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

[James Casey]

I have had both "close proximity to the firing line" when director of a small library where I was the only MLS on staff during much of the time (1984-92) and a more secluded location in the basement when director of a larger library with over 100 staff.  ---

As director of a small library, I needed to fill in at Circulation, Youth Services and Reference often on a moment's notice.  Hence, being close to the action was sometimes an advantage.  In such cases, however, the director also needs to be able to close the door and shut the blinds for private and semi-private conversations (personnel, interviews, negotiations with vendors, etc.).

As director of a larger library, I wanted the Director's office to be in such a location where department heads and board members could "get away" from the firing line for meetings and private discussions.  I personally prefer basement and secluded locations which are not advantageous for public service.   My own philosophy is that "prime space" around windows and with attractive views should be public space whenever possible and the Director's Office and other Administrative functions should be located in areas that are impracticable and/or altogether undesirable for public service.   Show me an area where no staff and/or public service functions want to be located and that is probably where I would put the director (me) and my immediate administrative personnel.

When visiting other libraries, I tend to become a bit upset whenever I see director and staff offices on convenient first floor locations with window views and a critically important service area such as Youth Services located in a dank basement.  Young mothers with baby carriages and strollers and/or an entourage of toddlers shouldn't have to be dealing with elevators and stairs to get to a story time while the director sits in a prime spot on the street level.

James B. Casey-My own views
Director - Oak Lawn Public Library
ALA Council Member


From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Valerie Doyle
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 7:52 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Where would you put the director's office?

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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