[Publib] Where would you put the director's office?

[Denise Johnson]

There are days I would locate my office in another state. However, after two libraries where my office was nearly impossible to find (by our patrons), I would like it closer to the action. I know that the front line staff take a lot of angry abuse (sometimes). If that could be turned to me more quickly, I could assist them more quickly. 
 
Also I think that our patrons would like to see staff actually working in the library. So an office (with vertical blinds open or closed as needed) would benefit the library. I also think I would be closer to our patrons and not so removed from the action. 
 
There are times during the year when you need some uninterrupted blocks of time and space. And you need some way to really close your office. I think you also need remote enough space where you can meet with staff for evaluations and everyone doesn't know whose turn it is. You need to be far enough away to deal with the occasional unpleasant staff/supervisor discussion. But you need to be close enough to handle an upset patron with privacy. 
 
So I vote for an office located on a "Lazy Susan" mechanism nearby when needed and secluded when necessary.
 
 
 
This e-mail contains the thoughts and opinions of Denise Johnson and does not represent official Midland County Policy.

Denise Johnson, County Librarian
Midland County Public Library
301 W. Missouri Ave
Midland, TX 79701
Direct Phone:(432) 688-4333
Fax: (432) 688-4939
e-mail denise_johnson at co.midland.tx.us 
Main Library number (432) 688-4320

>>> Valerie Doyle <librarylady1954 at hotmail.com> 10/2/2008 7:51 AM >>>
Hi All,
 
We are making some final plans for a remodeling project.  Currently, the director's office is located off the beaten path.  The current plans call for greatly enlarging the staff work area and making the director's office part of the new area allowing for an increase in the size of the local history/genealogy area.  
 
The staff thinks the local history/genealogy area is large enough for the next five years or so.
They also think the director's office would take too much of "their" space.
 
The director (me) thinks we really need a larger local history/genealogy area.
The director would like to be closer to where the staff works.
The director, while acknowledging that the staff does need a much larger work area, does not think they need as much as they are proposing.
 
Most of the public library managers or directors that I have know would like their offices closer to where the action is.
 
I'd love to hear from others on where you would locate a director's office, given a choice, and why.  The collective wisdom from both sides of the coin (staff and supervisory types) would be much appreciated.
 
Thanks in advance.
 
Valerie
Pontiac, IL
12,000 sq feet library space
Population 12,000

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