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Study Insights This study sought to understand representative libraries within the Chicago Metropolitan area - their particular culture, how librarians and staff do their work, how facilities operate and how libraries relate to and serve their respective communities. Six major insights were drawn from observation and interviews that will help inform final design criteria for ThinkeringSpace. The first, More Than Books, reveals the wide range of library offerings, indicating that they are much more than warehouses of books or media. It addresses the need to accommodate diverse patrons and to bridge the physical-virtual dichotomy. The second, Constant Change, describes the continued efforts that have been made by the library to meet patrons' expectations and keep up with technology. It points to the opportunity of integrating technological advances, making technology more easy to use and supporting media literacy. The third, Underused Expertise, identifies the broad expert skills of librarians, and the low use of this public resource. It leads to the prospect of expanding the role of librarians as a resource, and reveals the need to make their expertise more visible to the public. The fourth, Life-long Relevance, highlights the lack of continued interaction of patrons with the library through their different life phases. This suggests the importance of, for example, creating opportunities for inter generational interaction and better assessing the interests and needs of different age groups. The fifth, Community Outreach, describes the movement of the library in two opposite directions, towards both masses and niches, in order to reach all patrons in the best possible way, either by bringing patrons to the library or bringing the library to them. Some of the implications are the need to go beyond the physical space of the library by creating other strategic access points within the community, and making not only content, but also services, remotely accessible from home. The sixth, Sanctioned Initiatives, addresses the impact of high-level initiatives, such as the Early Literacy Program from ALA/PLI, in what libraries do and even how they organize their space. It suggests the need for other programs that aspire to be adopted by libraries to leverage with such authoritative initiatives and, perhaps, create ready packages with easy guidelines and resources for librarians. |
 Organizing collected data  Finding patterns Research Procedures Methodological procedures were adopted to get a better understanding of the libraries' missions and strategies, facilities and operations, and interactions and usage patterns. Secondary research focused on the history of libraries, librarian educational system, library organizational structure, library space design, analogous cases, informal learning spaces and gaming, among other topics. Primary research included more than 12 hours of observations, documented through video, photographs, activity maps and notes, and included the following: • 6 semi-structured interviews with library managers and supervisors • 16 semi-structured interviews with librarians • 16 semi-structured interviews with patrons • 8 library guided tours • 10 day-in-a-life journals • 66 questionnaires |
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Harold Washington Library Chicago Public Library System The 10 Floor, 756,000 square foot library, built in 1991, received an Award of Excellence for its design from the Urban Land Institute. Open 71 hours per week, the library mainly serves the population located in downtown Chicago, and it accommodates a 1.5 million-volume collection. In addition, it contains multipurpose meeting rooms, an auditorium, a video theater, an orientation theater, a public restaurant, a library store, and classrooms. With the mission to support life-long learning and equal access to information, the main Chicago public library and all the other 78 branches seek to serve patrons by: developing and providing access to in-depth and specialized collections and information sources in all formats; supporting a knowledgeable staff, including subject specialists; facilitating access to the Virtual Library and the Internet; providing access to specialized services and facilities, such as the language laboratory; and presenting a wide range of programs and exhibits. |
Chinatown Library Chicago Public Library System The one level 11,750 square foot library outgrew its previous storefront facility shortly after it was opened in 1972. Open 64 hours per week, it contains the largest Chinese Heritage collection within the Chicago public library system and serves as a cultural and information center for people from throughout Chicago and the suburbs who seek information about the Chinatown community and Chinese culture. Showcased in waiting areas, traditional Chinese artifacts are found within the library, however, Chinese language content within the library is not prominent or integrated. Interestingly, the character of the library shows less cultural color than the surrounding community. As one of the busiest branches of the Chicago Public Library system, small families, adults and seniors frequent this location. In the absence of a community center, the Branch has become the congregation point for people of diverse needs and interests within the Chinatown community. |
Rudy Lozano Library Chicago Public Library System The one level, 18,000 square foot, pre-Columbian Olmec design building was built in 1989, and it is centrally located in the heart of the Pilsen community. Open 64 hours per week, the library bustles with young adults, small families and children from the neighboring elementary schools and universities. It houses a dedicated children's space and open reading area. Promotional displays and community information boards are popular centers of activity. Bilingual content and Latino heritage are featured throughout the library, including Spanish language materials, Hispanic and Mexican collections, and literacy and English as a second language materials. In fact, the branch has the largest Spanish-language collection in the entire Chicago Public Library system, with materials for both children and adults, as well as a substantial collection of materials in English. Two thirds of the staff is bilingual in English and Spanish. |
