The Place of Libraries in Changing Times OLA Super Conference Toronto, Ontario 28 January 2009

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times

Research & Outreach Education & Training Planning & Design Our websites receive more than 30,000 page views per day We have produced 18 publications & 6 videos We maintain a slide library of 500,000 images of public spaces PPS has completed over 1000 place-based projects since 1975, consisting of: Community Visioning Conceptual Designs User/Needs Analysis Management Programs Master Planning & Urban Design PPS trains over 20,000 people annually. We offer: Place Game workshops Context Sensitive Solutions training Public Markets as Economic Development How to Turn a Place Around seminars Conferences

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Its hard to create a space that will not attract people, what is remarkable, is how often this has been accomplished. William H. Whyte

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times What attracts people most it would appear, is other people William H. Whyte

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times We shape our public spaces, and thereafter our public spaces shape us. – adapted from Winston Churchill Contrasting 1

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Orlando, FL Public Library Blank walls are an end in themselves. They declare the supremacy of architecture over humanity, of a building over a person. William H. Whyte

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Paris National Library Its hard for people to realize that place is more important than design. PPS

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times A Tale of Two Libraries

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times

Why dont we have better public spaces today? Project-driven vs. Place-driven Planning Discipline-based vs. Community-based Planning

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times © Will McWhinney, Paths of Change Storied Cultures Clustered Cultures

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Crisis driven, Politically initiated Relies on professionals and experts Expensive Community is resistant Static designs Results in limited experience of place Narrow Goals Project / Discipline Driven Approach Clustered Cultures Approach

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Theatres/ Museums Transit Hospital Coffee Shop Library Schools Parks Civic Institutions Today Community Center City Hall Churches

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times

Storied Cultures Approach Empowers Communities Attracts partners, money & creative solutions Professionals become resources Design supports uses Solutions are flexible Engagement and commitment grow Place / Community Driven Approach

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Churches City Hall Community Center Theatres/ Museums Transit Hospital Coffee Shop Library Schools Civic Centres The Commons Civic Institutions of the Future

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times

Logan Circle Evaluation Sites

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Logan Square Vision

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Crossroads Plaza, Bellevue, WA

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times

Shifting Context of Libraries WHY LIBRARIES? BUT TODAY… Information is scarce Information is everywhere Precious resource Taken for granted Social mandate Social/economic mandate Communities need Libraries Libraries need Communities

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times The placemaking response Internal External Passive Active Where people need to be Where people want to be Enhancing the librarys role as a community anchor

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Community Service Center Communication and Language Skills Center Community Story-Teller/Civic Information Center Public Gathering Place Business Service & Development Center Marketplace Libraries as Community Anchors

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Day Care Unemployment offices/ job search programs Service recruiters Computer training programs Job retraining programs/ night schools Tax consultants and services Extension services Homeless/ social service referrals Video rental Library as Community Service Center

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Translation services Literacy programs Toastmasters--public speaking training Television station/ radio station Video/ educational game arcades Foreign language classes/ tutors Immigration information and guidance Library as Communication & Language Skills Center

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Special collections Artifact collections Community tradition/myth/cultural programs Maps Science centers/ exploration centers Genealogy Centres Tourist information/ Chamber of Commerce Community information service (entertainment, best buys, weather, statistics0 Community city planning information--zoning, etc. Library as Community Story-Teller/ Civic Information Center

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Library as Public Gathering Place Public proclamations and celebrations Concerts, fairs, and festivals Lunchtime / brown bag activities Exhibitionsscience, history, art Public Art displays Public forums Games/chess tables/ etc Playground

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Think Tanks Business Information Services Research and Development Centers Job Training Better Business Bureau Library as Business Service & Development Center

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Public marketsfarmers markets, book markets, art markets Museum/ library gift shop Restaurant/café Commercial galleries Bookstore- new, used books Copy shop/ printer Movie theaters International newsstand Library as Marketplace

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times New York Public Library

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times

Rotterdam Central Library

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times

Accessible by Publics They Serve Active Edges Attractions and Destinations Flexible Design Amenities Seasonal Uses Management Qualities of Great Libraries

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Accessible by the Publics They Serve Connected to adjacent areas Range of transportation options

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Active Edges Active edge uses Gateways and entrances Identifiable from a distance

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Attractions & Destinations Choices of things to do Triangulation opportunities Clustered activity around destinations 10+ special places

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Flexible Design Overlapping and changing uses Form that supports function Experiment

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Amenities Attracts variety of users Source of local/regional civic pride Comfortable places to sit

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Seasonal Uses Draw on & Highlight Seasons Rotating Plantings & Programs Cultural & civic celebrations

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Management: Central to the Solution Management presence through: –Security & Maintenance –Ongoing improvements –Programming

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Mississauga, Ontario Public Library

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times

Place Evaluation Form

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Winter Program Mississauga, Ontario Public Library

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Summer Program Mississauga, Ontario Public Library

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Mississauga Summer 2006 Placemaking Initiative

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times

What Makes a Library a Great Place? sociability uses & activities access & linkages comfort & image Welcoming evening use volunteerism street life transit usage parking usage patterns pedestrian activity Walkable Convenient Accessible Charm Clean Attractive Historic Safe building conditions environmental data sanitation rating crime stats Cooperative Neighborly property values land-use patterns retail sales business ownership Special Real Fun Active Vital Connected Key Attributes Intangibles Measurements PLACE

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Convenient Walkable Continuity Proximity Connected Enticing Access & Linkages

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Attractive Inviting Usable Historic Green Friendly Comfort & Image

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times

Fun/Vital Active Indigenous Sustainable Affordable Challenging Uses & Activities

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times

Welcoming Interactive Neighborliness Pride Diversity Stewardship Sociability

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times When you focus on creating a place, you do everything differently.

The Place of Libraries in Changing Times Good places breed healthy activity. People attract people attract people. When you focus on place, you do everything differently. It takes many disciplines and skills to create a place. It takes a community to create a place. Amenities that make a place comfortable are critical. You cant know what you are going to end up with. Each place has its own identity. You cant have anything less than excellence. You have to have zealous nuts. It has to be a campaign. Some Key Principles…

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