Library facilities and construction

One of the most exciting library trends of the last decade is the development of young adult spaces. But what does this really mean? Aren't these innovations just for new, large, and shiny libraries? How can these innovations improve your library and better serve your YA patrons?

Librarians planning new facilities or renovations are challenged as never before to provide customers with improved user experiences – and with the greatest service from the least square footage. Increasingly, the purpose of any library facility, its services and its collections is to provide an interactive environment for formal, collaborative, and casual library user behavior.

Your library's attendance is up, but collection use is down. Your building is overcrowded - bursting at the seams - leaving little room for tempting displays and browsing areas. So many collections and special services areas have been added that the building organization no longer makes any sense. Signage is outdated, redundant, overabundant, and negative. Your customers are browsing, but not buying.

Using the basic principles of wayfinding and signage, urban planning, retailing and conversion, the class will discuss: