Planning Additions to Academic Library Buildings: A Seamless Approach (Occasional Papers Library Administration and Management Association)

The "seamless approach" is the best strategy for planning additions to existing academic library buildings.
Additions to existing library buildings are becoming a fact of life at many colleges and universities. Space considerations, the need for proximity to existing space, and the desire for a unified appearance usually preclude designing a totally new structure in many cases. So adding on to existing space is not only the best option for many academic libraries; it's the only one. The Catch-22 is that there is usually little to be gained by attempting to impose a too-modern structure on existing buildings. The solution is a seamless approach that incorporates and enhances the features of existing structures. The result is usually a functional and appealing addition, rather than a design that meets space needs but looks like an afterthought.
Using case studies, Planning Additions to Academic Library Buildings profiles three academic libraries that went through expansion. The editors and authors clearly describe both the challenges and the opportunities for planning seamless and successful additions to existing buildings. Photos and architectural plans and layouts effectively illustrate how the challenges of adding on to existing structures were met in three different situations.
Planning library additions can be a daunting proposition for many librarians, who are forced to become space planners and architects. This readable and well-illustrated book clearly and cleverly outlines the steps and the success stories of those who have lived the experience of designing a seamless library addition.

In response to the changing nature of the university library, these two titles advocate the need for flexibility in library design. Academic Libraries as High-Tech Gateways provides a timely discussion on preparing for the library of the future and on the librarian's role in the teaching of electronic research skills. Librarians Bazillion and Braun predict that the future academic library will be centered around patrons who will bring their personal notebook computers into the library, requiring all study areas to be fully accessible to library and campus networks. Specific information is given on lighting, furniture, equipment, and interior design; numerous black-and-white photographs help illustrate design suggestions. The significant bibliography and the focus on the role of the computer in library planning make this volume valuable reading for any academic librarian. Planning Additions to Academic Library Buildings originated as a Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) presentation at the American Library Association's 1993 annual conference. This volume provides brief information on three academic libraries and their building additions. Each case study presents a short history of the individual library's need to expand library space, basic floor plans of the new design, and a brief discussion of a few of the problems encountered during the building process. For librarians actively involved in library construction plans, the most helpful section of this book may be the listing of librarians and architects who recently worked on building projects. Unfortunately, most of the information here is too case-specific or too brief to be of much help in the planning process.?Tina Neville, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.