Light Your World! - Or at Least Your Library

Someone once said, "the most successful and brilliant work a lighting designer can do is usually the least noticeable."  Let me first say that this is reminiscent of something I have preached to all my clients for years now.  Which is that people don't really notice "good design" but they will always notice "bad design".  And that's because when design is thoroughly and well thought out, it all runs seamlessly together.  But when a space is poorly designed, people notice immediately.  That goes doubly for lighting. 

This week as I continue to work through the text of Libraries - A Design Manual, the topic falls on lighting and how it effects the Library environment.  Some of this post will cover the material from the text, but a lot of it is what I've taught before, whether in a previous post or in my Off the Shelf Library Design Academy online course. 

One of the biggest reasons for this is that I feel some of the material is slightly outdated; especially for today's Library.  For example, they tend to lean toward negative explanations for the uses of natural light.  And while I do understand that glare and heat can be problematic in any commercial setting, I feel like the benefits far outweigh those concerns.  And when you consider all the ways to create solutions to those problems, it seems to make more than enough sense to my designer brain to incorporate natural light as often as possible.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 

For the beginner, know that there are three types of lighting in any interior environment:

1. Task Lighting - fulfills a direct and functional purpose for a specific task
2. Ambient Lighting - sets a type of mood or atmosphere
3. Decorative Lighting - adds pizzazz to the space and generally considered the "jewelry" of the room.

Every building, and often most spaces in the building, should contain all three types of lighting to fulfill the design needs of the space.  This isn't always possible, but when it can be managed, it completes the design objective.

HOW LIGHTING EFFECTS US

It's probably no surprise to you to know that light is directly related to physical comfort.  For example, low lights tend to emit a more calming effect while bold strobe lights can not only energize but possibly even destabilize someone depending on their frame of mind.

Lighting is complex and effects us on so many levels, whether physically, emotionally or even mentally.  Therefore, the key to proper lighting is to make sure it is balanced and distributed adequately throughout a space.  And also to make sure the type of lighting being used is sufficient for the tasks and end-users.

HOW LIGHTING EFFECTS OUR LIBRARY EXPERIENCE

The main factors that control lighting conditions in reading and study areas (a large majority of the Library) are:

• Intensity of light in an environment
• Contrast among surfaces in the environment
• Color contrast of objects being viewed and their surfaces

A good way to maximize lighting success is by using adjustable and versatile lighting options.  This can be done by applying the use of indirect/direct lighting sources, dimmable fixtures, and avoid glare on surfaces.  

Another thing to note is the alignment of linear fixtures over your stacks.  This may be controversial to some of you since for decades, linear fixtures were traditionally attached to the tops of shelves running parallel to the shelf to cast light onto the book spine surfaces.  However, and feel free to comment your frustrations on my DIY Library Design Facebook Group here , we have recently learned in my own Library designs that turning those fixtures so that they are running overhead in a perpendicular direction to the shelves, they cast a more even spread of light over the entire section, covering so much more readable space.  This cuts down on dark spots and the actual amount of light fixtures.  Not to mention, it keeps you from being too locked in to one single layout for your stacks.

APPLYING THE BEST LIGHTING TECHNIQUES

I won't lie to you.  Lighting can be very complex.  I mean, entire classes are taught on just this topic in design school.  I'm not kidding.  One entire semester focusing on Kelvins, rendering temperatures, foot candles, calculating correct fixture quantities for a room, and the list goes on.  My best and most honest advice to you is to hire a professional designer to assist you in a full lighting project.  But for those of you who need to tackle a lighting task now and need some advice, here are some points to note:

• Keep your color temperatures the same throughout.  Warmer lighting is around 3,000 to 3,500 Kelvins (this number is found on the sides of your light bulb boxes) and cooler light is safer at 4,000 Kelvins.  Anything higher is probably going to be too intense for a Library space.
• Use as much natural light as you can
• But have good lighting control (i.e. roller shades) in place to block glare when necessary
• Don't be afraid to apply some fun decorative pendant fixtures over focal point spaces like your reference desks
• And if you have questions, just ask me!  I'd be more than happy to help.

Ultimately, "the goal of lighting in Libraries is to facilitate the learning experience by providing adequate and comfortable light levels that can be endured for prolonged periods of time."  So do your homework, find your expert (hint - that's me!) and make smart lighting choices.

I hope this generates good lighting conversations for you and your staff.  There's so much more I could say but as I said before, you can literally teach an entire semester-long class on this topic.  For now, make the most of this beginner's course so-to-speak and let me know how I can help.

You can do that by joining my DIY Library Design group on Facebook.  Ask me any questions you may have, comment on my recent email topic and learn all about my upcoming design courses.  But mostly, use the group to stay in touch and help me get to know you and your Library better!  I'm happy to help in any way that I can.  

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