Library design, library myth

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• Library design, library myth

A light-hearted look at changing attitudes to
library interior design Richard Mitchell,
Special Projects, Demco Interiors
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The old myths

• The escaping child
• The neer do well library user
• The short-sighted reader

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Myth One the escaping child

• Any child has one objective to escape
• out of the safety of its parent or carer and hurl
  itself out of the library door and into passing
  traffic Im off!

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Myth One the escaping child

• Safety of children paramount
• Keep in proportion and use common sense
• Childrens libraries need to be fun and stay
  accessible.
• Keep an open mind and dont design a fortress
• A good design will keep children in the library
• Listen to what parents/carers have to say.

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Myth One the escaping child
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Myth One the escaping child
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Myth two the neer do well library user

• We know that a fair proportion of library users
  are potentially up to no good.
• Sight lines have to be maintained to deter
  aberrant or anti social behaviour
• Furniture should ideally be upholstered in vinyl

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Myth two the neer do well library user

• Keep libraries open and accessible
• Avoid library design for the minority rather than
  the majority
• Design a trusting open library space
• Less need to prioritise the trouble factor
  when designing a library layout.

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Myth three the short-sighted reader
THERE IS A MYTH THAT ANY0NE OVER THE AGE OF
50 WHO USES THE LARGE PRINT SECTION IS ALSO IN
NEED OF SPECIAL SEATING AND IS UNABLE TO WALK
BEYOND THE LIBRARY DOOR
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Myth three the short-sighted reader

• Avoid design-by-stereotype
• Short sighted but not short changed
• Treat large print books as any other
• Signpost well
• Most important good lighting.

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Myth three the short-sighted reader
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The new myths

• The library as book shop
• The short-stay user, or the user with
  attention-deficit disorder
• The counter as a barrier

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No. 1 The Myth of The library as a book shop

• Our users prefer the ambience, look and feel of
  book shops, and we, librarians, must ape that
  look in our libraries to please our customers

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No. 1 The Myth of The library as a book shop

• Design for the differences.
• Design and market strengths of back list stock.
• Good quality coffee shops and cafes in libraries.
• Library users appreciate the differences.
• Listen to what they have to say.

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What do library users think?
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What do library users think?
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What do library users think?
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What do library users think?
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No. 1 The Myth of The library as a book shop

• Cost of books prohibitive.
• Winder choice and advice available from
  libraries.
• The library as a good habit!
• Availability of back list titles a positive
• Design to libraries strengths.
• Dare to be different - Design to be different.

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No 2 The Myth ofLibrary users with attention
deficit disorder

• Library users only stay for short periods in the
  library and that layouts and furniture should
  only reflect a five minute stay.
• In this - quick fix, short span, instant
  gratification, instant messaging - world we all
  now live in, rows of shelving are not needed ONLY
  quick pick displays.

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What do library users have to say?
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What do library users have to say?
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What do library users have to say?
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Myth three The counter as a barrier

• Library users find us behind a counter as cut
  off, remote, and we are erecting a barrier
  between us and them.
• We are much better out on the floor to help users.

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What library users say
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What library users say
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What library users say
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• Listen to library users.
• Keep talking to stay in touch.
• Bring what users say into your library design.
• Share findings with your library designers.

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And finally , give your library users the last
word
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