FACILITATES SKILL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL
AS THE ENRICHMENT OF SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS THROUGH THE SHARING OF
IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES.
 THE LIBRARY ACTIVELY ENGAGES
THE SUPPORT AND INPUT OF MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY AND RECRUITS LOCAL
VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST IN THE OPERATION
OF THE LIBRARY, FOR EXAMPLE THROUGH
THE CREATION OF COMMUNITY LIBRARY
COMMITTEES.
THE SITE
IMPORTANT CRITERIA SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
IN LIBRARY SITE SELECTION :
1. THE SITE SHOULD BE PROMINENT . A
CORNER SITE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION
WHERE THE LIBRARY CAN EASILY BE SEEN IS
PREFERRED . MAXIMUM USE SHOULD BE
MADE OF DISPLAY WINDOWS AND VIEWS
OF THE INTERIOR .
2. THE SITE SHOULD PERMIT STREET LEVEL
ENTRANCE. ALTHOUGH A SITE THAT SLOPES
TO THE REAR HAS CERTAIN ADVANTAGES, A
LEVEL SITE SHOULD BE ACQUIRED IF
POSSIBLE .
3. THE SITE SHOULD BE LARGE ENOUGH FOR
EXPANSION, ACCESSIBILITY FOR SERVICE
VEHICLES AND BOOKMOBILES, AND A
MODEST AMOUNT OF LANDSCAPING.
4. THE SITE SHOULD PERMIT ORIENTATION OF
THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING TO THE NORTH
IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE GLARE FROM THE
SUN . WHEN THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE,
ORIENTATION TO THE EAST IS THE SECOND
CHOICE. HOWEVER, AN OTHERWISE
EXCELLENT, CENTRALLY LOCATED SITE
SHOULD NOT BE ELIMINATED FOR LACK OF
APPROPRIATE ORIENTATION . MODERN
YEAR AROUND TEMPERATURE CONTROL
DEVICES AND ARTIFICIAL LIGHT CAN BE USED
EFFECTIVELY TO MINIMIZE SUN EXPOSURE
PROBLEMS .
5. RECTANGULAR SERVICE AREAS WITHIN A
BUILDING LEND THEMSELVES TO EASY
SUPERVISION. AS A RESULT, A SITE WHICH IS
RECTANGULAR IN SHAPE AND PERMITS
CONSTRUCTION OF A RECTANGULAR
BUILDING SHOULD BE OBTAINED IF
POSSIBLE.
6. IDEALLY, A SITE SHOULD HAVE UNIFORM
FOUNDATION CONDITIONS, EITHER ROCK
OR SOIL . TEST BORINGS SHOULD BE MADE,
PREFERABLY BEFORE A SITE IS PURCHASED .
 CERTAIN OTHER CONDITIONS SHOULD BE MET IF
THE COMMUNITY IS TO BE ADEQUATELY SERVED .
FIRST, THE LIBRARY SHOULD BE LOCATED
REASONABLY NEAR ADEQUATE AUTOMOBILE
PARKING . SECOND, PARKING PROVISIONS SHOULD
BE MADE FOR BOOKMOBILES, OTHER OFFICIAL
LIBRARY VEHICLES, AND LIBRARY STAFF MEMBERS .
THIRD, AUTOMOBILE ACCESS TO DRIVE-IN SERVICE
WINDOWS SHOULD BE PROVIDED WHERE THIS
FEATURE HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE
LIBRARY BUILDING DESIGN .
ALTHOUGH EMPHASIS HAS BEEN PLACED ON
ACQUIRING A SITE WHICH WOULD BE LARGE
ENOUGH TO PERMIT EASY HORIZONTAL EXPANSION,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT UNDER CERTAIN
CONDITIONS PURCHASE
OF A STRATEGICALLY LOCATED SMALLER SITE CAN BE
JUSTIFIED PROVIDED THERE IS ENOUGH SPACE TO
LOCATE PRIMARY ADULT PUBLIC SERVICE AREAS AT
STREET LEVEL . BOTH NORFOLK AND DALLAS ACTED
ACCORDINGLY WHEN THEY ACQUIRED THEIR CHOICE
DOWNTOWN SITES . IN BOTH INSTANCES,
MULTISTORY BUILDINGS WERE ERECTED WITH
PROVISION MADE FOR VERTICAL EXPANSION .
TYPES
 COMMUNITY | PRIMARILY LENDING BOOKS
TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN, AND WITH A
GENERAL REFERENCE SECTION. CURRENT
TREND IS TOWARDS LARGER CENTRAL
LIBRARIES WITH BRANCH SATELLITES; RURAL
AREAS ARE OFTEN SERVED BY MOBILE
UNITS.
 SPECIULISED | PRIMARILY USED FOR
REFERENCE, WITH SMALL LOAN SECTION.
 UNIVERSITY | USED FOR REFERENCE AND
RESEARCH; COLLECTIONS CONTINUALLY
GROWING.
SCHEDULE OF ACCOMMODATION AND DETAILED
DESIGN
 PUBLIC SERVICES | A CENTRAL LIBRARY MAY
SERVE IN THE REGION OF ONE MILLION
CUSTOMERS PER YEAR, WITH A PEAK DAILY
COUNT OF APPROXIMATELY 5000 TO 6000
PEOPLE AND A PEAK HOURLY COUNT OF UP
TO 400.
 BRANCH LIBRARY | MAY BE INCLUDED AS A
DISCRETE SECTION OF A CENTRAL LIBRARY,
PROBABLY NEAR THE ENTRANCE, AND
CATER FOR MORE POPULAR BOOKS AND
RELATED MATERIAL. THERE WILL BE ONLY A
FEW THOUSAND VOLUMES, ACTING AS A
‘TASTER’ INVITATION TO WHAT IS
AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE IN THE LIBRARY. THE
LIBRARY MAY BE DIVIDED INTO SUBJECT
AREAS, PERHAPS WITH DEFINED ENQUIRY
POINTS. STUDY SPACES, BROWSING AREAS,
AND PUBLICLY AVAILABLE COMPUTER
TERMINALS CAN ALSO BE PROVIDED IN
EACH SUBJECT AREA. THE VARIOUS AREAS
MAY BE OPEN PLAN, BUT MUST BE VISUALLY
DEFINED (POSSIBLY BY VARIATIONS IN
LIGHTING, DIFFERENT FINISHES AND
PLANTING).
