[Publib] Architecture AL Issue

[James Casey]

When I looked through the "Design and Construction Showcase" issue of AL my reaction is one of amazement mingled with outrage.  Is the objective of multi-million dollar expenditure of tax dollars on Library construction to achieve "architectural statements" with immensely high ceilings, huge glass walls, breathtaking vistas that "wow" the visitor, but are totally impractical to heat, cool, clean, illuminate, and capture the occasional bird that may get in.  I have always proceeded from the notion that "form should follow function" and not the other way around when it comes to construction planning. When architects are allowed to design this or that palace without reference to the stated service objectives of a practical, functioning library, the results are anything but flattering to our profession.  You might have huge expanses of overhead space that look fantastic in LJ or AL, but not enough floor space to accommodate the public or the collections.  Are patrons able to sit in a comfortable space near windows "bringing the book to the light" or does the natural light flood the interior with glare and heat at given times of the day?

For me, the best photos of any service area are those depicting spaces filled with patrons. 

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



-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Michael D. Logusz
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:20 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] RE: Requesting photos of children's areas

RE: Requesting photos of children's areas

American Libraries had a nice 58 page digital supplement back in April that was a photo-filled ‘Design and Construction Showcase’. If you save your AL emails it was sent April 10th. If not, try clicking: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/5a2490e9#/5a2490e9/1. I’m not sure if you have to be an AL subscriber for it to work, but you can Google it and it comes up: this is the Spring 2009 supplement (not the Winter one). Anyway, it has photos of over 80 recent library construction projects, including some Children’s Areas.

Hope this helps,
Mike Logusz


au6855 at wayne.edu
mlogusz at Comcast.net