BUILDING PROGRAM STATEMENT FOR THE SOMERSET PUBLIC LIBRARY SOMERSET, WISCONSIN APRIL 2014 Prepared by: Somerset Public Library Board of Trustees Kathleen Walsh, President Carol Boerger Rita Lawson Rebecca Linke Randal Rosburg Norma Scott, Library Director
INTRODUCTION The Community Setting The Somerset Public Library is located in Somerset, Wisconsin. In 2012 Somerset had a municipal population of 2,647 and a town of Somerset population of 4,054 for a total service population of 6,701. Located on the Apple River 15 miles east of Stillwater and approximately 30 miles east of St. Paul, MN with Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College less than 10 miles away and UW-‐River Falls less than 30 miles away, the Somerset area attracts a diverse population with the cultural, educational and leisure time expectations of a metropolitan area. Background The Somerset Public Library was established in 1974 in the village hall. In 1981 when the weight of the collection threatened to overwhelm the infrastructure of the hall, the library was moved across the street to a rented facility on Spring Street. It stayed there until the present building was built in 1993. The Present Facility When the present building was built in 1993 the village’s population was 1,123. Over the next 20 years the population more than doubled to 2,647. Property was annexed by the village; three housing developments were built and expanded; the public schools bought property, added three new buildings and remodeled existing buildings five times; the parochial school added a middle school program and enlarged their building; the village hall moved into a larger space which also houses the police department that put on an addition in 2013. The present library, while fully up-‐to-‐date in 1993, is now unable to meet the functions required of a larger, more technologically savvy population. Space is limited for materials in multiple formats, for computers, for meeting rooms, for teen activities, for storage, and for children’s activities. The area around the circulation desk is a bottleneck for printer/copier/fax/scanning purposes and, particularly so, as a place to load and unload the courier bins that carry materials fulfilling requests ordered through the online consortium.
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The library is only partially compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, specifically in the arrangement of shelving. It cannot be remedied without adversely affecting the one space available for medium group gatherings. Purpose This program statement provides an analysis of the current and future needs of the Somerset Public Library. Implementation of the recommendations of this report will provide Somerset with a library including the following features: 1. Space for growth for the future. 2. Full, unrestricted access for the elderly and physically challenged and full compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. 3. An energy efficient, healthful, climate-‐controlled interior. 4. Space for programming for youth and adults. 5. Appropriate lighting for reading and browsing. 6. Provision for new technologies. 7. Adequate parking. 8. Public meeting space for 100 persons with access separate from the library. 9. A floor plan requiring a minimum of staffing. 10. Appropriate working space and storage for staff needs. Recommendations It is recommended that a new facility containing approximately 16, 350 square feet be designed and constructed following the guidelines of this report. Budget Following approval of this program statement by the staff and library board, the architect will be responsible for developing a construction budget. The budget would include the cost of construction, fees, interiors, signage, furnishings, site acquisition (if necessary), site development and landscaping as minimum elements. 3
GENERAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS Atmosphere A modern library is not merely a repository for books, but a living organism that serves as an information and cultural center for the community. Its basic design must allow it to be inviting, friendly, warm and easy to use while providing for security of library materials and minimizing problems of control. Although function must ultimately take precedence over esthetics, visitors to the library should experience a feeling of relaxed friendliness and respect for their surroundings. The plan must provide a building with flexibility to accommodate both the present and future service program of the library. The building must be adequately heated, cooled, humidified, acoustically-‐treated, and properly lighted for the comfort, convenience and safety of its users and staff. General Building Features 1. Overall design, to include aisle widths and restrooms should provide easy access by a wheelchair. The completed building will meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 2. Features that conserve energy should be incorporated into the design wherever possible. The building should be fully insulated with energy efficient windows and doors. 3. Quiet air conditioned, humidified and filtered air systems are essential. Controls in public space must be digital and computer controlled. No license should be required to operate any of the equipment in the building. 4. Building materials should be in standard sizes and units to reduce costs of construction and replacement costs. 5. The architect’s design will comply with all local requirements regarding fire and building codes, parking, building set back, etc. 6. Due to the large variety of activities that take place in a library, everything from serious study to story time for children, control of sound is extremely important. Therefore, ceilings and some walls should be of sound absorbing material and most floors carpeted. 7. Live, indoor plants requiring a minimum of care should be provided throughout the public area of the building. 8. Structural design of the building should provide for future expansion. 9. Windows providing an inviting view of the interior from the street or sidewalk are desirable. 4
10. A flat roof should be avoided in favor of an easily maintained sloped roof. 11. Outdoor transformers or other equipment are to be enclosed attractively to prevent damage or injury. 12. Forms of art, such as sculpture, mosaics or graphics should be considered for public areas and, if possible, be provided in the budget so that they may be integrated into the general design of the building. Natural light and raised ceilings should be used to provide a feeling of spaciousness and vitality. Exterior Features 1. General –The building should be compatible with the neighborhood both in scale and design. The exterior should require very minimum maintenance. Natural light entering the building should be controlled by screening, overhang, or orientation of the building. Front entrance design should protect the entry way from rain and snow. Brick is recommended for the major portion of exterior surfaces. The area around the library should include trees and shrubs in appropriate scale. Plants should be hardy and require a minimum of care. Benches and a flagpole with a cable lanyard and locking device should be provided near the entrance. Low-‐profile or landscape-‐screened bicycle racks should be included. Design consideration should be given to exterior work of art. Entries and sidewalks will be made of materials that are easily cleaned and maintain an inviting appearance on a long-‐term basis. 2. Lighting-‐The exterior should be illuminated to provide security and enhance the appearance of the building. Lighting should illuminate the parking area and the library sign. Fixtures should be as vandal-‐proof as possible with lenses of moderate cost. Replacement lenses should be readily available locally and economical. 3. Exterior Signage-‐The name of the library must be clearly shown on the building and illuminated. A digital, computer controlled sign should be provided near the entrance to show library hours of operation. 4. Utilities-‐Key-‐controlled water taps and waterproof duplex electrical outlets should be conveniently located around the exterior walls. 5. Public Parking-‐Sufficient on-‐site parking should be provided to conform to local city ordinances and public use building standards. Also provided will be the necessary stalls per disability regulations. Parking must be convenient to the main entrance. A staff parking area should be near the delivery entrance. Interior Features-‐General 1. Lighting-‐Placement of ceiling fixtures should not give the appearance of a supermarket with unbroken row upon row of fixtures. They should take special care to avoid shadowed aisles in the book stack area. There should be a minimum of glare at 5
tabletop level. Task lighting should be provided in the staff work area. Fixtures should be placed in public areas so that appropriate light levels can be achieved whatever the shelving or furniture arrangement. Flexibility is essential. Replacement of light and equipment should be available locally. Ease of re-‐tubing fixtures should be an important consideration in placement. 2. Electrical-‐Provide duplex outlets generously throughout the building. All floor outlets are to be flush mounted and capped. Floor outlets should be at all freestanding computer terminal locations. Added floor outlets may be desirable in other strategic locations. The electrical system should provide 220 volt service for heavy equipment use. Telephone conduit and jacks are to be provided to the circulation desk, workroom, meeting room and librarian’s office. Underfloor duct(s) for computer connection from the circulation desk to the work, computer catalog area, children’s desk and computer lab will also be provided. Smoke detectors/heat sensors, fire alarm pull boxes and a security system to include cameras will be provided. Clock outlets near the circulation desk, workroom and meeting room should be provided. 3. Structure-‐Minimum floor loading should be 150 pounds per square foot throughout the building. There should be no load bearing interior walls and support columns should be minimal. Spacing should be as wide as possible and take into consideration the standard library shelving module of three feet. Some windows should be provided that are operational for ventilation if needed. 4. Floors-‐Carpeting is recommended for all public and staff work areas except as indicated later. Carpet should be high quality commercial grade nylon fiber or 100% wool, chosen for wear and anti-‐static qualities. Non-‐carpeted areas include the entry foyer, rest rooms, mechanical and janitor space. 5. Materials and Finishes-‐All building materials and finishes should be selected to be attractive and durable over time with minimum maintenance. Painted surfaces should have a semi-‐gloss finish that is easily cleaned. Doors, cabinets, outside corners etc should be protected by caps, plates, moldings, etc. Countertops should be slate or other durable surface. Brick should be considered where appropriate. 6
6. Color-‐A color schedule should be prepared which is coordinated with the furnishings contract and which will coordinate with the existing color scheme. 7. Locks-‐The keying schedule should be as simple as possible with a minimum of keys necessary. All interior doors should be on the same master but keyed separately. There should be a separate outside master. 8. Book Return-‐The location of the book return will be determined during the schematic design phase. If books are dropped into the building at any point, the collection area must be fireproof and contain a sensitive fire detection device. 9. Signage-‐An interior signage system should be designed and installed as part of the furnishings contract. A lettering style that is easily duplicated locally should be selected and used throughout. Consider the use of Helvetica style. 10. Picture Railing-‐Flush picture railing should be provided in selected public areas and in the meeting room where appropriate. Locations will be reviewed during the schematic design phase. Local availability of fixtures and hardware should be a factor in the selection process. 7
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC BUILDING AREAS This section of the statement will attempt to identify functions and their interrelationships. Flexibility and future expansion must always be a consideration in this phase of the design process. Public Areas 1. Entrance/Vestible-‐There should only be one public entrance to the library, conveniently located near public parking and pedestrian traffic. Automatic or air-‐assisted doors should be considered as a convenience to the physically challenged and those with children and packages. Doors should have handles easily reached and operated by children. Access must be designed so that entry to the meeting rooms and rest rooms is possible even when the library proper is locked off from public use. Provide for duplex outlets, bulletin board, exhibit case, dedication plaque and seating for three. 2. Circulation Desk Area-‐This is the focal point of the library’s business and as such must be prominently located as a control point near the entrance. Its function is to check all materials out and in and to provide information and interlibrary loan services to the public. Design of the desk should be customized to meet the needs of the staff and must have an ADA compliant section. Provide counter top duplex outlets for equipment and telephone and computer runs to the desk. Provide shelving behind the desk and storage for supplies and space for book trucks. Perimeter space must be adequate to allow free movement of book trucks while staff members are working at the desk. There should be a computer controlled monitor near the desk showing upcoming events, photos etc. Provide a portion of the room for courier bin sorting and storage. 3. Reading/Study/Reference Area-‐This area should be adjacent to the adult collection and lounge. The space contains tables and chairs, shelving for the reference collection, a map case, and space for a fax/scanner/copy machine. The area should be in close proximity to the circulation area. 4. Adult Lounge and Periodicals Area-‐This area should be adjacent to the adult collection. Provide lounge furniture, end tables and lamps. Task lighting should be 8
provided to give the atmosphere of a living room. Provide shelving for current periodicals and a cable TV connection. 5. Local History/Genealogy Room-‐This area should be data port rich. 6. Collections Area-‐This area will house the shelving for both the adult and children’s collections. Shelf ranges should be no longer than six sections. Recommended minimum aisle spacing between ranges is four feet. Shelving should be arranged so that the adult section merges with the children’s section using the stacks as a divider between departments. Computer terminals should be near this collection and convenient to the circulation desk. Provide flush mounted floor outlets for computer terminals and cabling access from terminals to computer database. Provide display shelving near the circulation desk for new materials. 7. Seating Area-‐Provide tables and chairs for adult and older student seating. These may be interspersed with shelving ranges if there is room to do so. 8. Children’s Area-‐The circulation area should have visual control of this space. The area should be scaled to children, inviting and colorful. All materials used should be very durable. The area will include periodical storage, juvenile tables and chairs and bin storage for picture books. Provide some leisure seating. Provide a storage unit for coats and boots with sign, “Not Responsible for Lost or Stolen Items”, and a tack board wall for display purposes. Provide a small area for impromptu story times and sensory space. A conveniently located cable TV jack should be provided. 9. Young Adult Area-‐This area should be separated from the children’s area but still in view of the circulation desk. It should include lounge furniture as well as a small bank of computers. If possible it should be enclosed in a durable, see through glass-‐like material. 10. Public Restrooms-‐These must be accessible to the meeting rooms even when the library is closed. Room size and number of fixtures are to conform to local building codes. Fixtures and stalls should be wall hung to ease floor maintenance. Provide a ceramic tile on the floor and from floor to ceiling on walls. Provide shelves, hooks, mirrors, soap and
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towel and sanitary napkin dispensers. Provide diaper changing stations. Install floor drains. 11. Meeting Room Complex-‐This area must be accessible from the library proper and the entrance vestibule. Civic organizations, as well as the library, will use this space for adult and juvenile programs. One room should provide seating for 100 people with a divider for the ability to have two areas, each with seating for 50. Smaller conference rooms should provide seating at tables for ten people. The walls should be cloth-‐covered tack board or similar material for convenience in hanging art exhibits. Provide a recessed picture rail. Install a large screen monitor. Windows should have black-‐out drapes. Provide data and cable TV jacks. Install a coat storage area near the door. Kitchenette-‐Design an alcove in the meeting room with cabinets, a small refrigerator and a sink. Storage Room-‐This room opens into the meeting room to provide storage for chairs, tables and equipment. Staff Areas 1. Work Room-‐This work room should be immediately next to or behind the circulation desk. The staff will use the room to maintain the collection. Book repair and book processing will be done here as well as preparation of exhibits. The room will contain wall shelving, cabinets with storage above and below, clean up sink, bulletin board and a small office safe. The space will also contain shelving for back issues of periodicals. Furniture will include one computer work station plus desk per on-‐duty employee, large work table, and chairs. Provide double faced shelving for storing back issues of periodicals. The wall nearest the circulation desk should have a door and a window to permit visual control of the library when working in the work room. All lights for the public area of the library should be controlled from this room. 2. Librarian’s Office-‐The office should include one wall of shelving and covered supply storage and a coat closet. Furnishing should include a bench style desk, computer work station, file cabinet and enough room to accommodate two side chairs. The office should be in close proximity to the circulation desk and the work room. 10
3. Staff Lounge-‐This room should contain a lunch table and chairs, small kitchen unit with sink, cabinets, microwave oven, refrigerator, dishwasher and lounge furniture. The lounge should connect with the work room. 4. Staff Restroom-‐Provide a unisex restroom connected to the staff workroom. 5. Mechanical Room-‐This area will house all heating, ventilating and cooling equipment for the building. Provide a mop sink and appropriate storage for cleaning supplies. Entrance to the mechanical room should not be through any of the meeting rooms. 6. Yard Delivery and General Storage Room-‐Every library needs unassigned storage space for bulk items, books in storage etc. Provide outside access for snow and lawn equipment. 7. Data server device room to house digital equipment-‐The room must be heat and cool controlled. 8. Courier drop-‐off area-‐This room will not have access to the rest of the building and will have at least two hand trucks, each of which can handle 400 pounds. 9. Basement storage and emergency shelter. RECOMMENDED SPACE ALLOCATIONS IN SQUARE FEET Building Area
Size
Collection
3,548
Seating
2,550
Work Spaces
1,120
Meeting Rooms
2,275
2,783
Special use (public computer access, copiers etc)
Non-‐Assignable (janitor, mechanical, restrooms etc) Grand Total in Square Feet
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4,092
16,369 Square Feet