Libraries Transform: Studies in New Spaces, New Services, New Solutions

1. Libraries Transform: Studies in New Spaces, New Services, New Solutions JOHNSON CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY Gail Campbell Lisa Williams AUSTIN PEAY STATE UNIVERSITY Christina Chester-Fangman Gina Garber Katie Pendleton Joe Weber TLA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, MARCH 23, 2012

2. Study 1Renovating Reference: Reviving and Surviving at Johnson City Public

3. History and Background of the Project • Strategic Planning in 2009 • 10th anniversary of “new” building – good time to re-assess

4. Strategic Planning:Methodology & Findings • “Planning for Success” methodology involved: • community members • library staff • library board • Findings identified 5 service area responses – 3 of the 5: • Finding a comfortable space • Career choices • Information fluency

5. Strategic Plan – specific goals • “Adults and teens will have access to a job and career center and related career training from key area agencies at the library.” • “Adults and teens will have access to quality training sessions on a variety of information related subjects (such as basic computing, genealogy, consumer health, etc.) provided by both library staff and area subject specialists.” • “Seniors, adults, teens, and children will enjoy a modern, comfortable environment both inside the facility and outside on the library campus.” • “By the fourth quarter of 2011, a computer lab will be available in the library providing patrons with additional resources and work stations in a user friendly environment.” • “By the fourth quarter of 2011, patrons will have access to a minimum of two additional study rooms in the library.”

6. BTOP Grant – What It Is • Part of ARRA of 2009 • Broadband Technology Opportunities Program • Money for infrastructure • JCPL received second largest BTOP grant in state

7. Existing Reference Area in ’09 –A “Lab” Environment?

8. 2 Goals of BTOP: Computer Lab and New Media Area • Computer lab/training area to be developed in existing Reference area • Combine all non-print materials in one place, with public service desk nearby • By the first quarter of 2012, adults will access all media (video, music, audio books) in a media center. • Developed a new floor plan with these 2 areas being adjacent

9. Grand Staircase

10. Existing floor plan

11. Reference Weeding Stats – we DID it! • March 2010 – 5,359 volumes • pulled 2,205 volumes, 41% • identified 35 as missing; 20 as shelved elsewhere • moved an additional 376 volumes to top shelves • added 273 new volumes during same time period ~ 3,000 Reference volumes on the shelves • March 2010 - 2,283 unique titles • pulled 1,006 titles, 44% • added 90 new titles during same time period ~1,367 Reference titles • 2,205 pulled volumes: 311 moved to circulation or Tennessee Room 1,894 withdrawn or donated to other libraries

12. Temporary Reference “outpost”

13. Reference Shelves FULL

14. Public Computers

15. Help Desk/Print Station for Computer users

16. New Floor Plan

17. Construction Begins…Or, the Great Wall of BTOP

18. Construction Continues…

19. Construction Continues…The Wall Emerges

20. Nearly Finished…Or So You Might Think

21. The Best Laid Plans…and carpets! • Completion was scheduled for Oct. 2011 • Anticipated opening April 2012 • We will be closed March 26 through April 1. • The new carpet will be laid. • The wood flooring on the 1st floor will be refinished. • Furniture and shelving will be installed in the new computer center area. • On Monday, April 2, Adult Services Dept. will begin operating in the new environment.

22. YAY!!!!

23. The Ultimate Vision - Recap • Non-print media will be collected into an easy access location adjacent to lab • Two service desks with different main functions • Computers oriented to face smart board to facilitate training – “open” design vs. carrels • Software to allow reservations of “block” of computers for classes as well as for individual patrons • Dynamic reservation system to queue computers to next available, will manage time more effectively • Reference collection repositioned by desk • 3 study rooms in area with doors for quiet

24. The Vision in Training • “Emerging Technologies” series • Picassa face recognition for genealogy research • Skype • Photosharing sites: Snapfish, Dropbox, Flickr, etc. • Introduction on how to use READS, Universal Classes, Mango Languages • “Gadget Wranglers” device troubleshooting • Financial literacy – partner with local bank • TEL training & “Train the Trainer” sessions • Foundation Center – Grant Seeking Workshops • “Power lunch” sessions with local computer business on social media for business use, etc.

