Books and Mortar Making the Overall Fit “Sexier”
May 22, 2015
Books and Mortar
Making the Overall Fit “Sexier”
The Planner
Jim Morgenstern
The Librarian
Rebecca Jones
Thanks Darlene Fichter
Facilities planning?
Let’s get to designing!
Space require-ments
Facility models
Building design
Library as
Place
and y
et…
Our
focu
s Good facilities start with comprehensive planning
Two key planning issues: Provision standards & Facility models
Group debates
Good facilities start with good planning
What type of plan are you asking for?
RFP
Strategic Master Plan
Master Strategic Plan
Comprehensive Master Plan
Community Based Strategic Plan
Strategic Assessment and Business Plan
Management Plan
Strategic Facility Review & Feasibility Study
Facilities Needs Assessment Strategy
Three planning questions
What Do We Need To
Provide to Accomplish Our Vision?
Why Are We Providing Library
Services?
How Will We Provide
Facilities & Services to Meet Our Vision?
Three questions, three plans
What Do We Need To Provide to Accomplish
Our Vision?
• Library Master Plans
• Feasibility Studies
• Technology Plans
How Will We Provide Facilities/Services to
Meet Our Vision?
• Marketing Plans
• Organizational Reviews
• Operational Reviews
• Policy Analysis
Why Are We Providing Library Services?
Vision, Goals, Strategic
Directions/ Action Plans
Strategic Plan
Management Plans Master Plan
Community Wide Perspective Long term – Focused on
growth and/or fit with other City Plans
Determines Overall Space
Requirements Determines a Facility
Hierarchy and Model
Building/Project Specific
Short term – detailed implementation strategy
Defines Functional Space Program
Addresses Capital and Operating Costs
Master Plans Feasibility Studies
Comprehensive Planning Process
Vision
Strategic Plan
Strategic Direction: Infrastructure
Strategic Direction: Service Delivery
Strategic Direction: Promotion
Strategic Direction: TBD
• Master Plan • Feasibility Study • Tecnology Plan
Financial Strategy / Fiscal Plan Partnership Assessment
Operational Review
• Marketing Strategy • Organizational Audit
• Policy Review
Why?
What?
Did We Succeed / How Can We Improve?
Implementation
Monitoring & Evaluation • Program Evaluation • Cost / Benefit • Performance Measures
How
A public organization’s focus
Why do we exist for our
community today & into the future?
What services will best
underpin our community’s aspirations?
How do we best provide those
services today – and tomorrow – to
realize the vision?
Aspirations
The Strategic Plan Captures what decision- makers have learned from several sources (insights, experiences, data, market research, etc.) and then synthesized into a vision of the direction the organization should pursue.
Adapted from Henry Mintzberg’s work
In response to a changing environment, it is fundamental decisions & actions that shape & guide what an organization is, who it serves, what it does, & why it does it, with a focus on the future. It articulates not only where an organization is going & the actions needed to make progress, but also how it will know if it is successful.
Adapted from the Balanced Scorecard Institute’s work
What drives the plans?
Str
ateg
ic P
lan Master Plan
Facilities Plan
Strategic Assessment and Business Plan
Operating Plan
Organizational Review
Municipal Strategies & Master Plans
Being known & respected at the table
Official Plan
Secondary Plans
Urban Design Standards
Master Plans of Related Departments (Recreation; Culture)
Development Charges Bylaw
Municipal Strategic Plan
Visions of Place
Two key planning issues: Provision standards Facility models
Provision Guidelines
0.6-1.0 sq ft/capita Various provincial and state library organizations
1.0 sq. ft/capita Ontario Public Library Guidelines
0.96 – 1.50 sq. ft./capita
(communities of 15-35,000 population) SOLS: Making the Case for Your Library Building Project
Trends Affecting Standards of Provision
New Roles for the Library
Accessibility
Legislation Enhanced Design
Less Print
Mobile and Personal Devices
Full Service Digital Branches
Higher Provision Lower Provision
• Strategic Plan – Your Vision for the Library • Key Factors Addressed in Your Master Plan, including:
- Community Needs/Level of Interest
- Your Facility Model - Partnerships and Shared Service Delivery
• Resources - Community and Political Support
Community-Specific Provision Standards
http://greatex.org/blog/community-partners/
Facility Model:
Ensures facilities are functional
Maximizes use of available capital and operating
resources
Guides long-range planning
A community specific description of : • Number & types of branches in your system • Functional relationship among branches • Desired service standards
Facility Model: Number, Type and Functional Relationships
dmA Planning & Management Services
Community Branches (Level 3)
Community Branches (Level 2)
Community Branches (Level 1)
DISTRICT BRANCHES
CENTRAL LIBRARY
• 33 Branches • Mobile & Outreach Services
• Virtual Services
Virtual Library Service Delivery Channels
What are the Functional Relationships and Key Characteristics
Hours of Operation Size
Collection Circulation
Working/Reading Space
Program Space Population Served
Generic Library Facility Model
Characteristic Types of Libraries Central District Community Neighbourhood Satellite
Size (sq. ft.) 70,000 20-30,000 10-15,000 4-5,000 1-1,500
Population Served 100-150,000 25-35,000 15-20,000 4-5,000 n/a
Hours of Operation per week 70 60 45 30 10-15
Collection (items) 225-300,000 100-150,000 75-100,000 28-33,000 5-10,000
Program Space (sq. ft.) 2-2,500 750-1,000 300-350 none none
Computer Workstations 35-50 17-24 10-14 3-4 1-2 Reading / Working Space 175 70 40 20 5
The Facility Model Balance
• Acceptable Access
• Community Preference
• Cost • Level of
Service
• Master Plan to Investigate Service, Cost and especially Access
• The Library’s Place in Community Planning - Place making - “Third” Place - Community Hub - Civic Identity
• Community Pressure and Political Support
Community-Specific Facility Model
http://greatex.org/blog/community-partners/
Key
mes
sage
s Good buildings are based on good plans & good relationships
Two key planning issues open to debate: Provision standards: • weak evidence • strong vision • influential relationships Facility models: • Balance of cost, service & access • Based on heavy-duty research & analysis
Let the debates begin!
Opinion & Rationale #1
Opinion & Rationale
#2
Be it resolved that:
1. It’s unrealistic for Public Library Systems to have a comprehensive plan prior to building or renovating branches.
2. No public library should build a stand-alone library.
3. In the future of digital “everything” the Library simply won’t need as much physical space. Consequently the appropriate provision standard should be reduced to 0.4 sq ft per capita.
4. Public library facility models will not include neighbourhood branches (size 5000 gsf for rural systems & 10,000 gsf for urban systems).
Debate positions for each table