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Teen Spaces: The Step-by-Step Library Makeover PDF

241 Pages·2009·5.02 MB·English
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Teen The Step-by-Step Library Makeover Spaces Second Edition Kimberly Bolan Teen The Step-by-Step Library Makeover Spaces Second Edition Kimberly Bolan American Library Association Chicago 2009 Kimberly Bolan is a library consultant based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Over the past twenty years, Ms. Bolan has worked in and with public and school libraries of all sizes. Her work has focused on facilities planning and design, strategic planning, teen and youth ser vices, technology ser vices, and customer ser vice and marketing. Bolan earned her MLS at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies. She presents at numerous state and national conferences, is the author of Technology Made Simple (with Robert Cullin) and numerous journal articles, and was named a 2004 Mover and Shaker by Library Journal. While extensive effort has gone into ensuring the reliability of information appearing in this book, the publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, on the accuracy or reliability of the information, and does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in this publication. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. ∞ Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bolan, Kimberly. Teen spaces : the step-by-step library makeover / Kimberly Bolan. — 2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8389-0969-0 (alk. paper) 1. Libraries—Space utilization. 2. Young adults’ libraries—Planning. 3. Library decoration. I. Title. Z679.55.T36 2009 022′.31626—dc22 2008026621 Copyright © 2009 by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except those which may be granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. The cover image depicts a space designed by Kimberly Bolan of Kimberly Bolan and Associ- ates, DEMCO Library Interiors (DLI), and the teens of East Brunswick, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of DEMCO Library Interiors. ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-0969-0 Printed in the United States of America 13 12 11 10 09 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Preface v Acknowledgments ix Chapter 1 Understanding Teens and Their Space 1 Chapter 2 Ask and Analyze 13 Chapter 3 Plan and Propose 47 Chapter 4 Design and Decorate 69 Chapter 5 Long-Term Promotion 105 Chapter 6 Policy and Practice 130 Appendix A Templates 147 Appendix B Worksheets 158 Appendix C Resources 170 Appendix D Vendor List 189 Appendix E Resource Libraries 201 Index 221 Additional material can be found on the book’s companion website at www.ala.org/editions/extras/Bolan09690. iii Preface W hen I first began researching and designing library spaces for teenagers in 1995, I discovered the concept was nearly nonexistent. Even when I was writing the first edition of Teen Spaces in 2002, it was a challenge to find libraries that were actively engaged in ser vices for their teen customers. At the time, teen space was a rarity. Just six years after the publication of the first edition, teen space is no longer the exception; it is gradually becoming the rule. This transformation in space planning and design for the thirteen- to eighteen-year-old is prevalent in public libraries and is growing in middle and high schools. Creating efficient, innovative, and inspirational spaces for teenage customers is a result of staff and administrators moving away from a traditional approach to library design and ser vices, looking for a means to draw in this underserved customer base and increase future library supporters. Creating welcoming environments for teens in libraries has become an essential part of providing excellence in teen ser vice. It appears that libraries are taking this to heart, as 61 percent of all library building proj- ects in 2006 included a teen space.1 While most libraries and schools recognize the importance of teen ser vices and space design, there are still a number of orga nizations that continue to struggle with planning and implementing twenty-first-century library facilities for teenagers. Others have made the first steps but are struggling with what to do next or how to improve on what’s been done. Success is derived from basic principles such as successful, properly understood marketing; active and ongoing teen involvement and input; thorough analysis and well- thought-out planning; strong long-term promotion; and excellent, forward-thinking practices related to teen ser vice and customer ser vice. It’s about being open-minded and collaborative. The second edition of Teen Spaces: The Step-by-Step Library Makeover is a handbook for public and school libraries that shows how to successfully develop inviting, comfort- able, user-centered environments to attract and engage their teenage users. It also illus- trates how these environments are essential in transforming the role and image of libraries and encouraging positive use for recreational and educational activities. Who NeeDS ThiS Book? This book is a how-to manual for anyone in a public or school library who serves teenag- ers, including frontline staff, teen librarians, school media specialists, and youth and teen ser vices supervisors. This book is also appropriate for administrators, board members, and library supporters such as Friends of the Library and parent-teacher groups who are v vi Preface interested in better understanding twenty-first-century library facilities design and ser- vice to teenagers. Whether you are building a new library, renovating an existing facility, or working on a facility revamp, Teen Spaces provides key success factors and best prac- tices for developing dedicated, attractive, safe, motivating, teen-oriented space. Both the process and the end result provide a way for public and school libraries to acknowl- edge teen customers and their needs and to build a sense of teen belonging, community involvement, and library appreciation. USiNg The MATeriALS iN ThiS Book SUCCeSSfULLy The second edition of Teen Spaces is intended to help libraries develop effective, dynamic spaces for teenage customers. In order to accomplish these goals, this book focuses on teen space as it relates to impact marketing and research teen involvement and adult-youth collaborations assessment planning implementation promotion policy and practice evaluation This framework is universal for facilities planning in the twenty-first century. Once it is understood, it can be applied to any project. In order to make the ideas in this book more concrete, information and best prac- tices from public and school libraries worldwide are included. A number of templates, worksheets, professional resources, and model library information can be found in the appendixes. A supplemental web page that includes photographs of teen spaces from around the world and downloadable worksheets can be found at www.ala.org/editions/ extras/Bolan09690. The AUThor’S ViSioN I have worked with teenagers in libraries for more than eighteen years and have over thirteen years’ experience in library facilities planning and design. I’ve worked in school, academic, and public libraries and acquired both frontline and management-level experience. I feel strongly that libraries of all shapes, sizes, and budgets need to more actively engage their teen customers in facilities design, providing an excellent opportunity for libraries to connect with their customers, in the short and long term. Strong facilities planning, design, and implementation are major elements in ensuring the future of li braries. I am certain that through proper facilities education, committed and ongoing Preface vii collaborations, well-thought-out planning, and open-minded administrators and com- munities, public and school libraries can move strongly into the future. Instead of becoming irrelevant places of the past, libraries will become increasingly important and significant to teenagers in their youth and into adulthood. Note 1. Bette-Lee Fox, “Library Buildings 2006: Betwixt and Be Teen,” Library Journal 131, no. 19 (December 15, 2006), www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6396445.html. Acknowledgments A s with the first edition, the second edition of Teen Spaces was a true collaboration between me and many talented adults and teenagers. My thanks and appreciation go out to all those who gave their time, ideas, and support. You inspired me to write a second edition, and I know you will surely inspire thousands around the world. To my research assistants Christine Ayar and Beth Overhauser and to my mother Linda Bolan, for their dedication and constant effort in gathering information and con- tacting model libraries. To my husband and partner Rob Cullin, whose love, continuous encouragement, tireless support, and dedication to libraries made it possible for me to write this book while working full-time and planning a wedding. To Laura Isenstein and Jim Alsip for sharing their knowledge and advice and, most important, for their friendship. To the dedicated, forward-thinking architects, designers, and vendors out there who are not only open to new ideas and concepts but also shared their ideas and collaborated with me, especially Rolf Erikson, Jack Hedge and Design Group, Jane Dedering and Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA), Marc Ciccarelli of Studio Techne, and Janet Nelson and the staff of DEMCO Library Interiors. Special thanks to all the gifted public and school library staff who contributed photos, ideas, and success stories, and to all the teens who provided valuable input and information. ix

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When writing the first edition of "Teen Spaces in 2002", YA expert Bolan was challenged to find excellent examples. Now, teen spaces abound and interest continues to grow. With a strategic use of web-based technologies - from the author's website to a Flickr account - the new edition will showcase s
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