Evanston Public Library Evanston Public Library System The 112,000 square foot, mission style building was built in 1994. Open 72 hours per week, Evanston main Public Library is two blocks from Northwestern University and is located in the center of the downtown area. North and south branches are also part of the library system. Serving a multicultural and socio-economically diverse population, the library is expansive in size, yet underutilized. Recently, the main branch completed a major remodeling of the Library's rooms for children and teens, offering the latest concepts in designing library space for children, including many interactive elements that are evocative of children's museum exhibits, and a loft space for young adults, filled with popular young adult books, magazines, and reference materials. With a mission geared towards the development of independent, self-confident and literate citizens, the 2000 - 2010 vision is a ‘Decade of Outreach‘. |
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Libertyville Library Cook Memorial Public Library System The 33,000 square foot library stands at the end of a historic rose garden and park, in the middle of the historic downtown. Open 69 hours per week and serving six communities, including Libertyville and Vernon Hills, as well as parts of Green Oaks, Mettawa, Indian Creek, and Mundelein, it is undersized for the local population. After years of failed referenda, a two-year expansion plan has recently been approved, which will add 30,000 square feet of library space to the district. The new design utilizes roof planes that float above continuous clerestories to allow an abundance of natural light into occupied spaces, and matches the current prairie style building. Circulation numbers have skyrocketed recently due to modifications on shelving and displays, combined with a more efficient collection development procedure. The space for the AV collection, including DVD's, audio music and books on tape is ever-expanding. Moms and kids enthusiastically attend children's programming and enjoy the cheerful environment. |
River Forest Library Metropolitan Library System The 28,500 square foot library is located adjacent to Centennial Park and Roosevelt Middle School, and its historic building was renovated, complete with an addition, in 1992. Open 60 hours per week, it serves the River Forest small population of around 12,000 residents. By cooperating with Concordia and Dominican Universities, card holders are able to use the universities' libraries and research spaces. Among some of the services provided are included: booklists or resource guides for parents and families, family literacy programs, family-child intergenerational activities, resources for teachers, cooperative programs with schools, and story activity times for children. River Forest Public library is part of the Metropolitan Library System, MLS, a membership-based organization, founded in 1966, serving academic, public, school, and special libraries in Chicago and the suburban communities of Cook, DuPage and Will counties. The MLS helps manage the borrowing and lending of nearly a million items each year between member libraries. |
Oak Park Main Library Oak Park Public Library System The 104,000 square foot library, built in 2003, was the winner of the Chicago Building Congress merit award for design, construction and positive impact on the community. The modern three floor building is situated downtown where, together with two other branches, serves a population of 53,000 residents, within a community that is nationally recognized for its commitment to diversity and its outstanding architecture. Open 70 hours per week, the library seeks to provide superior library materials and services responsive to the evolving informational, educational, vocational, cultural and recreational needs of Oak Park's community. Included are special collections, such as Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright materials. The strategic plan for 2007 includes: increasing kindergarten preparation activities, training staff, holding additional after-school programs, providing downloadable video to patrons, expanding computer instruction program, promoting usage of electronic audio-books, and developing alternative sources of revenue. |
Nichols Library Naperville Public Library System The 63,300 square foot branch library is located in the busy Riverwalk downtown area, and is a popular tourist destination and community events center. A full operating facility of the Naperville Library System, like the two other libraries, Nichols library opens 73 hours per week. With a vision statement to provide equitable access to knowledge and information, the Naperville public library seeks to achieve its mission through a professional and welcoming staff in a network of state of the art libraries and in a 24/7 electronic universe. Naperville public library has been ranked number one in the United States for eight straight years, from 1999 to 2006, for cities with populations between 100,000 and 249,999 by the Hennen's American Public Library Rating Index, or HALPR. The rating index weights materials expenditure per capita, cost per circulation, visits per capita and circulation per staff hour, among other factors. The three Naperville public libraries receive approximately 1.5 million visitors and circulate over 4 million items each year. |
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Naper Boulevard Library Naperville Public Library System The 32,000 square foot library is a neighborhood branch of the Naperville Public Library System, functioning as satellite of the original Nichols library, but working as a full facility. The building is about 25 years old, with a Prairie exterior style, and also open 73 hours per week. It is the smallest of the three buildings, but offers the same programs and services. On a Wednesday Summer morning, a steady pace of people was observed entering the library, mainly grade school and junior high, plus moms with little ones. The library is lively, and a little congested. Not much open unused space can be found. Together with the two other branches, it seeks to support Naperville residents in their lifelong pursuit of learning, enjoyment, and inspiration by providing excellence in public library services, resources, and programs. |
95th Street Library Naperville Public Library System The 73,000 square foot library is the newest and flashiest building of the Naperville Public Library System. Opened in 2003 and largest of the three libraries, it features a modern, curving architectural facade. Open 73 hours per week, it is located next to the local high school and used as a hang-out for teens after school hours. The children's programs have successfully attracted many kids and moms for story time, which is done the same as it has been for years, except by the use of a large screen projection, which increases visibility of the materials at the cost of more intimate proxemics. The 2007-2010 strategic plan emphasizes: optimizing operational effectiveness, meeting patrons where they are, securing the library financial future, expanding board and staff development, marketing library offerings and building community support. |
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