AAHSL Space Planning List Discussion, Feb. 2008

The following messages started the AAHSL list discussion on library space planning. Below is the original message:

Subject: Taking the Pulse -- Building/Space Trends in Academic Health Sciences Libraries -- What are They?

2-29-08

AAHSL Colleagues -- Hi! I am writing to start a discussion (not a survey) about building use/space trends in academic health sciences libraries. I am looking for 'free form' responses about how you are challenged about the re-use of library space. What plans are underway? What is still being explored or talked about? Who is thinking about changing their space before they are asked to give some of it up? What is the timeframe for planning -- the next couple of years, five years, 10 years out?

For example, here is what I can tell you about planning at Northwestern:

The library staff's strategic planning that has been going on for about two years has concluded that the library is ready for another renovation; things have changed so much for us since the last renovation in 1996. The former renovation planned for better people and collection space knowing full well that technology will change everything. Consequently, the library was also wired and/or had conduit put in place for future expansion of technology ports and related access points.

I initiated some thinking about re-using library space (journal stacks) in an Education Council meeting. Initially, I thought the library would re-use stack space for meeting rooms and more student study areas. Then, an opportunity to go 'more public' came in a discussion about Education not having enough room (GME, CME) when the new Children's Memorial Hospital moves to campus in 2012 (Children's is cutting back its education space in the new facility including its large library. Children's will move the librarians but not the collection as everything will be online or relocated to Galter, which will be just down the street from the new facility).

Several other discussions have now started. The MD curriculum is looking for 'college space' and 'society space' -- rooms for large student group activities (not PBL sessions). Could the library accommodate this function? There is also an education discussion taking place in our medical center for joint activities around education -- mostly CE but also GME, nursing CE, staff training and CE, etc. The library is seen as a natural home for a central education center.

In addition, we start interviewing architect firms/teams next week to do a university wide library space master plan. The master plan is targeted for completion by early fall, 2008. The focus of the master plan is a storage facility plus more renovation of the University Library.

Here, I think our medical school administration is looking to the library staff for ideas. They are not imposing anything. Costs are an issue as much focus is placed on our research agenda. We are just now building the renovation proposal with data and ideas, though we will likely give it a placeholder in our FY09 budget documents.

I think the list is a good way to share similar stories like that above. For example, what is the thinking at the new medical schools? What kind of space are you thinking about?

Let your peers know what is happenning in your library (as I don't expect to see this information in print in any of your newsletters or on your web sites).

Thanks, Jim