[Publib] Small libraries, and I mean small!

[Nann Blaine Hilyard]

Jackie, what you're describing sounds like a kiosk library.  That
concept was introduced 20 years ago or so, often as a way to introduce
library services to a neighborhood before it was ready for a
freestanding building.  Kiosks had books and other library resources in
a very small footprint.  The kiosks went in shopping malls and such.
Fred Goodman was the president of Porta-Structures, the company that
made them.  I see his business is now "Public Information Kiosk, Inc.,"
still in Germantown, MD, http://www.pikinc.net/

HTH,

Nann
@the library in Zion, Illinois

 

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Jackie Howell
Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2007 8:56 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Small libraries, and I mean small!

Hi all,

I am in the planning stages of converting an existing building into a
new suburban branch library. The building's entire floor space is 275 sq
yards. Public area is currently about 170 sq yards, will be more when we
knock down some internal office walls. 

The population of the suburb is just over 3000. There is another branch,
and also the main city library, both within a 10 minute (or less) drive
of the new building.

My readings so far don't consider this enough space for a public
library. Should we leave something out? If so, what? Does anyone have a
very different small library, where the collection is dictated by size
available? The suburb is the lowest-income in our city.

Your thoughts very much appreciated.

Jackie in New Zealand

P.s. This will not be the smallest branch in our system. That would be
93 sq yards. And we offer everything at that branch that the main branch
offers: newspapers, computers, childrens area including fic, NF, and
picture book bins, children's av, adults dvds, cds, videos, YA area,
large print and ordinary print adult fic and nf...oh and jigsaws... And
it's tricky!!
________________________________________________________________________
__________________

Caution:  The content of this email is confidential and may be legally
privileged.  If it is not intended for you, please email the sender
immediately and destroy the original message.  You may not copy,
disclose or use the contents in any way. 

The sender's email address in this message may constitute a designation
of an information system for the purposes of section 11(a) of the
Electronic Transactions Act 2002 (New Zealand).  You agree that, in
sending an email message to that address, the time of receipt will be
when the message actually comes to the attention of the addressee, not
the time the message enters the designated information system.   Thank
You.
________________________________________________________________________
__________________
_______________________________________________
Publib mailing list
Publib at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib