The Globus Design Associates Blog

Libraries in the Digital and Sustainable Age

Photo: Suzan Globus

I was asked to design a special area to attract young adults in a public library by library board members who lamented, "Kids don't read books anymore," while wondering what effect this assumption will have on public libraries in the future.  Coincidentally, one of my Design for Sustainability students submitted a paper on the effects of e-readers on libraries and I was interested to read his view regarding the need for libraries.

Typical of many library users, he said that the library was the coolest place he had ever visited as a child because it was, "crammed with anything and everything you wanted to know about."  To him, the fact that Amazon made library e-books available on Kindle was a signal of the need for libraries in the digital age.  He also felt that the continual use of the millions of library buildings around the world allows for optimization of our built environment in relationship to sustainability.  Contrary to the opinion of the my library board clients, this college student stated that he is partial of physical books and will continue to use the library for that purpose only.  Libraries have a wonderful opportunity to build on that sense of discovery that engages people of all ages by offering "anything and everything" people want to know about in both physical and digital formats in an environment that is designed to both stimulate them and support them in their quest.

Back Roads Reveal Historic Preservation, Restoration and Adaptive Reuse

Serendipity is one of the best rewards of travel. On a recent trip through the Blue Ridge Mountains, I  encountered examples of historic preservation, renovation and adaptive reuse where people understand the "reuse" part of sustainability. A double rainbow announced what lay ahead.
Photo: Suzan Globus

Photo: Suzan Globus

The public library in Shepherdstown, W.V. is tucked into the former circa 1800 headquarters for the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Photo: Suzan Globus

The library is centrally located in the center of Shepherdstown's commercial hub, West German Street, a restored historic district.

Further south in New Market, VA., I happened upon a retired fireman, who is a descendant of Dr. Soloman Henkel, engaged in lovingly restoring his relative's former home.

 
Photo: Suzan Globus

According to this plaque on the home's exterior, I was given a much more gracious reception than the Yankee soldiers who came to town.

Photo: Suzan Globus

In what was the front parlor of the original home, thin sheet rock which allows for a reveal around the fluted door casing is being considered in lieu of repairing the plaster walls.

Photo: Suzan Globus

The stylized dentil frieze and angular corner blocks on the door casing echo the trompe l'oeil panels in the newer front parlor and are of a grand scale compared to the more modest bullseye corner blocks and trim surrounding the original six panel interior door above.

Photo: Suzan Globus

The cracked painted plaster ceiling presents some restoration challenges.

Images of the original interior design are guiding the renovation.

Photo: Suzan Globus

The next project for the fireman/renovator is Dr. Henkel's pharmacy behind the house.

 

Teens use Library in New Ways

To hear some of our public library clients tell it, part of the headline above, "Teens Use Library" might be newsworthy.  In towns where the library is not located within walking distance of the schools, some public libraries use programs such as gaming to attract teen users.

River Edge Public Library employed a creative tactic to engage teens to become more familiar with and take pride in their local library by enrolling them to assist in moving part of the book collection. The move was precipitated by the redesign of the library interiors.

As demonstrated by these photos on the library's page, the volunteers are enjoying themselves. The teens are engaged and the library is saving money by using volunteer labor. Great idea and execution by Daragh O'Connor, Director. It will be interesting to see if The teens will increase their use of the library after investing their time to improve it for their community.

Climate Change Reminder of Interior Designer's Role

Photo: Suzan Globus

An angry sun was trying to get its last licks in on a sweltering day during my 7:30 pm ferry commute from NYC yesterday. The excessive heat reminds me of the responsibility I have as an interior designer to reduce my clients' impact on climate change by weaving sustainability throughout each project.

So thanks, Builder's Exchange Magazine for the good bytes on the Rock Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives  that we designed and is being submitted for LEED-CI.

