What Summer Reading Programs Reveal About Your Library Design

It's finally Summer time.  And I plan to soak up every last minute of it.  I live in the South, so cold weather isn't even sort of in my vocabulary, which some of you know if you've spent any small amount of time with me or reading my blog posts.  Even now, I'm writing this post while sitting outside beneath my covered patio listening to the sound of a small plane overhead, birds chirping, frogs croaking and watching my two Irish Setters chase each other around the yard.  

For most of us, it's a time to slow down a little and adopt a new pace for a short while.  With that comes our increased trips to the Library with my two littles; as is the case for a lot of parents this time of year.  So while the rest of us begin to relax a little, YOU know all too well that this is most definitely NOT your take-it-easy season!  As one of my Library pros said to me once, this is your Christmas season!  All chaos and busy, busy, busy.

Join your colleagues and other Library-minded pros on my Off the Shelf Facebook group!  Get connected now for more great information and conversation about Library design! 

 That being said, my goal is to keep my blog posts a little more relaxed so I'm not bogging you down with too much design matters to consider this Summer.  But one thing I do want you to keep in mind as you begin your many seasonal programs is how your Library functions.  Or more importantly, how it lacks in function.

This is a great time for you and your staff to take note of your strengths and weaknesses as a functional Library while you are most likely maxed out with patrons and programs.  

I've put together a brief list to keep in the back of your mind while you're in the trenches!  This is a list of things you might not consider otherwise about how your Library functions and what you can even be on the lookout for:

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN EVALUATING YOUR LIBRARY DESIGN

1.  How's your flow of traffic?  Are people moving around easily or are there bottleneck areas you could clean up?

2.  How are your restrooms holding up?  Are people waiting in lines and are they easy to maintain as larger quantities of people move in and out of them?

3.  Is your circulation desk well equipped and fully functional?  Are there things you're lacking that make your job harder to do?

4.  Same for reference desks.  Are they fully operable and easy to access?

5.  Do you notice a specific section you may be lacking?  For example do the teens need more space?  Do you need more study rooms?  Could there be more cozy reading areas?  How's your History and Genealogy department looking?  Do you even have one?

6.  How's your wayfinding signage?  Do people know quickly and easily how to get around your Library?

7.  How's your outdoor space looking?  Is there any presently or is there a need for it that you didn't realize before maybe?

8.  How's the back-of-house space holding up?  Do your workroom and staff areas run smoothly?

9.  Do you have adequate spacing for offices?

10.  Do you have adequate spacing for volunteers to do their work?  For example, book sales and other capital-producing tasks.

11.  Do you feel like your Library is current, up-to-date and inviting to your patrons and staff?

These are just a few, but a great list to get you thinking while there are more people in your Library than usual.  Hopefully you can take a few notes throughout the days over the summer so when you survive it, you can begin focusing on the overall design again.  But for now, here's wishing you a safe and happy Summer!