A news article earlier this month starts “Nampa officials are considering adopting green building standards they say will make future city buildings more efficient to maintain and healthier for people and the environment.” What would a LEED rating for a new library mean? I always knew it had to do with environmental concerns, but now I know it also means more natural light, better heating and cooling, more comfortable spaces and healthier air. There would be savings for the taxpayer on electricity (it can take plenty to light, heat and cool this building, and still be too hot or cold, with dim stack areas and uncomfortable glare on computer screens). For employees it means better staff retention, fewer health issues, and more productivity. For everyone it will mean a more comfortable building and doing the right thing for our community. I’m looking forward to hearing what comes next with LEED plans.
Karen Ganske
Friday, May 25, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
Shelving in the Library
I had a great conversation with a patron the other day. She said she was frustrated she couldn’t reach the top shelves of the videos and books. I told her I have been challenged by our shelving and have seen others struggling as well. She also said it’s tough to see titles and reach them on the bottom shelves. She expressed this concern not just for herself but for all of our differently-abled customers. We talked while the new shelving for videos was installed and I pointed out the bottom shelves at an angle. She said she’d like to see more of those angled shelves in the new building as well as the elimination of bottom and high shelving. Thanks for the great input! Imagine when we have more space and can spread the collection out!
Friday, May 11, 2007
To sip, or not to sip...
Community members have given some great ideas about how a coffee shop might be integrated into the plan for a new library. People told us they want to have beverages and snacks available in the library, but not in a prominent way. During the design workshop, a retail business owner explained that a successful operation will have to be on the street to capture pedestrians. It’s also possible for the shop to have a window to the inside of the library, but most of its frontage be on the street. It was clear people wanted any retail to be subdued, and not intrude on the main public space. We’ll pass those comments on so they can be included in the Requests for Proposals from developers later this summer.
- Dan Black
- Dan Black
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Community makes a statement
An aggressive effort to gather public comment on a new library wrapped up last week.
The Nampa City Council and the Library Board toured the nationally-acclaimed Salt Lake City Public Library on Wednesday and had detailed and probing discussions on what to do and what to avoid. On Thursday, 27 community members spent all day at a design workshop putting down their ideas at the Nampa Civic Center. These efforts capped seven community forums, a design contest and e-mail correspondence that all tried to answer the question, "What do you want in a new library?" The comments were compliled into a report that will help direct a search for a developer and architect to build the library.
From all this discussion we have learned that people cherish a library not only as a place to get books, magazines, CDs and movies, but for a public meeting place, a quiet meditative place, a place where an individual encounters society, culture, art and the community.
This process has been very helpful for the Nampa community and its leaders. It appears Nampa residents and their leaders have a much clearer idea about what sort of library is right for Nampa.
Dan Black
Library Community Relations Coordinator
The Nampa City Council and the Library Board toured the nationally-acclaimed Salt Lake City Public Library on Wednesday and had detailed and probing discussions on what to do and what to avoid. On Thursday, 27 community members spent all day at a design workshop putting down their ideas at the Nampa Civic Center. These efforts capped seven community forums, a design contest and e-mail correspondence that all tried to answer the question, "What do you want in a new library?" The comments were compliled into a report that will help direct a search for a developer and architect to build the library.
From all this discussion we have learned that people cherish a library not only as a place to get books, magazines, CDs and movies, but for a public meeting place, a quiet meditative place, a place where an individual encounters society, culture, art and the community.
This process has been very helpful for the Nampa community and its leaders. It appears Nampa residents and their leaders have a much clearer idea about what sort of library is right for Nampa.
Dan Black
Library Community Relations Coordinator
You bet libraries count!
Last week was crammed full of new ideas and images for a new Nampa Public Library. At the end of a busy week, I discoverd the April issue of the "Making Places Newsletter," which spoke to several big questions facing Nampa right now. Several library-related articles were chock full of great ideas. The lead article begins: "The creation of the information superhighway threatened to make libraries obsolete, but today they are as prominent as ever. Libraries are taking on a larger civic role, redefining themselves as community centers for the 21st Century."
