A library neither small nor rural: some thoughts inspired by a brief visit to the New York Public Library

I've been busy with a some interesting consulting work and so have had little time for the library visits I've enjoyed so much.  However, a family wedding brought me to New York City a few weeks ago.  I wandered its noisy, vibrant streets, amazed by the city's joyous energy.  Eventually, my perambulations brought me to the renowned New York Public Library.  How could I not venture inside for a brief visit?

It is a jaw-dropping experience.   In case you've never had the pleasure,  I offer a telling glimpse of the building's opulence by showing you a lowly drinking fountain on the main floor! 




The famed Map Room wasn't yet open, so I ducked into the Genealogy Division on the first floor whose windows look out onto Bryant Park in early spring.  Note the graceful London plane trees which shade the park in summer.

















  You can imagine what it must have felt like to be an immigrant  in the early part of the 20th century and to enter a place such as this:  a veritable palace of learning, open to everyone.  Every bit as much as the Statue of Liberty promised freedom, this library has promised hope.  

Like many of the rural libraries I'm familiar with in Vermont and New Hampshire,  the NYPL was born in an era between the late 19th and early 20th centuries when public libraries were taking hold of the public imagination.

As we all know, one of the prime movers behind the expansion of public libraries during this period was the Scottish-born industrialist Andrew Carnegie. 

Although the founding bequest that helped to build the NYPL was from another philanthropist (former governor Samuel J. Tilden)  Carnegie followed up by  donating the funds to develop a system of neighborhood branch libraries in New York.

Carnegie famously said, "There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration."

Here's a link to more information on the founding and building of the NYPL: http://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/history

I thought about this era, with its unprecedented construction of beautiful and well-stocked library buildings, and about the philosophy which inspired them.   Clearly, the concept had its detractors.  But  the many benefactors who donated the funds to erect public libraries in their communities, both urban and rural, had the same message in mind:  "If you work hard and educate yourself you too can realize the American dream."

Sadly, that time in our history has passed.   It's unlikely, in the push for ever lower taxes, that public institutions such as these will enjoy the support that they did at their founding.  But interestingly, when requests for library funding are put directly before the voters, the voters almost always say yes. People still believe that public libraries are one of the most important institutions in our democracy.

This leads me to wonder about the disconnect between governments and the governed.  If our local governments listened to their constituencies there would be a great deal more money available in this country for the building and stocking of public libraries.   Failing that, perhaps there are some modern Carnegies waiting in the wings to build a lasting monument to the concept of hope through learning.

Rockland Public Library in Rockland, Maine

This posting is a tribute to our late friend, Patrick Reilley of Rockland, and to his work on the library committee which restored and expanded this beautiful library in 2001. 

The Rockland Public Library, one of the famed Carnegie libraries, was completed in 1904 on land provided by the Town of Rockland.    In 1996, town visionaries created the Rockland Endowment Association with the purpose of soliciting private donations to improve their library.  It is a testament to the people of Rockland that their efforts raised an astounding three million dollars.  These funds made possible the expansion and restoration that we will see today on our tour.  For more information on the library, check out the website at http://www.rocklandlibrary.org/cs/?render=homepage

You will find two "main" entrances to this library: the historic entrance at the top of the page, and the entrance to the new section on the opposite side of the building, seen on the right.  

There is a service desk at each entrance with sight lines that go directly from one to the other.   In this view we are at the historic entrance looking back to the new entrance.  Note the handsome curved desk which serves as an information/reference point.  It looks toward the circulation desk straight ahead in the new section.

Now let's look at the library interior from the new entrance.  Note that the original exterior has been preserved in this restoration. The connecting atrium gives us the illusion of being outdoors.  Its effect is stunning and cheerful.   Here is another view of this area and its atrium.

During our dark New England winters, it's helpful to remember that a large, bright window can transform itself into a black wall by 4:30 on a December afternoon.  The architect took this into account by using track lighting above the glass to warm up the area when there is no light coming in.

Directly off the circulation area in the new section is the children's room, a nicely-planned space.  I liked the juxtaposition of the children's area and the main circulation area as both are active and noise-tolerant spaces.


In the photo above we have a view of the circulation desk from the children's room.  The French doors to the right of the photo lead into the "children's garden", a fully enclosed garden space.  Sadly, wintertime doesn't allow us to fully appreciate this charming feature, but one can fully imagine how inviting this must be in warmer weather.  Here's a view looking out from a window in the children's area.

 In an alcove adjacent to the children's room is a nifty storage area for story time and craft supplies.

Below is a view of the children's room from the main circulation desk.  It has a fine bay window - an inviting reading area for parents and kids.  I also want to point out the pendant lighting fixtures which are used throughout both the new and old sections of the building.  They provide good light while preserving the historic feel.

Directly across the new addition, on the other side of the circulation desk, I found the audio book section.   Note the clear wall lettering, a way-finding system used throughout the building to good effect.  

Before we go into the historic section of the building, I wanted to point out another view of the circulation area and the clearly designated display of new materials.  It seemed that there was very good communication between the library building committee and the architects; the library is laid out in a thoughtful and customer-friendly way, all the while preserving the beauty of the original structure.


