Friday, July 27, 2007

Fresh Ideas!

Three NPL librarians attended the 2007 conference of the American Library Association, and each brought back ideas for a new building as well as ideas for improved services. They returned with books. They brought back flyers and brochures about library furnishings and equipment. They made contacts with vendors. They took notes at programs about library services and facilities.

A few quotes about library buildings from their reports:
· Browsing activities should be seen from the street – seeing other people looking at books draws other people into the library.
· A library is important as ‘people space,’ similar in some ways to a bookstore.
· Images showed children’s spaces featuring lots of curves and flow, and one showed an outdoor garden for children.
· Signage and graphics were extremely important to give people a feeling of empowerment.
· Clear clutter and improve basic cleanliness, which is very important to customers.
· A cafĂ© or coffee shop connects people to the library.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Wifi at the Library?

You bet! Wifi technology is planned for the new library building and it should be robust and accessible in all of the planned nooks and comfy seating. Imagine being able to read your email from anywhere in the library with your own computer. Not only will you have access to all of your own materials but it will free up the public internet computers for more people. Of course, we plan to have even more public internet access computers in the new space—it will be a great place to work and explore!

Even better--Nampa Public Library started a pilot Wireless Internet program in our current building. Several of our customers have already found the new service useful. So when you see someone using the internet on a laptop—they are probably using wifi!

To learn more about wifi click here .

Friday, July 6, 2007

Shhh! We want QUIET!

Library enthusiasts at public forums and other discussions see-sawed on the question of quiet spaces versus reasonably noisy spaces. The conclusion was always that Nampa needs both, and our new library should have room for both kinds of library environment. People should be comfortable using normal ‘inside’ voices in high traffic areas and children’s or teen areas, and those who want a very quiet place should be able to enjoy a quiet reading/study lounge – without cell phones. Requests for quiet areas came from the teen focus group as well as the general ones! If you prefer a very quiet environment in which to read and study, look forward to a glass enclosed area with a view! The building program calls for a quiet reading room, with six lounge chairs and 12 individual study tables. Preliminary sketches have a gas fireplace in the reading room.

Karen Ganske