 OLDER TEENAGE SECTION | AN AREA FOR
THIS GROUP IS DESIRABLE (FICTION AND
NON-FICTION) AND SHOULD BE LOCATED
BETWEEN THE CHILDREN’S LIBRARY AND
MAIN LENDING LIBRARY (LITERATURE AND
HUMANITIES SECTIONS).
 CHILDREN’S LIBRARY | OCCUPYING
APPROXIMATELY 300 M2, WITH ROUGHLY
12000 VOLUMES FOR AGES UP TO 14 AND
THEIR CARERS, THIS AREA SHOULD HAVE ITS
OWN IDENTITY, AND DEMONSTRATE TO ALL
CHILDREN THAT VISITING THE LIBRARY IS A
SAFE AND ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE. THERE
MUST BE GOOD VISIBILITY TO MAXIMISE
CHILD SECURITY AND SAFETY; IT SHOULD
ALSO BE DIFFICULT FOR CHILDREN TO
WANDER OUT OF THIS AREA.
THERE SHOULD BE A SEQUENCE OF
INFORMATION BOOKS FOR ALL AGES AND
SECTIONS FOR: PRE-SCHOOL (THERE
SHOULD BE ‘KINDERBOXES’, SHELVES WITH
PICTURE BOOKS, NOVELTY CUSHIONS, CHILD
CHAIRS)
 EARLY SCHOOL YEARS (EASY-READER
BOOKS, WITH APPROPRIATE SHELVES
AND BROWSER UNITS)
 PRIMARY SCHOOL YEARS (STORIES,
WITH APPROPRIATE SHELVES AND
BROWSER UNITS)
 YOUNG TEENAGE (NOVELS, WITH
APPROPRIATE SHELVES AND BROWSER
UNITS). SPOKEN-WORD CASSETTES AND
OTHER MEDIA SHOULD ALSO BE
AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, PROVIDE TEN
STUDY PLACES, EIGHT BROWSING SEATS
AND AN ENQUIRY DESK FOR TWO STAFF.
 CHILDREN‘S ACTIVITIES ROOM | A ROOM
FOR UP TO 35 CHILDREN MAY BE REQUIRED
FOR A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES (63M2).
 EXHIBITION AREA EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM
THE MAIN ENTRANCE, BUT WITH A DISTINCT
IDENTITY AND WITH SUITABLE SECURITY, AN
AREA FOR EXHIBITIONS IS DESIRABLE
(40M2).
 LAVATORIES THE REQUIREMENT FOR
CUSTOMERS IS 38M2 AND ALSO 15M2 FOR
THE CHILDREN’S LIBRARY, WHICH SHOULD
INCLUDE A NAPPY CHANGING ROOM.
DEPENDING ON THE OVERALL PLAN, ONE OR
TWO SETS OF STAFF LAVATORIES WILL BE
REQUIRED (EACH OF 32M2).
 MEETING ROOMS | INCLUDE ONE ROOM
FOR 100 PEOPLE (200M2 IN TOTAL), WITH
DIVIDER TO SEPARATE THE ROOM IN A
PROPORTION OF 60:40. CHAIR STORAGE
AND SIMPLE CATERING FACILITIES ARE ALSO
REQUIRED. A SMALL ROOM FOR ABOUT SIX
PEOPLE IS ALSO REQUIRED. ACCESS MAY BE
 REQUIRED WHEN OTHER PARTS OF THE
LIBRARY ARE SHUT; GOOD ACCESS FROM
ENTRANCE(S) IS THEREFORE REQUIRED.
 SPECIAL COLLECTION LIBRARY | THIS AREA
MAY BE REQUIRED IN LARGER OR
SPECIALISED LIBRARIES. AN ADJOINING
LIBRARIAN’S OFFICE IS NECESSARY.
 REFRESHMENT WITH COFFEE BAR | FOR 50
CUSTOMERS MAXIMUM, PROVIDING
DRINKS, SNACKS AND LIGHT MEALS (105M2).
 SALES POINT | AN AREA TO PROMOTE SALES
IS REQUIRED (THIS MAY BE NO MORE THAN
A DISPLAY CASE): THE STRATEGIC LOCATION
IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT MAY BE COMBINED
WITH ANOTHER AREA (13M2).
 STUDY DESKS | THESE SHOULD BE SUITABLE
FOR USE WITH PERSONAL COMPUTERS
(WHICH MAY BE THE CUSTOMER’S OWN
MACHINE, NECESSITATING SIMPLE PLUGIN
COMPATIBILITY). THE INTEGRATION OF PCS
WITH STUDY FURNITURE IS VERY
IMPORTANT. TWO POWER SOCKETS ARE
ALSO REQUIRED.
 ART IN ARCHITECTURE | LIBRARIES ARE
OFTEN CONSIDERED EXCELLENT PLACES IN
WHICH TO DISPLAY LOCAL (OR NATIONAL)
ART, EITHER IN THE FORM OF PERMANENT,
MURALS OR SCULPTURE, DESIGNED AS AN
INTEGRAL PART OF,THE BUILDING, OR IN
FACILITIES FOR TEMPORARY, EXHIBITIONS.