25. Observations • People browse books more when the books are closer to computers • People ask more questions at ref desk when reference books are closer to desk -Converse can be true for the books– desk can function as barrier to Ref collection as browsing collection • We temporarily lost significant “quiet space” – people complain  – this tells us patrons still VALUE those spaces

26. Study 2 (Not So) Extreme (But Still Pretty Terrific) Library Makeover: Austin Peay State University Edition

27. History and Background of APSU’s Woodward Library February, 1967 March, 2011

28. Finally…A Pencil Sharpener Dr. Sutfin, Professor of English, presents pencil sharpener to Head Librarian Johnnie Givens

29. 7 Precepts • The new library building should be so dramatic, so gracious and so stimulating that it will encourage students to develop effective study habits and to learn to use the records of scholarship with pleasure and profit. • The library should be planned to be a daily aesthetic experience for the students and to be an example of the beauty which can be achieved in architecture and interior décor. • The library should be planned to demonstrate the best in functional design.

30. 7 Precepts • The library building should be planned with flexibility, adjustable to the changing needs of students and the changing theories and materials of education. • The library building should stand out as the most eye-catching and enticing structure on the campus. It should be open and inviting, expressing the concept that reading and learning are to be shared outwardly, not to be tightly confined to the experiences of the individual.

31. 7 Precepts • The library should be of appropriate quality of design, décor, materials, construction, functional planning, and atmosphere obtained at the most inexpensive cost possible but without compromise. • The use of this building should be a satisfactory experience for students and faculty. It should be an object of pride to everyone.

32. Open for Business 1967

33. Open for Business

34. Booktastrophy 1978

35. Through the years… 1980s 1990s

36. Beginning our Current transformation: New Director = New Vision • Joe Weber, Director of Library Services, 2007 • Athenaeum – “a space where we can engage our students” • Athenaeum Series • Trivia Night at the Library • Murder Most Foul: Mystery Night at the Library • Theatre Organization for Youth by Students (TOYS) • Instruction Space – accommodate increased demand for library instruction sessions • Collaborative study spaces and “quiet zones”

37. Athenaeum

38. Trivia Night

39. Murder Most Foul

40. TOYS

41. Instructional Space Instruction Room 114

42. Collaborative study space and “Quiet Zones”

43. LibQUAL+ Survey (2009): “A Place to Plop!” • LibQUAL+ Survey – “suite of services that libraries use to solicit, track, understand, and act upon users' opinions of service quality” • A new building • “…tear down old and build new 21st century environment…” • “Facelift” • “…fresh and new with a theme that encourages reading and learning…” ; “…need legitimate look…” • More computers • “More computers!” • More group study space • “More prominent group study space; separate areas for discussions; more group study rooms so that rest of library quiet and calm…” • A coffee shop • “Coffee shop with wifi, comfortable chairs; place for students to plop with laptops and tables where they can spread out.” • Engagement • “Keep Athenaeums and Trivia”

44. A New Building • We knew that wasn’t going to happen, so…what could we do?

45. Funding • How to make changes for an immediate impact, but with no budget? DIY. First step: furniture (discard, scrounge, rearrange, scrounge some more). • New strategy: use our annual departmental "listening meeting" with the president to convince him to commit to renovating the existing library. • Developing a vision: How might the space might look? How might it be used? • President said yes! Talk to the Provost. • Tour time for the Provost. • Timing is everything. • Stimulus money . . . and more!

46. Facelift = “Fresh and New” (paint, carpet, Furniture!) After Before

47. Re-designed InfoCommons = More Computers After Before

48. Study Space = Individual and Group After Before After

49. Coffee Shop = Starbucks!!!(with wi-fi, comfortable chairs, tables) After Before

50. Lessons Learned: Challenges, Issues & Frustrations • Design concessions due to space limitations • Antique HVAC system • Everything will happen more slowly than you think • Multiple offices and people involved in planning and decision-making • University, TBR, and Tennessee purchasing laws and regulations • Mysteriously disappearing and reappearing workmen • Inevitable change orders • Library faculty & staff buy-in