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

[Mary Soucie]

Hi Valerie,
We will hopefully be doing a building project in 2010 so I've enjoyed
seeing these responses. When I started in my library, 8 years ago, I was
upstairs in the back corner of the mezzanine, with no walls so patrons
could see me. (They could also hear me.) I quickly moved downstairs,
into an office right behind the circ desk. It was great- patrons had
easy access to me, as did the staff. I could close my door when needed
and the blinds that I installed also. 
 
Fast forward to now- I'm back upstairs in the corner, but this time with
walls. I hate it!!! Patrons have extremely limited access to me- and
only if they go through staff. I get asked by people all the time now if
I'm still at the library or comments that they never see me. I used to
work the ref desk once a week which helped but had to give that up. When
we plan our new or remodeled building, I will definitely want to be
closer to the patrons and to the staff. My office now is not accessible
which is another problem.
 
For all the reasons that have been mentioned, I think it's important for
staff and patrons to have access to the director. I understand Jim
Casey's viewpoint about patron space being primary and not devoting
prime real estate to staff offices and workspace. However, based on the
experience I've had here with my move, patrons want to see me more than
just out in the community.

Hope this helps and good luck!
 
Mary
 
Mary J. Soucie, MLIS
Library Director
Wilmington Public Library District
Visit the world @ your library(tm)
201 S Kankakee St
Wilmington IL 60481
(815) 476-2834
mjsoucie at wilmingtonlibrary.org
 
My blog: http://www.wplddirectorspot.blogspot.com
<http://www.wplddirectorspot.blogspot.com/> 
 
IM me:
Yahoo: wplddirector  
AIM: wplddirector
 
Wilmington Public Library District is committed to providing excellent
comprehensive service to its community.
 
 

________________________________

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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