 SUBJECT DEPARTMENTS | ORGANIZATION
OF A LIBRARY INTO SUBJECT DEPARTMENTS
HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONSIDERATION; A
POSSIBLE ARRANGEMENT OF A CENTRAL
LIBRARY COULD TYPICALLY BE AS FOLLOWS:
 SPACES,
o BUSINESS | AT 184M2, THIS
DEPARTMENT CONTAINS 2100
VOLUMES COVERING ALL ASPECTS
OF BUSINESS INFORMATION
(LOCAL, NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL). CUSTOMERS
WILL INCLUDE: THOSE HOPING TO
SET UP THEIR OWN BUSINESS,
THOSE UNDERTAKING RESEARCH
TO DEVELOP THEIR EXISTING
BUSINESS, AND STUDENTS. SOME
QUERIES MAY COME VIA FAX OR
PHONE. COMPUTERISED
INFORMATION RESOURCES WILL
PROBABLY BE MORE PREVALENT
HERE THAN IN OTHER
DEPARTMENTS. INCLUDES 40
STUDY PLACES AND AN ENQUIRY
POINT FOR TWO STAFF.
o COMMUNITY | WITH 9000
VOLUMES (300M2), THIS HOLDS
SOCIAL SCIENCES AND ALL QUICK-
REFERENCE WORKS (E.G.
DIRECTORIES, YEARBOOKS,
TIMETABLES, ETC.). INCLUDES 30
STUDY PLACES AND AN ENQUIRY
DESK FOR THREE STAFF.
CUSTOMERS WILL BE COMING FOR
BOTH QUICK FACT-FINDING AND
FOR LONGER-TERM STUDY: ANY
POTENTIAL CONFLICT THEREFORE
NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.
o HUMANITIES | DEPARTMENT FOR
ARTS, RECREATIONAL PURSUITS
(E.G. GARDENING), RELIGION,
MUSIC (BOOKS AND SCORES),
SOUND RECORDINGS (MUSIC
CASSETTES AND COMPACT DISCS),
AND VIDEOS FOR HIRE. WITH
495M2, 22 000 VOLUMES, 9000
RECORDINGS (INCLUDING VIDEOS),
AND 10500 SHEET MUSIC.
INCLUDES 12 STUDY SPACES, FOUR
BROWSING SEATS AND AN
ENQUIRY DESK FOR THREE STAFF.
 NOTE THAT THERE IS A
NOISE PROBLEM WITH
CUSTOMERS BROWSING
THROUGH MUSIC CASES,
WHICH CAN BE
DISTRACTING IN THE
STUDY AREAS.
o LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE
DEPARTMENT FOR ADULT FICTION
(9000 VOLUMES), LARGE-PRINT
FICTION, SPOKENWORD
CASSETTES, MULTI-MEDIA, DRAMA
(9000 VOLUMES), SINGLE COPIES
AND PLAYSETS (286 M2), COVERING
ENGLISH AND FOREIGN
LANGUAGES. INCLUDES 12 STUDY
FOUR BROWSING
SEATSAND AN ENQUIRY DESK FOR
TWO STAFF.
o LOCAL STUDIES/HISTORY | 3000
VOLUMES ON PUBLIC SHELVES
(230M2); 50 STUDY PLACES;
ENQUIRY DESK FOR THREE STAFF.
THIS AREA WILL BE USED BY SHORT-
TERM BROWSERS (E.G. TOURISTS)
AND FOR LONG-TERM STUDY
(STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS). IT
WILL ALSO BE USED BY THOSE
WANTING INFORMATION ABOUT
LOCAL STATUTORY AGENCIES, AND
THOSE LOOKING FOR A QUIET
STUDY AREA.
o PEOPLE AND PLACES | FOR
INFORMATION BOOKS ON TRAVEL
(GUIDES AND TRAVEYADVENTURE),
BIOGRAPHIES, AND HUMAN
GEOGRAPHY. 15000 VOLUMES
(240M2); 15 STUDY PLACES; FOUR
BROWSING PLACES; ENQUIRY DESK
FOR TWO STAFF.
o SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY | AREA
WITH 11000 VOLUMES (200MZ),
COVERING COMPUTING AND PURE
AND APPLIED SCIENCES: 20 STUDY
 PLACES; NO BROWSING SEATS;
ENQUIRY DESK FOR TWO STAFF.
o ACCESS AND CIRCULATION AREAS
GENERALLY | AS MENTIONED
ABOVE, GENERALLY ALL PUBLIC
AND STAFF AREAS SHOULD BE
ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE
WITH SIGHT OR HEARING
IMPAIRMENTS.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
o CUSTOMER SERVICES/RECEPTION AN
INFORMAL AND WELCOMING
ATMOSPHERE IS REQUIRED, AS THIS IS
THE FIRST MAJOR POINT OF CONTACT
FOR NEW CUSTOMERS AND WHERE
EXISTING CUSTOMERS CAN RESOLVE
QUERIES (E.G. ABOUT AVAILABILITY AND
OVERDUE BOOKS); SPACE IS REQUIRED
FOR THREE STAFF (51M2). ESTIMATED
PEAK DAILY LEVEL OF REGISTRATION
UPDATES IS APPROXIMATELY 200;
ESTIMATED PEAK LEVEL OF INQUIRIES,
APPROXIMATELY 600. THE AREA SHOULD
ALLOW FOR SATISFACTORY QUEUING
ARRANGEMENTS. THE GENERAL LAYOUT
REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR: A DESTINATION AND THOSE WHO
PROFESSIONAL, INVITING AND EFFICIENT
RECEPTION AREA; CLEAR LAYOUT AND
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS;
MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY IN STAFF
RESOURCES; SUITABLE SUPERVISION OF
CUSTOMERS; AND SUITABLE STAFF
SECURITY.
o INTERNAL CIRCULATION | THE FLOW OF
PEOPLE AND MATERIALS (PARTICULARLY
THE TWO-WAY FLOW OF TROLLEYS)
SHOULD BE MADE AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.
