College Science Librarians Discussion Group   [Conference Report]

  	
  	
  	
  


	Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship  	Summer 1998  


	DOI:10.5062/F4X06518


  

Conference Reports
  College Science Librarians Discussion Group
      Kathleen Kenny
kkenny@POLAR.BOWDOIN.EDU    

Notes from meeting at ALA Annual, June 28, 1998    Twenty-two science librarians from colleges and universities gathered for the STS College  Science Librarians Discussion group at ALA on June 28, 1998 to talk about designing or  adapting buildings to achieve flexibility, especially for technological change.

    Discussion leaders were Rocco Piccinino of Smith College, whose Science branch library  opened in 1991, Suzi Cole of Colby College, in charge of the campus Science library in a  Science Center opened just over a year ago, and Madeline Cohen of New York Public Library's  Science, Technology & Business branch. All three speakers stressed the importance of  librarians' staying fully involved in the planning process. Particularly when the library  is part of a larger building, librarians must maintain control of the library portion while  keeping up with plans for the rest of the project that could affect the library (such as  the placement of water pipes for labs on the floor above library stacks).

    Involvement of all branch library staff is very important.  Although public spaces and the  stacks are the most important elements of a design, it is necessary to give staff work  areas sufficient attention, as staffing patterns are bound to change over the life of the  building.

    Rocco pointed out some major elements that should be executed correctly including  sufficient assignable square footage, correct ceiling heights, floor load bearing suitable  to accommodate expanded stacks, and placement of restrooms and stairwells where they  won't interfere with future adaptations of the building. These features are nearly  impossible to change once the final plans are drawn. On the other hand, Suzi pointed out  that small but significant errors may creep into shop and electrical drawings, and she  found that time spent reviewing these details was very beneficial. All three librarians  noted that the placement of electrical outlets and data ports is extremely important, and  they suggested that more is better. Any reductions required in the numbers of these should  be done very carefully.

    The same is true for wiring within the building, because it is impossible to predict  accurately the number and type of connections that will be needed over the a building's  lifetime. At New York Public, wiring was installed under a raised floor; at Colby every  study space and staff work space was fully wired for data and electricity so that almost  any future floorplan will be wired adequately.

    At Smith and Colby, cutbacks after the initial design forced compromises to the library  stack space. In both cases the librarians chose to get more compact shelving than  originally requested, so that there would be sufficient growth space for the collections.  Furnishings and equipment are relatively easy to add or correct after opening day, even  though design teams direct much of their attention to these elements.

    Rocco appeared to sum up the feelings of most of those who have been involved in a building  project when he suggested that the best principle is to plan for change, but be sure you  have the building you want on opening day.

    Thanks were expressed to Helena Warburg, the out-going co-chair of the group, for fine and  creative leadership!