[Publib] Small libraries, and I mean small!

[Andrea Berstler]

When our library began (just over 40 years ago) we were in a space about 280
sq ft - 12 sq yards more or less. We made do and grew because of a
dedication of volunteers and the ability to rotate our collection with that
of the main district library.  I think this may have been the key, people
did not mind too much that we were small, as long as there was always
something different on the shelf.   

 

We are now bursting at the seams in a building of just over 3100 sq feet -
(400 sq yards) and the same principle applies.  We are fortunate to be a
part of a very strong federated system - and so we can offer much more than
just those things in our building.   If you can put something different on
the shelf on or display every week, people will come. 

 

Andrea

 

Andrea Berstler                      

Director - Village Library of Morgantown

207 N Walnut St. 

PO Box 797

Morgantown, PA 19543

www.villagelibrary.org

610-286-1022

Preserving the Past . . . Preparing for the Future . . . 

 

 

 

-----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

_______________________________________________

Publib mailing list

Publib at webjunction.org

http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.webjunction.org/wjlists/publib/attachments/20070205/41827bcd/attachment.htm