NOTE THAT CIRCULATION AREAS
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
VANDALISM AND CONCEALMENT OF
THEFT, AND SHOULD THEREFORE: BE
KEPT TO A MINIMUM; FOLLOW A
LOGICAL ROUTE; ALLOW VISUAL
CONTROL BY STAFF (CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV
MAY BE INSTALLED); ALLOW
SEGREGATION OF STAFF AND PUBLIC
AREAS; ALLOW SEGREGATION TO
ENABLE SECURE OUTOF-HOURS USE TO
SPECIFIED AREAS; AND ALLOW EASY
EMERGENCY EVACUATION.
o INTERNAL VERTICAL CIRCULATION |
THIS SHOULD BE BY LIFT AND STAIRS,
AND POSSIBLY ESCALATOR. LIFTS
SHOULD: ALLOW MOVEMENT OF STAFF,
BOOKS AND MATERIALS TO ALL FLOOR
LEVELS; BE LINKED WITH THE BOOK
SORTING OFFICE; PROVIDE PUBLIC
ACCESS TO MAIN LENDING FLOORS;
PROVIDE SUITABLE ACCESS FOR OUT-OF-
HOURS USE. NO MORE THAN FOUR LIFTS
SHOULD BE PROVIDED.
o SECURITY GENERALLY THE KEY
CONSIDERATIONS CONCERN THE
CONTROL OF ACCESS BETWEEN STAFF
AND PUBLIC AREAS (BOTH DURING AND
OUTSIDE OPENING HOURS), AND
PREVENTION OF THEFT. THESE ISSUES
CAN BE ADDRESSED BY: STRATEGIC
LOCATION OF STAFF ENQUIRY POINTS,
WITH LINE-OF SIGHT CONTROL; CCTV
CAMERAS; ELECTRONIC BOOK SENSORS
AT EXIT POINTS; AND SECURITY
PERSONNEL.
o TROLLEYS ALLOWANCE MUST BE MADE
FOR TROLLEYS: FOR INSTANCE, BY
PROVIDING SUITABLE PROTECTION TO
PREVENT DAMAGE TO WALL SURFACES,
ADEQUATE DOOR WIDTHS, AND
SUITABLE FLOORING (STUDDED AND
RIBBED FLOORING IS NOT SUITABLE).
o ENTRY/ACCESS AREAS ONE MAIN
ENTRANCE AND TWO OTHERS ARE
REQUIRED, PREFERABLY SEPARATE:
o MAIN ENTRANCE FOYER/LOBBY: (
190M2) SHOULD BE CLEAR AND
INVITING, AND BE SUFFICIENTLY
SPACIOUS TO CATER BOTH FOR
VISITORS WHO HAVE A SPECIFIC
MAY WISH TO WANDER AROUND.
o PUBLIC OUT-OF-HOURS
ENTRANCE: MUST PROVIDE A
SHORT AND SECURE ACCESS ROUTE
FROM THE STREET TO THE
MEETING ROOMS ETC. IT COULD BE
COMBINED WITH THE MAIN
ENTRANCE, BUT A LIFT SOLELY FOR
OUT-OFF-HOURS USE IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE.
o STAFF/SERVICE ENTRANCE: TO BE
A SAFE AND SECURE AREA,
PARTICULARLY FOR STAFF LEAVING
AFTER DARK. (SEE ALSO ‘DELIVERY
AREA’ AND ‘COUNTERS’.) QUEUING
SPACE SHOULD BE ALLOWED FOR
40 PEOPLE TO WAIT (AT 0.5
M2/PERSON, 20M2 IS REQUIRED).
o IN-COUNTERS | (51M2) THERE WILL
BE ONE CENTRAL COUNTER FOR
THE WHOLE BUILDING, AFTER
WHICH CUSTOMERS WILL EITHER
MOVE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS,
MOVE TO CUSTOMER RECEPTION,
OR LEAVE. PEAK HOURLY LEVELS OF
CUSTOMERS ARE APPROXIMATELY
250-300, WITH A PEAK HOURLY
LEVEL OF RETURNS OF
APPROXIMATELY 1000 ITEMS.
SPACE IS REQUIRED FOR THREE
STAFF PLUS COMPUTER
TERMINALS FOR CUSTOMERS. THE
LAYOUT MUST ALLOW FOR CLEAR
AND DIRECT FLOWS.
 o OUT-COUNTERS | (38M2) ALL
ITEMS ISSUED OR RENEWED WILL
BE FROM THE OUT-COUNTER AND
THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE,
DEPENDING ON OVERALL LAYOUT.
NOTE THAT SOME CUSTOMERS
MAY WISH TO RETURN TO OTHER
AREAS OF THE LIBRARY (E.G. THE
COFFEE BAR) AFTER VISITING THE
OUTCOUNTER. PEAK LEVELS ARE AS
FOR THE IN-COUNTER. SPACE IS
REQUIRED FOR TWO STAFF PLUS
COMPUTER TERMINALS FOR
CUSTOMERS. THE LAYOUT MUST
ALLOW FOR CLEAR AND DIRECT
FLOWS: IN PARTICULAR,
CUSTOMERS NOT WISHING TO
BORROW ITEMS MUST BE ABLE TO
AVOID BECOMING INVOLVED WITH
THIS AREA.
o LIBRARY RETURNS BIN | THIS IS
REQUIRED IN THE ENTRANCE AREA
FOR RETURNS DURING TIMES
WHEN THE LIBRARY IS CLOSED. IT
MUST BE A SECURE UNIT.
o SELF-ISSUE TERMINALS | THE SPACE
REQUIRED IS 3 M2/TERMINAL AND AT
LEAST THREE TERMINALS ARE REQUIRED
AT VARIOUS POINTS IN THE LIBRARY.
o SMARTCARDS | THE INCLUSION OF A
‘SMARTCARD’ SYSTEM IS INCREASINGLY
LIKELY, TO ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO PAY
FOR SERVICES (E.G. PHOTOCOPYING,
OVERDUE CHARGES, BORROWING
VIDEOS, ETC.). THE MACHINES WILL BE
LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY.
o ADMIN AND STAFF ACCOMMODATION|
IN ADDITION TO A GENERAL ADMIN
OFFICE SPACE OF ROUGHLY 53M2,
PROVISION WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE
FOLLOWING.
o INQUIRY DESKS | THESE SHOULD
IDEALLY BE LOCATED SO THAT THEY
CAN SERVICE MORE THAN ONE
DEPARTMENT AT QUIET TIMES OR
DURING STAFF SHORTAGES.
o LIBRARIAN’S OFFICE | (20M2) THE
BASE FOR THE MANAGER IN
CHARGE OF THE WHOLE BUILDING,
THE ROOM MUST BE CLOSE TO THE
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND
INTERVIEW ROOMS. APART FROM
EVERYDAY MANAGERIAL TASKS,
THE ROOM WILL BE USED FOR
SMALL DISCUSSIONS WITH UP TO
TWO PEOPLE AND PROJECT WORK.
