What Makes A Space Attractive to Users?

I attended the "Library Commons" NELA lecture given by Cheryl Bryan from Southeastern Massachusetts Library System on Monday, Oct. 21st.

Here's how we can improve our library spaces to attract and retains users!!!

LIBRARY AS COMMONS:
Get information out to the community on how change will improve or impact the library
Consider the communities values
people seek contact -- provide a place for people to connect
people want to know how to earn a living in today's economy -- provide info

PROGRAMS:
The library is an ideal place for:
Learning Programs
Story Times
Collaboration with other community agencies
Cafe Area

COLLABORATIVE LEARNING:
Articulate collaborative learning by:
Having school books available for homework
Homework center
Tutoring
Nationally renowned lecture series
1:1 computer tutorials

SUCCESSFUL USER EXPERIENCES:
Help people find their way. WATCH the users.
Are signs in the right places * It takes 6 - 8 feet after a patron walks into a space before they take it their surroundings.
Path. Carpeting. Lighting. All important to consider in re-evaluating space
Drop lighting is ideal
Signs with graphic elements more eye catching than just type
Make collection accesable. Pull out certain t hings to highlight
Change exhibits OFTEN - weekly if possible for weekly users
Create "neighborhoods" of fiction and non-fiction topics/authors/genres
Name the "neighborhood" and use acrylic cases to showcase the display
Zone Staffing - whatever a patron might need, help that person on the spot. don't send the user around the building.
One stop shopping - veteran's affairs, tutoring/health advisers - have them available at the library.
Street Scape - what do people see when they see the building?
Can hours be seen from the street?
Are plantings kept up (yes we have that!)
What do people see when they walk in the door?
Here are some eye catching ideas:
Display cases
Flat screen monitor
Screen behind the circ desk with slide show of the library/programs/patrons
A kind face (yes we have that too!)

CREATE ZONES to support popular use:
Cafe Area
Family Zones - also accommodate adults in the children's room
Comfortable seating for varied activities - make more spacious
Teen Zones. Students want I.M. reference
Large screen TV for gaming zone
Computers/table seating/semi-circle seating
When people move furniture around - take a cue on where they prefer to sit
Create "community living rooms" with couch, comfortable chairs, fire place
Give it that living room feel

FAMILY BASED ACTIVITIES:
Multiple age groups. Personalize. Often the only place in town that supports family activities is the library.

PERSONALIZE USER EXPERIENCE:
Guard users privacy
Self check-out
Commuter train station book deposit
Preferences list on the web site to create your personal search
Let people decide their own due dates (?)
email lists that tell patron when their favorite author's new book arrives
Self Scanning machine (like copier access). Let teens/patrons scan materials then they can email the scan to themselves.
Coffee!

HOW DO WE USE THE SPACE?
More of a gathering space - lounge seating
We may need to get rid of some furniture to create more space
Get away for the desk. Think about how we deliver.
Are we an old model or futuristic? How can we implement change. Look at patters and needs of the community.

Overall the seminar was very interesting. I think there are some exciting, new innovative, outside of the box ideas to consider.

Phew! The End!

From Doreen Buchinski :)