 

Library Furniture Surprises from NeoCon

The encouraging news in the library furniture world is that the go-to workhorse furniture lines known for manufacturing cost conscious solutions are investing in good design.  They understand or are willing to bet that:

1. Good design sells.

2. Good design doesn't have to be more expensive.

 

Here is a sampling of my list of old standards with noteworthy new additions to their product lines:

Global - Ballara, Lounge seating

Hon - Voi, Desks

KI - Learn 2,  Classroom seating

Jofco - Collective space, systems furniture

Library Display Finds from NeoCon '11

I'll admit it.  I'm not a fan of using slat wall display on end panels in libraries due to its oversubsciption and under whelming design.  If the slat wall pieces are not filled, it adds a strong horizontal linear design element that is rarely incorporated into the overall design of the space.  If the slat wall is finished in a strong color, it can stop the eye instead of the materials displayed on it.  I am always on the prowl for different ways to display library materials. The products displayed at NeoCon yielded a couple of options:

This large format, children's book, two sided, mobile trolley by Jonti Craft provides display at the eye level of the intended audience.  Although the exposed screw holes prevent me from labelling it sleek, there is much to be said for straightforward design from simple materials that doesn't have a large foot print and is easy to relocate and change.

Photo: Suzan Globus

This sleek introduction by Sparkeology allows the owner to create changeable displays in house from perforated 8-1/2" by 11" paper to hang on this brushed metal, two sided T-stand. I could imagine it being used also to display some topical periodicals supporting an adjacent display.

Library Contains Hidden Treasure

One of the benefits of designing Library interiors is discovering a link to the past or a hidden treasure within a Library's special collection.  A recent visit to a prospective client uncovered several surprises:

Photo: Suzan Globus

1. A beautiful setting on a lush campus overlooking the New York skyline.

Photo: Suzan Globus

2. Strong of the period - 1970's- architecture. As an aside, it doesn't always make for the most usable or accessible interiors, but is still interesting to look at.

Photo: Suzan Globus

3. Exceptional student art displays. This mobile was donated by former student, Alexander Calder.  See photo above for another view.

Photo: Suzan Globus

4. More "student" art. A Calder sculpture anchors rows of book stacks.

 

Bid Opening in Historic Surroundings

It's not unusual for me to attend a municipal bid opening. Many of our library interior design projects are for public libraries and we routinely prepare public bid packages for them.
Photo: Suzan Globus

It's a rare treat to find municipal offices housed in the likes of a restored former home of John Jacob Astor IV where the Bernards Township administrative offices are located.  These people truly understand the "reuse" part of sustainability.

 

Bernards Township, located in Somerset County, NJ is characterized by lush rolling hills dotted by estates on former farmland. The Bernards Township administrative offices are based in this English Tudor home gifted to the town in 1968 by John Jacob Astor VI who was born here shortly after his father perished in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.

 
Photo: Suzan Globus

This dining room turned meeting room created the most genteel environment for a bid opening I have ever encountered.

Photo: Suzan Globus

The staircase provides access to second floor offices. And while I'm thinking of some of the reasons why New Jersey is called "The Garden State", check out my spring greenery photos in Lauren Mattia's The Real Jersey Shore video on Rumson Patch.

 

New Library Circulation Desk from start to finish

I've been writing about firm's design and the construction of the new circulation desk for the River Edge Public Library and I'm happy to report it was installed last weekend while the facilities were closed.

From our "drawing boards"

Design concept perspective of a section of the new desk. Design by Globus Design Associates

In the Shop

View of the accessible section designed to meet the new ADA regulations.Photo: Suzan Globus

Interior of the desk showing the book return slot and wire management troughs in the open sections.  Photo: Suzan Globus

To the installation at the library

The desk is in place at the library awaiting delivery of the solid surface counter. Photo: Suzan Globus

The cabinetmaker's installers clean the carpet at the end of the first day of the installation. Photo: Suzan Globus

Take a look at the finished installation on River Edge Public Library's Facebook page

Sustainability Scenarios Have Implications for Libraries

Steelcase invited me to participate in a strategic planning session about the future of sustainability in their New York showroom this week.  We designers were asked to create scenarios.  Scenarios are developed from identifying trends and uncertainties. Sustainability uncertainties include who will hold the influence to drive sustainability and what will be the intensity of interest in the future.

Trends

After we identified trends, I found these especially relevant to libraries:

• the rise of individualism
• pervasive information and ease of access to it
• increasing interest in well being
• sourcing products and services locally 
• the pressure for businesses to innovate to distinguish themselves in the marketplace

Communities of Interest

I reaffirmed my conviction to encourage my firm's public library clients to form communities of interest in sustainability among their library customers.  Public libraries have a wonderful opportunity to provide information resources and educational programming about sustainability and expand their brand of being a valuable resource to their communities.