The old model of the library was the inward-focused "reading room." The new one is more like a community "front porch." Check it out here or at www.pps.org/info/newsletter/april2007/
- Karen Ganske
Library Director
The old model of the library was the inward-focused "reading room." The new one is more like a community "front porch." Check it out here or at www.pps.org/info/newsletter/april2007/
- Karen Ganske
Library Director
Friday, April 20, 2007
LIBRARY CONTEST GATHERS GREAT IDEAS
Spaceships, tree houses and castles dominated about 50 entries in a contest held by the Nampa Public Library this spring.
We asked for ideas on a new library. Entries ranged from original art and floor plans to essays and poems. Winning entries can be viewed here.
The first-place winners were given high-end MP3 players. Those and other prizes were presented at the annual Friends of the Library meeting, held in conjunction with a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, April 17 at 6:45 to gather more comments about what people want from a new library.
The winning adult entry came from Lance McGrath, who wrote a poem simply called, “Library.”
It begins:
“Library. Likeable and trustworthy repository of information.
Stories stream forth from pages of limitless capacity.
Wisdom – stored and faithfully tended- is shared with a new generation.
Insatiable curiosity of young and old alike calls them to a new space for an old friend.”
Other entries had magnificent details such as a tree house, castle and escalator taking books behind encased glass. Those images were presented by the artwork of Katherine Yancey, who won first place in the children’s division. Other images include a detailed floor plan for a library that serves walk-in clients on the bottom floor and those who use their card to check out materials on the upper floor.
Comments from community forums and contest entries will be represented in a report to an architect that will draw up specifications for the library. Prizes were donated by the Goicoechea Law Firm, the Friends of the Library and Flying M Coffee Garage.
The winners include:
Adult Division:
First Place, MP3 Player, Lance McGrath.
Judges’ comments of poem: “Great rhythm. Vivid imagery. Very fresh.”
Second place, $50 gift certificate, Mary Portteus.
“Very creative. Great use of recycled materials, images and color.”
Third Place $25 gift certificate, Susan Kramer.
Comments on floor plan: “Very interesting ideas. Skillfully represented.”
Youth Division:
First Place, MP3 Player, Kathryn Carole While
“Fun tale. Brightly written.”
Second Place, $50 gift certificate, Chris Chaffin
“Clean and inviting picture. Good use of perspective.”
Third Place - none
Children’s Division: Art
First Place, MP3 Player, Katherine Yancey
“This just had everything.” Great color, use of space, a tree house, castle.”
Second Place, $50 gift certificate, Andrew Seeley
“Very imaginative artwork. Great letters as chairs.”
Third Place, $25 gift certificate, Zack Yancey
“Great spaceship library!”
Children’s Division: Essay
First Place, Book, Katherine Yancey
Judges’ comments: “Great imagination and descriptive detail. Lots of fun to read and has many great ideas.”
Second Place, $50 Simon McKenzie
“Nice writing. Fun and fast-paced.”
Third Place, $25, Hannah Diane White
“Great storytelling. Very original with twists and turns. The message comes through at the end.”
###
For more information, Contact Dan Black at 468-5824
We asked for ideas on a new library. Entries ranged from original art and floor plans to essays and poems. Winning entries can be viewed here.
The first-place winners were given high-end MP3 players. Those and other prizes were presented at the annual Friends of the Library meeting, held in conjunction with a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, April 17 at 6:45 to gather more comments about what people want from a new library.
The winning adult entry came from Lance McGrath, who wrote a poem simply called, “Library.”
It begins:
“Library. Likeable and trustworthy repository of information.
Stories stream forth from pages of limitless capacity.
Wisdom – stored and faithfully tended- is shared with a new generation.
Insatiable curiosity of young and old alike calls them to a new space for an old friend.”