o LIBRARY MANAGER‘S OFFICE | (
13M2) THIS INCLUDES ONE OFFICE
FOR TWO ASSISTANTS, SHARED
DESK, AND ALSO ROOM FOR SMALL
MEETINGS OF ONE TO THREE
PEOPLE. PRIVACY IS NECESSARY,
ALTHOUGH EASY
ACCESS/OVERVIEW IS REQUIRED
FOR COUNTERS AND CUSTOMER
SERVICES. THE OFFICE SHOULD BE
LOCATED NEAR THE BRANCH
LIBRARY.
o DELIVERY AREA | (16M2) THERE
WILL BE A DAILY ‘IN’ DELIVERY OF
BOXES CONTAINING: BOOKS FROM
THIS LIBRARY, BUT RETURNED TO
OTHER LIBRARIES; BOOKS
REQUESTED FROM OTHER
LIBRARIES; AND NEW BOOKS. THE
‘OUT’ DELIVERY WILL BE OF BOOKS
SORTED IN THE SORTING OFFICE,
AND BOOKS REQUESTED BY OTHER
LIBRARIES. THIS AREA WILL ALSO
ACT AS A SHORT-TERM RECEPTION
AND DISPATCH AREA FOR OTHER
EQUIPMENT, FURNITURE,
EXHIBITION EQUIPMENT, ETC., AND
SUFFICIENT SPACE SHOULD BE
ALLOWED FOR THIS.
o INTERVIEW ROOM | (14M2) TO BE
USED BY ALL STAFF FOR PRIVATE
MEETINGS, APPRAISAL
INTERVIEWS, MEETING THE PUBLIC
AND RECRUITMENT INTERVIEWS,
THE ROOM MUST ACCOMMODATE
UP TO FOUR PEOPLE AND ENSURE
CONFIDENTIALITY IS MAINTAINED.
o LOCAL STUDIES RESERVE STACK | (
150M2) MOST LOCAL STUDIES
STOCK WILL BE REFERENCE ONLY,
IN CLOSED-ACCESS STORAGE
AREAS, OBTAINED BY STAFF ON
CUSTOMER REQUEST: ACCESS
SYSTEMS THEREFORE NEED TO BE
QUICK AND SIMPLE. A LOCAL
STUDIES WORKROOM (38M2) WILL
USUALLY BE REQUIRED ADJACENT
TO THE LOCAL STUDIES AREA.
o RESERVE STACKS | (155M2)
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF STOCK WILL
BE HOUSED IN CLOSED-ACCESS
ROLLING STACK STORAGE,
INCLUDING: SEASONAL OVERFLOW
(FEWER ITEMS ARE BORROWED
DURING THE SUMMER AND OVER
CHRISTMAS); REFERENCE STOCK;
MUSIC SETS; PLAYSETS. THE
WEIGHT OF ROLLING STACK
STORAGE IS SUBSTANTIAL AND
WILL NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO
ACCOUNT IN STRUCTURAL
CALCULATIONS.
o SECURE AREA FOR EXHIBITS | A
SECURE STORAGE AREA IS
REQUIRED, WITH EASY ACCESS TO
BOTH THE DELIVERY AREA AND THE
EXHIBITION AREA. SECURITY
CONTROL ROOM | (17M2) THIS
ACTS AS THE BASE FOR CONTROL
ATTENDANTS, AND FOR THE
CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV SYSTEM.
o SORTING OFFICE | (63M2)
REQUIRED FOR SORTING ALL
RETURNS. THE MAIN DIVISIONS
ARE: FOR RETURN (BY TROLLEY) TO
THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS; FOR
RETURN TO OTHER LIBRARIES; FOR
SPECIAL REQUESTS (E.G.
CUSTOMER RESERVATIONS); AND
FOR PARTICULAR PROCESSES (E.G.
BOOK REPAIR). WALL SHELVING
FOR 1000 ITEMS IS REQUIRED FOR
TEMPORARY STORAGE DURING
PEAK FLOWS OR STAFF
SHORTAGES. THIS AREA ALSO ACTS
AS A SUPERVISORY AREA FOR THE
COUNTERS AND THE CUSTOMER
RECEPTION, ALLOWING THE EASY
ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL STAFF
WHEN NECESSARY AND FOR
GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING
DUTIES.
o STAFF ROOM | (115M2) WITH A
TOTAL STAFF OF APPROXIMATELY
50, THE STAFF ROOM SHOULD
ACCOMMODATE SEATING FOR 30
AND ALSO BE SUITABLE FOR
RELAXATION, SOCIAL GATHERINGS
AND INFORMAL MEETINGS.
DURING SPECIAL EVENTS, STAFF
WILL WORK OUTSIDE NORMAL
WORKING HOURS SO THERE
SHOULD BE AN ADJACENT KITCHEN
AREA SUITABLE FOR MAKING LIGHT
MEALS AND DRINKS; A INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UNITS, MUST BE
DISHWASHER MAY BE DESIRABLE.
STAFF LOCKERS (25MZ) ARE IDEALLY
LOCATED IN A SEPARATE ROOM
AND STORAGE FOR WET CLOTHING
IS ALSO REQUIRED.
o STOCK WORKROOM | COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TERRESTRIAL/SATELLITE
(127M2) FOR FOUR TO FIVE STAFF,
ITS FUNCTIONS ARE: PROCESSING
BOOKS FROM THE DELIVERY AREA;
REPAIRING STOCK; BINDING
REQUIREMENTS; STOCK
EXCHANGES; INTER-LIBRARY LOANS
FOR MUSIC SETS. WALL SHELVING
IS REQUIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY
2000 BOOKS.
o SUBJECT STAFF WORKROOM |
(152M2) REQUIRED FOR
PROCESSING COMPLEX ENQUIRIES
AND SELECTING NEW STOCK, THESE
ROOMS ARE NEEDED IN
HUMANITIES, LITERATURE AND
SCIENCE LIBRARIES; FOR SIX
LIBRARIANS AND SUPPORT STAFF
(MAXIMUM). WALL SHELVING WILL
BE REQUIRED.
o SYSTEM ROOM | (38M2) NEEDED
TO HOUSE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT
FOR LIBRARY CIRCULATION AND
OTHER INFORMATION SYSTEMS.
o TRAINING ROOM | (58M2)
REQUIRED FOR MEETINGS AND
TRAINING SESSIONS, FACILITIES
MUST BE SUITABLE FOR CURRENT
TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT.
