All Libraries are Not Created Equal

I have a confession to make.  I love to dabble in hair and makeup.  It's just always been something I've enjoyed since I was a teenager.  And I'm super impatient when it comes to hairstyles.  I get on this longer hair kick and grow it out for as long as I can stand it. And then out of nowhere, I want to chop it all off and do something new and sassy. 

So I search out the perfect hair style on my phone and as soon as I've found it, I take it to my beloved hairstylist (she's amazing by the way), show it to her and say, "This!  I want this!"

Join me for a Library Interior Design focus group.  I'm putting together a small team of Library professionals for a virtual chat session to discuss what your pain points are in your Libraries right now and how I can create solutions to those pain points to help you get the most out of your physical space.  Learn more about that HERE!

But it took me a lot of training of the eye to learn that just because I want that particular hair style, does not necessarily mean I can have it.  In fact for the longest time until I learned what my hair type really was, I assumed you could mimic just about anything you found online.  But the truth is that all hair is in fact not the same.  There are many different textures, thicknesses, colors and lengths. 

For example, I have a lot of natural wave to my hair, so it curls pretty easily.  My daughter has fine straight hair that won't hold a single curl.  Many of the hair styles you see in magazines and online are not only significantly styled by a personal stylist, but they're quite often made for people with finer hair with a lot less volume than mine.  So it took a while for me to finally realize that not all hair is created equal which means that not every style will work for everyone.

I use this example to make a point about Library design.  I teach Library professionals how to design their spaces through digital courses.  And these lessons are brimming with information, design ideas, tips, tricks of the trade and so much more.  But the one factor that must always be accounted for is the Identity Factor.  And this is one thing that has to be considered before applying anything you learn from me or anyone else to your own Library.

For starters every Library has it's own identity.  What makes up your identity?  Well that requires a really full answer but broken down quickly and simply for time's sake, your Library identity happens based on your location, your patrons, the overall building style, the style goals of the community and staff and so so so much more.  

This is why you have to take the courses and learn the lessons and then ask the questions.  Don't just assume that one application for a Library example you've seen will work for yours.  Take good notes about your Library style (I've taught entire classes on this topic alone) and understand your Library identity.  Then ask the questions.

Where do you go to ask those questions?  Well for starters, you can ALWAYS come to me.  I have a great Library Design Facebook page (you can find that HERE if you're interested) where you can post any question you may have.  I am more than happy to help you understand your Library identity better and help you figure out what might best apply to your building.  But you can also interact with your colleagues in that group as well as other Library groups that could help you weed out the bad ideas from the good ones.

Your Library identity is so unique.  It's impossible for any two Libraries to be designed the same when they don't even function the same.  In fact, I've seen multiple examples where a multi-branch Library system has completely different branch styles even though they are represented by the same professionals and often funded by the same regions.  If they differ so greatly in those circumstances, you can count on the fact that they will be different from state to state and even country to country.  

FINAL THOUGHTS

Everyone appreciates different styles and even functionality.  And not only is that okay, it's what makes each Library so unique.  So wrapping right back around to my original story, I want you to find your images that you love.  I want you to discover what other styles and layouts make you excited for a new change.  And then I want you to discover what YOUR Library identity is and how to mesh the two together to form a new and improved design style that suits no one else but you.  

Be different, be true to yourself, and be true to your community.