books & mortar: getting attention for facility plans

Books and Mortar

Making the Overall Fit “Sexier”

The Planner

Jim Morgenstern

The Librarian

Rebecca Jones

Thanks Darlene Fichter

Facilities planning?

Let’s get to designing!

Space require-ments

Facility models

Building design

Library as

Place

and y

et…

Our

focu

s Good facilities start with comprehensive planning

Two key planning issues: Provision standards & Facility models

Group debates

Good facilities start with good planning

What type of plan are you asking for?

RFP

Strategic Master Plan

Master Strategic Plan

Comprehensive Master Plan

Community Based Strategic Plan

Strategic Assessment and Business Plan

Management Plan

Strategic Facility Review & Feasibility Study

Facilities Needs Assessment Strategy

Three planning questions

What Do We Need To

Provide to Accomplish Our Vision?

Why Are We Providing Library

Services?

How Will We Provide

Facilities & Services to Meet Our Vision?

Three questions, three plans

What Do We Need To Provide to Accomplish

Our Vision?

• Library Master Plans

• Feasibility Studies

• Technology Plans

How Will We Provide Facilities/Services to

Meet Our Vision?

• Marketing Plans

• Organizational Reviews

• Operational Reviews

• Policy Analysis

Why Are We Providing Library Services?

Vision, Goals, Strategic

Directions/ Action Plans

Strategic Plan

Management Plans Master Plan

Community Wide Perspective Long term – Focused on

growth and/or fit with other City Plans

Determines Overall Space

Requirements Determines a Facility

Hierarchy and Model

Building/Project Specific

Short term – detailed implementation strategy

Defines Functional Space Program

Addresses Capital and Operating Costs

Master Plans Feasibility Studies

Comprehensive Planning Process

Vision

Strategic Plan

Strategic Direction: Infrastructure

Strategic Direction: Service Delivery

Strategic Direction: Promotion

Strategic Direction: TBD

• Master Plan • Feasibility Study • Tecnology Plan

Financial Strategy / Fiscal Plan Partnership Assessment

Operational Review

• Marketing Strategy • Organizational Audit

• Policy Review

Why?

What?

Did We Succeed / How Can We Improve?

Implementation

Monitoring & Evaluation • Program Evaluation • Cost / Benefit • Performance Measures

How

A public organization’s focus

Why do we exist for our

community today & into the future?

What services will best

underpin our community’s aspirations?

How do we best provide those

services today – and tomorrow – to

realize the vision?

Aspirations  

The Strategic Plan Captures what decision- makers have learned from several sources (insights, experiences, data, market research, etc.) and then synthesized into a vision of the direction the organization should pursue.

Adapted from Henry Mintzberg’s work

In response to a changing environment, it is fundamental decisions & actions that shape & guide what an organization is, who it serves, what it does, & why it does it, with a focus on the future. It articulates not only where an organization is going & the actions needed to make progress, but also how it will know if it is successful.

Adapted from the Balanced Scorecard Institute’s work

What drives the plans?

Str

ateg

ic P

lan Master Plan

Facilities Plan

Strategic Assessment and Business Plan

Operating Plan

Organizational Review

Municipal Strategies & Master Plans

Being known & respected at the table

Official Plan

Secondary Plans

Urban Design Standards

Master Plans of Related Departments (Recreation; Culture)

Development Charges Bylaw

Municipal Strategic Plan

Visions of Place

Two key planning issues: Provision standards Facility models

Provision Guidelines

0.6-1.0 sq ft/capita Various provincial and state library organizations

1.0 sq. ft/capita Ontario Public Library Guidelines

0.96 – 1.50 sq. ft./capita

(communities of 15-35,000 population) SOLS: Making the Case for Your Library Building Project

Trends Affecting Standards of Provision

New Roles for the Library

Accessibility

Legislation Enhanced Design

Less Print

Mobile and Personal Devices

Full Service Digital Branches

Higher Provision Lower Provision

•  Strategic Plan – Your Vision for the Library •  Key Factors Addressed in Your Master Plan, including:

- Community Needs/Level of Interest

- Your Facility Model - Partnerships and Shared Service Delivery

•  Resources - Community and Political Support

Community-Specific Provision Standards

http://greatex.org/blog/community-partners/

Facility Model:

Ensures facilities are functional

Maximizes use of available capital and operating

resources

Guides long-range planning

A community specific description of : •  Number & types of branches in your system •  Functional relationship among branches •  Desired service standards

Facility Model: Number, Type and Functional Relationships

dmA Planning & Management Services

Community Branches (Level 3)

Community Branches (Level 2)

Community Branches (Level 1)

DISTRICT BRANCHES

CENTRAL LIBRARY

• 33 Branches • Mobile & Outreach Services

• Virtual Services

Virtual Library Service Delivery Channels

What are the Functional Relationships and Key Characteristics

Hours of Operation Size

Collection Circulation

Working/Reading Space

Program Space Population Served

Generic Library Facility Model

Characteristic Types of Libraries Central District Community Neighbourhood Satellite

Size (sq. ft.) 70,000 20-30,000 10-15,000 4-5,000 1-1,500

Population Served 100-150,000 25-35,000 15-20,000 4-5,000 n/a

Hours of Operation per week 70 60 45 30 10-15

Collection (items) 225-300,000 100-150,000 75-100,000 28-33,000 5-10,000

Program Space (sq. ft.) 2-2,500 750-1,000 300-350 none none

Computer Workstations 35-50 17-24 10-14 3-4 1-2 Reading / Working Space 175 70 40 20 5

The Facility Model Balance

• Acceptable Access

• Community Preference

• Cost •  Level of

Service

•  Master Plan to Investigate Service, Cost and especially Access

•  The Library’s Place in Community Planning - Place making - “Third” Place - Community Hub - Civic Identity

•  Community Pressure and Political Support

Community-Specific Facility Model

http://greatex.org/blog/community-partners/

Key

mes

sage

s Good buildings are based on good plans & good relationships

Two key planning issues open to debate: Provision standards: •  weak evidence •  strong vision •  influential relationships Facility models: •  Balance of cost, service & access •  Based on heavy-duty research & analysis

Let the debates begin!

Opinion & Rationale #1

Opinion & Rationale

#2

Be it resolved that:

1.  It’s unrealistic for Public Library Systems to have a comprehensive plan prior to building or renovating branches.

2.  No public library should build a stand-alone library.

3.  In the future of digital “everything” the Library simply won’t need as much physical space. Consequently the appropriate provision standard should be reduced to 0.4 sq ft per capita.

4.  Public library facility models will not include neighbourhood branches (size 5000 gsf for rural systems & 10,000 gsf for urban systems).

Debate positions for each table

Thank You!

Jim Morgenstern

jmorgenstern@dmaconsulting.com

Rebecca Jones

rebecca@dysartjones.com