OTHER AREAS
 SICK ROOM (10M2)
 STATIONERY STORE
(25M2)
 GENERAL STORES (FOUR;
APPROXIMATELY 100M2
IN
 CLEANERS’ ROOM/STORE
(29M2)
 WCS; SHOWER IF
POSSIBLE.
BUILDING SERVICES
HEAT REDUCTION IS A MAJOR PROBLEM,
AND IS EXACERBATED BY THE USE OF COMPUTERS.
AIR-CONDITIONING IS EXPENSIVE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY UNDESIRABLE AND SHOULD
THEREFORE ONLY BE USED WHERE ESSENTIAL,
NATURAL VENTILATION BEING THE PREFERRED
OPTION (TRADITIONAL WINDOW VENTILATION,
HOWEVER, CAN BE A SECURITY RISK).
SERVICE ZONES ARE REQUIRED ABOVE
CEILINGS AND BELOW FLOORS: VENTILATION
SYSTEMS, HEATING AND ELECTRICAL FITTINGS, AND
DESIGNED TO ALLOW FLEXIBILITY OF LAYOUT, AND
MUST ALLOW FOR MOVEMENT OF SHELVING
WITHOUT CAUSING DISRUPTION.
DISTRIBUTION CABLING FOR NETWORKED
AERIALS ALSO NEEDS TO BE ALLOWED FOR.
NOISE IN LIBRARIES IS A PROBLEM, BOTH
FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES AND BETWEEN DIFFERENT
ACTIVITY AREAS WITHIN THE BUILDING. ACOUSTIC
CONSIDERATIONS MUST THEREFORE BE CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
CONCEPTUAL PRINCIPLES OF PLANNING MODERN ORIENTED TO THE VARIOUS NEEDS
LIBRARIES OF SOCIETY SUCH A LIBRARY WILL
SATISFY NEEDS OF DIFFERENT.
THE TRADITIONAL LIBRARY DOESN'T MEET
THE CHANGING NEEDS ON INFORMATION PROVISION 2. THE MODERN PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS
OF TODAY'S INFORMATION SOCIETY. LIBRARY TO BE COMFORTABLE.
BUILDINGS, WHICH ARE PLANNED ON OLD NORMS COMFORTABLENESS OF SERVICE IS
AND STANDARDS, DO NOT SATISFY TODAY'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
SITUATION. SUMMARIZING THE RESULTS OF ABOVE- INDICATORS OF MODERN LIBRARY
MENTIONED RESEARCH, WE CAN FORMULATE SOME ACTIVITY'S VALUE. THIS INDICATOR
PRINCIPLES OF MODERN LIBRARY'S ACTIVITY AND ITS INCLUDES: EASY ACCESS TO THE
ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTIONS. LIBRARY BUILDING, RATIONAL
PLANNING OF THE BUILDING AND
1. THE MODERN PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS
IMPRESSIVE ARCHITECTURE. THERE
TO BE MULTIFUNCTIONAL. THE
SHOULD BE CREATED A GOOD
MODERN PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS TO
WORKING ENVIRONMENT IN THE
BE MULTIFUNCTIONAL AND TO
LIBRARY: ARRANGED INDIVIDUAL
PROVIDE NOT ONLY
CARRELS FOR INTENSIVE WORKING
INFORMATIONAL OR OTHER
AND STUDYING USERS, AND WELL
TYPICAL LIBRARY SERVICES BUT
ILLUMINATED WORKING PLACES
CULTURAL, COMMUNICATIONAL
WITH DIVIDING SCREENS
AND OTHER EXTRA SERVICES AS
SEPARATING EACH PLACE.
WELL. SUCH LIBRARY WILL
COMFORTABLENESS ALSO
COMPRISE TWO FUNCTIONAL
INCLUDES: PROVIDING THE
PARTS:
LIBRARY WITH SOFT FURNISHING,
PLANTS, AQUARIUMS, SOFT
1) PROVISION OF LIBRARY'S
CARPET, LARGE WINDOWS,
TRADITIONAL
BALCONIES, PREMISES FOR
(INFORMATIONAL)
COMMUNICATION OF PEOPLE
SERVICES AND
WITH DIFFERENT INTERESTS, AND
2) CULTURAL AND SOCIAL
PROVISIONS WITH SOUND AND
SERVICES.
VIDEO EQUIPMENT.
THESE NONTRADITIONAL 3. THE MODERN LIBRARY HAS TO
SERVICES (CULTURAL, EXIST IN HARMONY WITH ITS
EDUCATIONAL, COMMERCIAL, NATURAL AND URBAN
SPORTS, RECREATIONAL, ENVIRONMENT.
ENTERTAINMENT ETC.) WILL MAKE THE LIBRARY HAS TO
THE LIBRARY MORE ATTRACTIVE BECOME AN ORGANIC PART OF THE
AND CAN LEAD TO AN INCREASE OF NATURAL AND URBAN
THE NUMBER OF USERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICES. 4. THE MODERN LIBRARY AS AN
OPEN, DEMOCRATIC AND
FOR THIS NEW CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL COMMUNICATION
SOCIAL FUNCTIONAL PART INSTITUTION.
ADEQUATE PREMISES HAVE TO BE ALL ARCHITECTURAL
PLANNED. THIS WILL GIVE THE SOLUTIONS OF THE MODERN
LIBRARY A NEW IMAGE OF SOCIAL LIBRARY HAVE TO EXPRESS THE
IMPORTANCE. THE MODERN IMAGE OF THE LIBRARY AS AN
PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL BECOME A OPEN, DEMOCRATIC AND
SOCIAL CENTER OF CULTURE, A INTELLECTUAL COMMUNICATION
HOME FOR SOCIETY. IT WILL BE A INSTITUTION. THIS IMAGE CAN BE
MULTIFUNCTIONAL AND VITAL CREATED BY PLANNING BUILDINGS
CENTER, ORGANIZING AND OF "VIRTUAL" ARCHITECTURE
JOINING SOCIETY. A LIBRARY WITH WHAT CAN BE CHARACTERIZED BY
SUCH SOCIAL AND CULTURAL "DEMATERIALISED" FORMS OF
ACTIVITY WILL BE MORE CLEAR, LACONIC, SIMPLE AND
ATTRACTIVE FOR INVESTMENTS. VISIBLE BULKS. IN THE PROCESS OF
THE LIBRARY WILL BECOME A MAKING CONSTRUCTIONAL
LIBRARY INFORMATION CENTER, RESOLUTIONS AND CHOOSING THE
CLUB, AND INTERNET CAFÉ ETC. BUILDING MATERIALS ONE HAS TO
 ORIENT ON COMFORTABLENESS OF
THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL
ENVIRONMENT OF THE LIBRARY.
5. PLANNING OF THE BUILDING HAS
TO BE FLEXIBLE AND SIMPLE.
THE PLANNING OF THE
BUILDING HAS TO BE FLEXIBLE AND
SIMPLE IN THE GENERAL PLAN.
THERE HAVE TO BE POSSIBILITIES
OF EXTENSION OR
TRANSFORMATION. THAT'S WHY IS
ADVISABLE TO USE AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE MOVABLE COLUMNS,
EQUALLY LOCATED VENTILATION,
HEATING AND AERATION SYSTEMS.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIGHT
SCREENS SHOULD ALSO BE EASILY
MOVABLE FROM ONE TO ANOTHER
TO CREATE A LARGE SPACE.
6. AN INTERNAL GARDEN IN THE
MIDDLE OF A BUILDING.
IT IS ADVISABLE TO
DESIGN AN INTERNAL GARDEN IN
THE MIDDLE OF A BUILDING. THIS
SOLUTION TOGETHER WITH
VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL
CABLING ALLOWS AN ARCHITECT
TO CREATE AN OPTIMAL AND
AESTHETIC INTERIOR. THROUGH
THE INTERNAL GARDEN IT IS
POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE AN
ARCHITECTURAL WHOLENESS OF
THE BUILDING AND THE INTERIOR.
7. LOCATE THE STORAGES ON THE
UNDERGROUND FLOORS.
IT IS ADVISABLE TO
LOCATE THE STORAGE-SPACES ON
THE UNDERGROUND FLOORS AND
PREMISES THAT NEED DAYLIGHT
ON THE OVERGROUND FLOORS.
THE UNDERGROUND STORAGE-
SPACES CAN BE CHARACTERIZED BY
THE FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES:
THE POSSIBILITY OF RATIONAL
USAGE OF THE COLLECTION, TO
LOCATE IT OPERATIVELY, TO
ORGANIZE MORE CREDIBLE
SECURITY OF THE COLLECTION,
AND MAKE IT MUCH EASIER TO
MAINTAIN A PROPER
TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY
REGIME.
INTEGRATED LIBRARY FACTORS
INTEGRATED FACTORS OF TODAY'S
LIBRARIES ARE: LIBRARY FUNCTIONS, LIBRARY
TECHNOLOGIES AND INFORMATION MEDIA.
1. LIBRARY FUNCTIONS | NOWADAYS
LIBRARIES PERFORM SOME MAIN AND
ACCESSORY FUNCTIONS. THE MAIN
LIBRARY FUNCTIONS OR DIRECTIONS OF
PERFORMANCE ARE: USER SERVICE,
MEDIA PROCESSING, PRESERVATION,
AND ORGANISATIONAL-SERVICE
FUNCTIONS. THESE MAIN FUNCTIONS
ARE TYPICAL FOR ALL KINDS OF
LIBRARIES. ACCORDING TO THESE
FUNCTIONS LIBRARY SPACE IS DIVIDED
INTO THREE PARTS: SPACE FOR USER
SERVICES, SPACE FOR LIBRARY MEDIA,
AND SPACE FOR THE LIBRARY STAFF.
FOR A LONG TIME MOST OF THE
LIBRARY SERVICES HAVE BEEN
ORIENTED ON THE AVERAGE USER
WHICH IS NOT EXISTING IN REALITY.
NOW LIBRARIES ARE MORE AND MORE
TREATING USERS AS INDIVIDUALS WITH
VERY PERSONAL NEEDS, APPROACHES
AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
CHARACTERISTICS. LIBRARIES HAVE
CONSTANTLY ANALYZED THEIR
SERVICES FOR THE PURPOSE TO ASSURE
THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH USERS WHO
NEED SUCH SERVICES. ONLY ORIENTING
TO ITS USER’S NEEDS, IMPLEMENTING
THE MOST INNOVATIVE FORMS OF
MEDIA PRESERVATION AND PROVISION,
PROCESSES OF MODERN LIBRARY
TECHNOLOGY, ANALYZING ALL THESE
PHENOMENA, DETERMINING CERTAIN
PROCEDURES AND FORESEEING MAIN
DIRECTIONS OF ITS PERFORMANCE,
LIBRARIES CAN BECOME MODERN AND
ATTRACTIVE INSTITUTIONS THAT CAN
MEET INFORMATIONAL, CULTURAL,
COMMUNICATIONAL AND OTHER
NEEDS OF THE SOCIETY.
2. LIBRARY TECHNOLOGIES | LIBRARY
TECHNOLOGIES ARE ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT FACTORS IN PLANNING
THE STRUCTURE OF SPACE FOR USER
SERVICES, MEDIA PRESERVATION AND
STAFF, AND CONNECTIONS AND LINKS
BETWEEN THESE SPACES. THIS FACTOR
DETERMINES THE USAGE OF
COMPUTER, AUDIOVISUAL AND OTHER
MODERN TECHNOLOGIES IN THE
LIBRARY.
