[Publib] advice for an architecture student

[Kathleen Stipek]

Ask the staff about their present library.   What works?  What doesn't?
What would you change if you could?  If the Library Fairy gave you the
money to build a library, what would you have in it?  I once had a
patron who was on a library board tell me about the time he took a set
of plans around to the library staff and a page pointed out that the
elevators from the work area to the main floor were the wrong size to
accommodate their book trucks.  Nobody had bothered to measure the book
trucks, but there weren't any in the budget for fitting up the new
building, either.  

Kathleen Stipek
Alachua County Library District
401 East University Avenue
Gainesville, Florida 32601
352-334-3931  (fax) 352-334-3948
 
     --Non, merci.
       Cyrano de Bergerac


-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Okelly
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 12:15 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] advice for an architecture student

Publibbers:

I am advising an architecture student who is designing a library for her
senior project. I thought I would solicit any thoughts provoked by this
query of hers:

"One issue I am dealing with is the circulation desk. I know that it is
important for the circulation desk to be central and have sightlines to
as many areas of the library as possible. I understand that there are
generally very few librarians and staff working at any one time and
therefore a central desk is crucial. My question is, how does a multi
story library work? My assumption is that  a multi-story library
requires security and more staffing, but I guess I would like to know
your thoughts on what the benefits and obstacles are when the library
staff cannot see all the users at once."

Frankly, I don't know of any library that operates on the panopticon
principle. I've only worked in multi-story libraries and the circulation
desk is generally right by the exit and it is the reference desk that is
central. All I can think to tell her just seems really obvious. Do those
of you have worked in a variety of buildings have any unusual insights
to share?

Thansk,

Kevin


Kevin O'Kelly
Reference and Cataloging Librarian
Somerville Public Library
79 Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143
(617)-623-5000


-----Original Message-----
From: "Hopkins County - Madisonville Public Library" <library at vci.net>
To: <publib at webjunction.org>
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:48:04 -0500
Subject: RE: [Publib] Roving computer classes with laptops

> We have been doing this for nearly 18 months. We also take our lab out

> to the local senior center to do classes. We tend to just run all of 
> our laptops off of electrical outlets as there is no space where the 
> systems are kept to keep them on charge, and so far no problems with 
> doing that. I have been able to take the lab up to our own meeting 
> area to teach so that the main lab isn't tied up, and I am hoping to 
> do classes with our bookmobile as that has a satellite internet 
> connection that we can use.
> 
> When the lab is not being used for teaching we run a laptop lending 
> scheme.
> Patrons with library cards in good standing & over 18 give us their 
> photo ID & library card in exchange for a laptop with a 2 hour 
> session. We have a policy that must be adhered to, and in the time 
> that we have been running this scheme (almost 2 years) we have had no 
> breakage or theft. We have also expanded this to the branch library 
> (thank to Wal-Mart for having cheap systems on sale!!).
> 
> Terry Caudle
> Hopkins County - Madisonville Public Library library at vci.net 
> www.publiclibrary.org
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
> On Behalf Of jlohmann at co.durham.nc.us
> Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 10:51 AM
> To: publib at webjunction.org
> Subject: [Publib] Roving computer classes with laptops
> 
> 
> Another question for the publibbers,
> 
> We will be getting 10 laptops to use as a "roving computer class." 
> This
> will allow us to offer offsite computer classes and computer classes 
> at our smaller branches which have a meeting room, but limited public 
> computer space.  Have other libraries tried this?  If so, what 
> procedures did you put in place to make sure the computers always had 
> full battery power, all their bits, etc.  Do you have any advice for 
> implementing this type of movable computer lab?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jennifer
> 
> 
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> 
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