Library Project Updates for December
December 5, 2014
Library staff and the Core
Design Team have continued to meet to determine programmatic uses in the new
and renovated spaces, what library technology we will be adding, how best to reuse existing furnishings, including book
stacks, tables, chairs, lights, etc. This has been an interesting process for
us all, because we have a tendency to think in terms of how we use the library,
how we want our work room to be configured, and what activities we will do or
not do in any particular area. The challenge has been for us to think in terms
not of what WE want, but what will be the most flexible/adaptable for future
staff and patrons. I jokingly say that I don’t want the next generation of
library staff and users to curse us for building in problematic spaces, but it
is very much on my mind as we plan.
Collection size is a major
determinant in what goes where. In the Children’s area Leesa and Kathy Ness are
planning an in-library storytime space that is adjacent to age-specific
collections, such as picture books, easy readers and board books, and also near
early literacy play spaces for families; they are surveying parents to
solicit input on the Children’s space. Upstairs we have placed our magazine and
newspaper collection in the Mezzanine, because it will be a light and
comfortable area to read and view the activity in the Commons area below. This
creates an opportunity for a new activity in the former Periodical Room, which
shifts another collection, and so on—kind of like the numbers puzzle with one
space free. It is hard work, but we are having a great deal of fun imaging the
possibilities!
The Capital Campaign
Committee has been very active and successful in soliciting donations and pledges
for the renovated library; Hans Muessig and Bill North will be speaking to the
Library Board on the latest status of the fundraising.
Recently I have been
contacted by an anonymous donor with ties to Northfield who is interested in
donating to the renovation, but feels very strongly that the community, in
order to be fully invested and supportive of the project, should continue to fund the
base project amount as presented and approved by Council, and so the work of
the Capital Campaign Committee continues to be vital to the project. This donor
would like to fund some of the spaces and functions that were eliminated or
reduced from our original plan. The donation will not cover the cost of the
eliminated two-story bump-out, but we hope to fund some of our priorities,
including the full-scale Commons area, the Division Terrace, the Carnegie Porch
(which is necessary as a fire exit) and the restoration of the furniture
budget. The dollar amount of the donation is yet to be determined; as we gain
more detail as our project cost is solidified.
It goes without saying that we are thrilled, excited and very grateful
that we will be able to fund some important features of our renovation.
Library staff continue to
meet biweekly to plan for our Interim Library Services. NPL librarians have
been reviewing their collections to determine what will go into storage and
what will be a part of the Interim library at City Hall. Part of this process
also involves a general housekeeping duty all-around of things that we can
eliminate and what we should save. Closets filled with forgotten or little used
items are being cleaned out. Projects like these rarely get tackled until a
move—whether at home or at work!
We are working with our IT
staff and SELCO to plan for a smooth transition out of the library and into
City Hall; there are many moving parts to plan for when technology is involved.
Mike Grundman from our IT staff has been working as our point person, both for
our moves and for our renovation project.
Of great interest to our
Northfield library families has been our plan for Summer Reading for 2015.
Kathy Ness, Leesa Wisdorf, Claudia Roman –Jimenez and David Greenfield will be
running Summer Reading from Booker, which will be rotating through City parks
on a regular basis. We are in the early planning stages, but look forward to
some innovative and creative ideas for Children’s Services during this time.