[Publib] re: $49,000 in signate to fix what the architect wrought

[Roxanne Rissanen]

James:

I do think sometimes it is necessary to educate an architect in the day-to-day functioning of a library.  When I was working in a small Special Library in Atlanta, the architect did not understand how the library worked.  She designed the area with gorgeous cherry wood veneer shelves, which started to bow one week after we opened.  Her suggestion was that we put the big heavy books on the bottom shelves.  
I can still remember the snickers, then we realized that she was absolutely serious.  We were appalled, how could anyone not know that that is not the way you organize a "functioning library".  If we had taken the time to find out her preconceptions about the library, how our collections were organized and accessed by our customers I think we all could have designed a space that would have been beautiful and lasting.
 
JMHO
 
Roxanne Rissanen
Children's Services Librarian
Sault Ste. Marie Public Library


Message: 12
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 14:23:39 -0600
From: "James Casey" <jcasey at oaklawnlibrary.org>
Subject: RE: [Publib] $49,000 in signage to fix what the architect
        wrought
To: "Joe Schallan" <jbsphx at cox.net>,    "Publib Publib Discussion"
        <publib at webjunction.org>
Message-ID:
        <136A2562F4FA6E42AE57C64BB933FAC22E51EA at sdc2.staff.olpl.local>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"

Joe:

I visited the new Seattle PL during Mid-Winter and share your disdain
for the final result.  One of the most eminent building consultants in
Illinois was equally appalled. 

A staff doesn't have to be "cowed" in order for an architect to run wild
and create a wildly impractical edifice and throw "form follows
function" to the wind.  A Director who doesn't gather staff together and
develop a building program with specific service objectives for the
spaces laid out in advance -- perhaps years in advance -- of the
project's commencement is giving the future architect a green light to
create an "architecturally interesting" monstrosity.  The staff who do
the work need to be empowered to develop a very specific idea of what
they want and what in the way of work areas and public spaces.  If this
doesn't happen, the staff is effectively disenfranchised and the result
will be disaster.  The architect should not be viewed as "the expert" on
libraries and needs guidance from those library practitioners who intend
to work in the new facility. 

James B. Casey --- My own views.
Director of Oak Lawn Public Library
ALA Council Member (candidate for re-election)



-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Joe Schallan
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 2:36 PM
To: Publib Publib Discussion
Subject: [Publib] $49,000 in signage to fix what the architect wrought

When I posted on the 
Koolhaas building previously, I was advised privately that Seattle's 
director so personally identifies with the project that any staff 
member commenting honestly on it would commit professional suicide.  
If that is so, I find it appalling that professional staff there 
would feel so cowed.)

The article begs the question:  How did it come to pass that an 
architect was so indulged that he was allowed to design an unusable 
building?  A building that now, shortly after its opening, requires 
$49,000 of internal signage?

Joe Schallan
Phoenix



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