This is a view of the periodical reading room from the information desk in the original structure.  Note the beautiful architectural details, the ironwork, and the handsome fireplace fitted with a modern insert.  This is such a gracious and welcoming space, clearly beloved by library customers today.

In the wing opposite the reading room is the non-fiction area, thoughtfully placed adjacent to the information desk. Note the glassed-in area for quiet study.

Once again, this area is clearly signed as you can see in the photo below.

Here's another photo of the historic section looking up at the beautiful lines of the ceiling.

In several of these photos you can see the use of well-chosen pendant lighting fixtures which seem to bridge the gap between the early 20th century architecture and modern 21st century illumination needs. 

Another nice design feature is the use of cushioned window seats along a number of windows. 






The library's ground level serves a variety of functions, housing a tutorial room, the board room, a community meeting room, and the library's own book store, "The Book Stop".

 This unique take on the traditional library book sale features a large, plate-glass window looking out onto  the corridor.  As you can see, this is not your typical book sale, but an actual retail space staffed by volunteers and filled with eager shoppers. To learn more about "The Book Stop", check this link: http://www.rocklandlibrary.org/cs/?render=page&callname=book_stop. 

Warm congratulations to all those who have had a part in the renaissance of this beautiful library, and thanks to Children's Librarian, Jean Young for taking some time out to show me around on a busy Saturday.  

Reflections at the beginning of a new year

I noticed today that this little blog has been viewed well over 1,000 times since I began my travels through library space a little over four months ago.  Thanks to all of my viewers for your encouragement!  Now, with the new year underway, it seemed a good time to reflect on how I began this journey and to muse a bit over what I've learned on my travels.

When I decided to move away from library administration my intention was to become an avid library user.  I wanted more time to read some of the fascinating books I had ordered for the Kellogg-Hubbard Library over the years- but hadn't had time to read; I wanted to experience libraries from the other side of the desk; and I wanted to pursue a new career.  What I hadn't anticipated was how interested I would continue to be in the concept of the library as a public space.  It was this interest that inspired me to become a consultant with that concept in mind.

Over the course of my travels I was reminded that rural libraries generally cope with a shortage of space and a shortage of money.  Nonetheless, they are beloved by their customers -  those thrifty New Englanders who wholeheartedly embrace the notion of shared community resources. Librarians are revered in their communities as caring and intelligent purveyors of public knowledge, regardless of how small or poorly funded the library may be.   These librarians are masters at making the proverbial "stone soup": serving up a wonderful range of materials and services on a tiny budget.

Yet, there's not a librarian I've met who doesn't want more for his or her customers. Some long for a larger book budget or more computers, some envision an entirely new library, some are planning an expansion of an existing space, and others are simply looking for new ways to make their existing space better.  I admit to wishing more than once that I had time to make this journey while I was still a library director; there's no question that I would have adopted some good ideas to improve the experience of customers in my own library.  With luck, other librarians who are now in that position will find the blog a helpful resource and I welcome your suggestions and comments.

Imagining a new way to use space that we have inhabited every day is always a big challenge.  And when one is thinking about an entirely new space for a library it's equally difficult to imagine how that space should be laid out. 

It may be helpful to imagine the experience of a person coming through the library doors.  What is the first thing he or she sees?  If the customer is a child or a senior citizen, what would help them feel comfortable?   I've heard it suggested that we walk through the library while paying particular attention to what a customer's journey will be like. For instance, what do they hear within each space? What do they touch? What's it like to find a book, pull up a chair, turn on a lamp, sit at a computer, hold a handrail, and so on?   Do the transitions in the building make sense?  Can we give our customers the experience they need while trying surpass their expectations?

In my travels I've seen that small details are important — and I am talking about the ones that are most simple and obvious.  A well-placed chair, a clear directional sign, a welcoming corner that invites a child to curl up with a book, an attractive mural, good task lighting: these are the small things that can enhance the experience of the library at minimal cost.

Next week we'll be back on the road and escorting you through still more great libraries.  If for any reason you can't post a comment, feel free to send me an e-mail at: hilari@librariesthat work.com.

Aldrich Public Library in Barre, Vermont

One of the many features of this historic library's recent addition is the well-designed ground level meeting room.  Because the room also serves as gallery space,  you see a combination of gallery track lights and recessed ceiling fixtures.

The LCD projector is mounted on the ceiling, eliminating the need for a media cart and additional storage space.  Nonetheless, there is good storage for chairs and tables so that the room is quite flexible - easily set up and broken down. 

A small kitchen constructed against one wall of the room maximizes the public meeting space while still providing  facilities for events.  When desired, it can be hidden from view by pocket doors (shown on the left of the photo).  This is a very effective solution if space is limited.
On an upper floor there is a second kitchen which doubles as a staff area. It is adjacent to the library's board room.

Providing attractive shelving for media is something that libraries often struggle with.  I think that Aldrich has a very effective system which is both attractive and practical.  I was told by Library Director, Karen Lane, that the original unit came from a gift shop that was going out of business.  It worked so well in the library that they asked a local carpenter to duplicate the design.  The result is here. 

 When the library expanded in the middle of this decade, the architect incorporated the exterior of the old building into the interior design, giving a lovely transition between the old and new sections.

 

Special thanks to my good friend, colleague, and Library Director, Karen Lane, who took time to chat with me about her wonderful library!