Urbana Free Library

Redesign of the librarys media center and teen spaces

Tom Ackerman, Oscar Chrin, Paige Cunningham, Bridgette Lesure, Brianna Morgan, Jennifer Sams

Introduction
The Urbana Free Library was renovated in 2005 Space added for expanded computer labs, study areas, etc. Teen space set aside on the main floor next to circulation Expansion has proven insufficient

Current Media Center

Current Media Center

Current Teen Space

UFLs Vision for the Library

Teen Space Job Area Media Area (not something we pursued) Parkland Students (not something we pursued) Updating computers more efficiently

Available Work Area

Available Work Area

Areas of Inspiration
Champaign Public Library Douglass Branch Library Milwaukee Public Library Employment Office

Key User Scenarios

Teens Job hunters Also Parkland students, seniors, and people conducting business at the library o Chose not to focus on these when narrowing scope of project

Stages for Redesign

Stage 1:
o o o

Stage 2:
o o o

Extant furniture Current hardware Potential for rapid implementation

New Furniture Additional hardware Long-term planning

Overview of Current Design

Overview of Current Design

Overview of Stage 1

Overview of Stage 2

Teen Space
Issues o Need a space more conducive to socializing and sharing Hurdles o Staffing/supervision

Existing Teen Space

Teen Space Outcomes

Promote and encourage collaboration among patrons and community building ISBE & AASL standards encourage social learning o This is the basis for teaching the 21st century learner!

Teen Space Impact

Provide opportunities to work together to engage in community building and collaboration efforts o Working together on group projects for school assignments o Designing images in Photoshop for a blog site More opportunities to creatively work together leads to enhanced skills

Teen Space Stage 1

Image of Stage 1 to go here

Outputs

Teen Space Stage 2

Image of Stage 2

Outputs

Outputs

Outputs

Teen Space Sustainability

Lab will be handled like every other lab in the building Future training for library staff that includes youth development and their user information needs o Could help justify why this separate space is necessary for this group o Learn how to help them in a way that is developmentally appropriate

Job Space
Issues o Job hunters are heavy lab users o Competition for computers o Lack of job materials in a convenient spot Hurdles o Need constant help with filling out application, applying for jobs? o Job hunters need to be right across from librarians desk, so they can continue to get the help they need.

Job Space Impact

Give the job hunters a place to work on their application, so they do not have to compete with other computer users. This place witll give them a place to work and collaborate together. It would also give them better access job resources to work on their job applications, update resumes, and search for jobs

Job Space Outcome

This space will give the job hunters more adequate space and computers to use when the job hunter need to apply for jobs. The job bulletin board will give the job hunters more information on how to seek employment and on classes that provided by the Unemployment Office, and the Urbana Library to improve their job hunting skills

Job Space Output

Give the job hunters more space and computer availability to search for jobs Partner with the Unemployment Office to provide resources for a job board

Job Space Sustainability

Computers will be managed with the rest of the lab Job board should be updated monthly by librarians

Exisiting Main Lab Space

Main Lab Space

Issues - It works but ... o Not very spacious which is problematic for users with disabilities and seniors o Does not allow for significant collaboration o Not the most inviting space Hurdles o Balance between collaborative space and individual space

Main Lab Space Impact

Support the library's long-range plan:
"As citizens increasingly disassociate themselves from community groups and bundle with computers and other solitary activities, libraries gain importance as public meeting spaces. The Urbana Free Library recognizes the importance of the Library as a community space."

People can come together to discuss local matters, create social groups, and collaborate for the benefit of the community

Main Lab Space Outcome

Provide a more engaging and inviting space Facilitate the pairing of library technology and collaborative space o Currently both largely exist separately

Main Lab Space Stage 1.

Stage 1 Image?

Outputs

Main Lab Space Stage 2

Image of Stage 2

Outputs

Outputs

Main Lab Sustainability

Computers will be updated according to the librarys existing Technology Plan, just as they already are Be flexible and ready to adjust to needs we haven't anticipated yet o Creating spaces that incorporate new technology o Designing media creation areas (such as spaces for sound recording or video production)

Technology Updates
Issues o With the current setup, each computer must be upgraded manually, making it difficult to keep the OS, software, and drivers up to date. Hurdles o Regardless of what infrastructure is chosen, changes will take time, effort to integrate, and advanced technological know-how to implement

Technology Solutions

Outputs o Use "session virtualization" from a central server to make the lab more efficient. Impacts o Computers will no longer be reading the desktop image off their individual hard drives, freeing up resources for other tasks. Outcomes o It will be easier for IT staff to keep the computers up to date o Patrons will have access to the most current software

Technology Updates Sustainability

After the initial time spent changing the system infrastructure, the lab will be easy to maintain and the system that is put into place will last a number of years without any major changes being necessary Old computers can be phased out and replaced as necessary and new machines easily added to the system because they will simply read all the OS information off the server

Reflections
Time to reflect!