What I didn't know that CAN hurt you!

Last week I posted on a Facebook group inviting Library pros to join me for the upcoming brainstorm session/focus group I'm putting together.  I got a question from one of their members that I was a little surprised by.  Granted she was perfectly right, but she made me see something in my offer that I had not considered.  What is Library design and how can you use it to benefit your own space?

A little back story - When I was in college, I remember telling a story to one of my Interior design teachers.  I was going on and on not sparing a single detail, so I thought, when she stopped me halfway through the story.  With a confused expression on her face, she asked me about a very important detail that I'd managed to leave out in my story.  Now looking back, I have no idea what story I was telling her, but that's not the point.  She went on to inform me that I have a tendency to assume everyone in the room knows what I'm talking about while jumping straight into the story.  And she was right.  I do that.  Still actually.  

And so the woman's question in the Library group made me pause and rethink that through for a bit.

See I just assumed when I offered up digital Library design courses on social media, everyone would automatically know that I was talking about interior design and how to improve your space on an interior architecture level.  This makes sense to me because it's the world I've hovered in for the last couple of decades.  Not to mention, my main audience is YOU and you're very aware by now that my passion and specialized instruction is Library interior design.

But it did give me the idea to give you, and others, a list of things you can actually do to improve the interior space of your Library without undergoing a complete renovation or new construction.  And hopefully these suggestions will explain better to anyone reading this post how it is I can help you make your Library function and look better.  These are some of the ideas I hope to brainstorm with you in my upcoming focus group. 

So please be sure to sign up for one of those sessions HERE! And in the meantime, read on for a quick list of things you can do to improve your Library on little or no money.

THE NO COST LIST

• One thing you can do is rearrange your furniture in each individual space to maximize the natural flow of things and to also change things up a bit.  This is something I cover in several of my online courses but on different levels.  It's easy and free.
• Speaking of rearranging things, you can also rearrange your shelving.  Now I realize this is not a simple task and would take serious work and possibly even money if you have to organize help to move materials and units, but you could always start somewhere small like shorter shelving in the children's areas for a more subtle change.
• Rethink your circulation locations.  If you can rework your main contact points and it makes sense to do so without a full renovation or new build, this can be a great way to shuffle things around a bit to bring better flow to your building and also make your space feel a bit more updated.  Now this might also lead to flooring changes or electrical rewiring, so if this isn't something you can't do without spending money, then keep this one for the "some cost" list.
• You can also consider shuffling around your reference/resource desk locations.  Just like with the circulation desk, this one has to make sense, but if you take a look at your building and see that this trick might work for you, consider making the change.
• Look for ways to carve out unique but needed spaces in your existing departments.  Consider whether or not there's a way to create a nook somewhere for your teens if you don't already have space for them.  Or maybe you can move some study tables around in your adults area to make room for some soft seating reading areas.  You have to know what works for your patrons and then decide if the new addition helps or hinders.  But if it helps, it could be a huge hit!

THE SOME COST LIST

• First on the "some cost" list is my tried and true accent wall.  A well-placed accent wall can change the dynamic of your space instantly.  I've covered this many many times in blog posts as well as online design courses.  But it's pretty simple to achieve on your own if you know what colors to pull and which ones to leave.
• Lighting changes are huge too.  I'm not talking about overall lighting.  What I'm referring to is your decorative/task lighting.  These are the pieces that suspend over your circulation desks, reference desks and other areas of interest.  You can also add a piece in a space like the children's area to give you some added pizazz.  Shop fixtures from sites like www.lightingdirect.com for affordable options with excellent filters so you don't get overwhelmed by their selections.
• Adding plants is another favorite of mine.  It's pretty inexpensive and so nice to bring some of the outdoors inside your building.  Not to mention there are tons of statistics on the healing properties of plant life in your day-to-day surroundings.
• Minor flooring changes can make a huge difference too.  You can change out very specific areas like story-time rooms that won't throw a hitch in the rest of your building design but will add new identity to that space to draw people in and make it more seen.  Try a simple carpet swap that has bold accent colors in it that play off the rest of your building design concept.  Fresh LVT in the breakrooms and workrooms is generally a very welcome addition as well.  
• And of course you can always splurge a little on a few new unique and exciting furniture pieces.  You can almost never go wrong by bringing in a brand new individual study carrel unit or adding some cozy soft seating for your reading areas. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

There are plenty of things you can do with your space for little or no cost to change things up without having to undergo a huge and costly transformation.  And I teach all of these things and so much more in my different online Library interior design classes.  Hopefully this will give you a little more insight to what your options are and how to make some very valuable changes.  If you have ANY questions in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out to me!  I'd love to help in any way that I can.

Join a brainstorming Focus Group session today!  I want to know what Library Interior Design Classes would be most beneficial to you and your Library in the year 2023!