Other entries had magnificent details such as a tree house, castle and escalator taking books behind encased glass. Those images were presented by the artwork of Katherine Yancey, who won first place in the children’s division. Other images include a detailed floor plan for a library that serves walk-in clients on the bottom floor and those who use their card to check out materials on the upper floor.
Comments from community forums and contest entries will be represented in a report to an architect that will draw up specifications for the library. Prizes were donated by the Goicoechea Law Firm, the Friends of the Library and Flying M Coffee Garage.
The winners include:
Adult Division:
First Place, MP3 Player, Lance McGrath.
Judges’ comments of poem: “Great rhythm. Vivid imagery. Very fresh.”
Second place, $50 gift certificate, Mary Portteus.
“Very creative. Great use of recycled materials, images and color.”
Third Place $25 gift certificate, Susan Kramer.
Comments on floor plan: “Very interesting ideas. Skillfully represented.”
Youth Division:
First Place, MP3 Player, Kathryn Carole While
“Fun tale. Brightly written.”
Second Place, $50 gift certificate, Chris Chaffin
“Clean and inviting picture. Good use of perspective.”
Third Place - none
Children’s Division: Art
First Place, MP3 Player, Katherine Yancey
“This just had everything.” Great color, use of space, a tree house, castle.”
Second Place, $50 gift certificate, Andrew Seeley
“Very imaginative artwork. Great letters as chairs.”
Third Place, $25 gift certificate, Zack Yancey
“Great spaceship library!”
Children’s Division: Essay
First Place, Book, Katherine Yancey
Judges’ comments: “Great imagination and descriptive detail. Lots of fun to read and has many great ideas.”
Second Place, $50 Simon McKenzie
“Nice writing. Fun and fast-paced.”
Third Place, $25, Hannah Diane White
“Great storytelling. Very original with twists and turns. The message comes through at the end.”
###
For more information, Contact Dan Black at 468-5824
Friday, April 6, 2007
Some Great Ideas
People have diverse hopes for a new library. We have gathered them from community forums and comment boxes around town. The most common request is for more computers. The library currently has 9 and some preliminary plans indicate a need for 63. Another common theme is adequate parking. We have 16 spaces and the plan is for more than 200.
Among all the comments, I’m most impressed with how personally people take their library experience. It’s not enough to simply get materials, they said. People look for a convenient experience that is enriching. Patrons have a high regard for the well-trained staff and they want to make sure the building design takes service into account. Some people want a help desk on each floor and to make sure the maintenance budget is strong enough to keep a new building looking good.
There were many comments asking for a children’s reading area and for special areas such as homework tables, meeting rooms and a quiet zone. My personal favorite comment on Tuesday came from a man who liked one library that has a large stone hearth fireplace. He said you can sit there with a book and it feels warm and comfy. You are in a public space, with high ceilings, but it feels personal and private, as well. Other comments ask for a snack shop, aquarium, better elevators, wireless Internet, public art, etc. Forums continue the next couple weeks.
Be sure to share your ideas either at the forums or through correspondence here on the blog. These comments will be turned over to an architect who will create the design for the new building.
- Dan Black
Among all the comments, I’m most impressed with how personally people take their library experience. It’s not enough to simply get materials, they said. People look for a convenient experience that is enriching. Patrons have a high regard for the well-trained staff and they want to make sure the building design takes service into account. Some people want a help desk on each floor and to make sure the maintenance budget is strong enough to keep a new building looking good.
There were many comments asking for a children’s reading area and for special areas such as homework tables, meeting rooms and a quiet zone. My personal favorite comment on Tuesday came from a man who liked one library that has a large stone hearth fireplace. He said you can sit there with a book and it feels warm and comfy. You are in a public space, with high ceilings, but it feels personal and private, as well. Other comments ask for a snack shop, aquarium, better elevators, wireless Internet, public art, etc. Forums continue the next couple weeks.
Be sure to share your ideas either at the forums or through correspondence here on the blog. These comments will be turned over to an architect who will create the design for the new building.
- Dan Black
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