THREE MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL
PROCESSES CAN BE DISTINGUISHED IN
THE LIBRARY PERFORMANCE.
SOMETIMES THESE PROCESSES ARE
CALLED "LIBRARY CYCLES" OR "WAYS".
THESE ARE: "WAY OF THE MEDIA",
"WAY OF THE ORDERS", AND "WAY OF
THE INFORMATION". THE "WAY OF THE
MEDIA" IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
LIBRARY CIRCLE AND INCLUDES
PROCESSING AND LOCATION OF THE
MEDIA. THE "WAY OF THE ORDERS"
INCLUDES IDENTIFICATION OF THE
MEDIA IN THE INFORMATION SYSTEM
AND IN THE STACKS, DELIVERING MEDIA
TO THE USERS AND RETURNING IT BACK
TO THE STACKS. THE "WAY OF THE
INFORMATION" INCLUDES THE
PRODUCING OF THE "SECONDARY" OR
PROCESSED INFORMATION. ALL CYCLES
ARE DIVIDED INTO SMALLER
STRUCTURAL PARTS - WORK PROCESSES
AND SMALLER OPERATIONS.
IN ANALYZING LIBRARY
TECHNOLOGIES, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO UNDERSTAND AND EXAMINE FLOWS
OF TECHNOLOGY AND MATERIALS.
THESE TWO FLOWS IMPACT
DIFFERENTLY ON THE PLANNED-
SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF THE LIBRARY.
FLOWS OF INFORMATION MEDIA,
USERS AND ORDERS ARE MATERIAL
AND CAN BE CHARACTERIZED BY
LENGTH, SPEED, DIRECTION,
CONTINUITY AND DISCRETION.
TECHNOLOGICAL FLOW IS A GRADUAL
CHANGE OF DIFFERENT TOOLS, STATES
AND QUALITIES OF LIBRARY WORK,
REALIZED IN LIBRARY CIRCLES AND
PROCESSES. THE IMPORTANCE OF
DIVIDING TECHNOLOGICAL AND
MATERIAL FLOWS IS EMPHASIZED
ANALYZING THE PLANNED-SPATIAL
STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING. THESE
DIFFERENCES CAN BE SOLVED IN TWO
WAYS: IN THE FIRST CASE ONE CAN
MINIMIZE THE LENGTH OF THE FLOWS
AND NUMBER OF THE MEDIUM SERVICE
POINTS WITH THE HELP OF
ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTIONS. IN THIS
CASE THE FLOW OF MEDIA AND USERS
IS MATERIAL, BUT WORK WHAT IS DONE
AT THE MEDIUM SERVICE POINTS
(CARRYING AND SORTING MEDIA ETC.)
IS TECHNOLOGICAL. IN THE OTHER CASE
THE WAY OF THE USER COULD BE
SHORTENED USING MODERN LIBRARY
TECHNOLOGIES.
THE CONTINUING PROCESS OF
DEVELOPMENT OF LIBRARY
TECHNOLOGY, BASED ON MODERN
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY, HAS ALLOWED
PLANNING OF LIBRARY BUILDINGS BY
TAKING ACCOUNT OF FUTURE
TECHNOLOGIES. OTHERWISE, BESIDE
THE PURPOSE IS TO PLAN SUCH
BUILDINGS WHERE CONSTRUCTIONAL
IMPERFECTION CAN BE COMPENSATED
BY SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY. FOR
EXAMPLE: THE STORAGES HAVE TO BE
PLANNED IN SUCH WAY THAT OPTIMAL
CLIMATE REGIME CAN BE MAINTAINED
EITHER BY SPECIAL CONDITIONING
SYSTEM OR WITHOUT IT, VENTILATION
CAN BE EITHER ARTIFICIAL OR NATURAL.
PLANNING OF THE BUILDING AND
TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS HAVE TO
BE RATIONALLY COORDINATED.
TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF
MODERN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
ON LIBRARY BUILDINGS PLANNING
FIRST OF ALL ONE HAS TO TAKE
ACCOUNT OF THE USAGE OF
COMPUTERS IN LIBRARY'S WORK.
3. THE FORM OF INFORMATION MEDIA |
THE FORM OF INFORMATION MEDIA IS
A VERY IMPORTANT LIBRARY FACTOR
AND HAS DIRECT IMPACT ON THE
STRUCTURE OF STORAGE SPACES. IT
VARIES VERY RAPIDLY NOW. THE
TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS HAS A
CRUCIAL IMPACT ON THIS VARIATION.
DESPITE OF THIS, THE BIGGEST PART OF
LITHUANIAN LIBRARIES' COLLECTION
CONSISTS OF TRADITIONAL FORMS OF
MEDIA - BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND
NEWSPAPERS. MODERN FORMS OF
INFORMATION MEDIA SUCH AS
MICROFICHES, COMPACT DISCS ETC.
ARE COMPARATIVELY RARE, BECAUSE
OF THE LACK OF SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
FOR ITS USAGE IN THE MENTIONED
LITHUANIAN LIBRARIES. PLANNING THE
LIBRARY STORAGE-SPACES, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO FORECAST THE
CHANGES OF THE FORMS OF
INFORMATION MEDIA AND THE SPEED
OF GROWTH OF THEIR AMOUNT IN THE
FUTURE. THE SIZE OF THE LIBRARY
COLLECTION HAS IMPACT NOT ONLY ON
STORAGE-SPACES AND THEIR
QUALITIES, BUT HAS IMPACT ON ALL
SIZES OF LIBRARY SPACES AS WELL.
HAVING A RICH COLLECTION, A LIBRARY
CAN EXPECT MORE USERS AND NEEDS
MORE SPACE FOR READING PLACES.
OTHER INTEGRATED FACTORS SUCH AS
ORGANIZATION AND COORDINATION
OF LIBRARY PERFORMANCE HAVE NOT
VERY MUCH IMPACT ON
ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTIONS OR THIS
IMPACT HAS AN INDIRECT CHARACTER