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First Floor Reconfiguration - Public Area

Minutes of January 24, 2002

Present:  Susan Bellingham, Ian Donaghy, Sharon Lamont, Alex McCulloch, Carl Nagel

  1. Sharon recounted the steps that led to the formation of the group.  

    User Services needs have been determined and a first draft from Plant Operations is expected soon, however the location of newspapers can be reconsidered if they create a significant problem in their proposed location. 

    ISR will see if there is interest in someone from that area joining the group.

    It was agreed that this group might get no further than proposing the infrastructure in the time we have available before the User Services part of the contract goes to tender.  We will submit changes to Plant Ops when PO comes back with their first draft of the User Services section (assuming we have already run the changes past Library Department Heads and others).  We’ll find out at that time whether the changes will slow down the User Services part of the project.

    Susan noted that the public part of the carpet may need the extra moisture barrier.

  2. The following possibilities/issues for the space were brainstormed:

    • Privacy panels for the washrooms (or is ‘sound’ the real issue, if we don’t want to lose visibility to washrooms – see next section)
    • Newspapers
    • New Books
    • Student study area – some combination of tables/carrels/lounge chairs
    • Library workstations
    • Workstations along a partial Information Commons idea (i.e. full-service, with word processing, email, and a networked printer and scanner in the area)
    • Wireless transmitter (that could also cover the Special Collections reading area)
    • Public use typewriter
    • Lounge
    • Special Collections display cabinets
    • Drinking fountain
    • Lockers
    • Coat rack
    • Bank Machine
    • Plants
    • Lighting
    • Art work

    There is also some possibility that we would need to consider photocopiers for this space if they simply cannot go on the 5th floor.  There was agreement to proceed assuming this would not be the case, as it would be highly undesirable – we believe it would be worth whatever it might cost the library to put them on the 5th floor.

  3. The following criteria were brainstormed:

    • Flexibility of Space
    • Keep it simple (don’t try to include too many uses)
    • Coherence of Space (don’t include conflicting uses)
    • Maintain sightlines to both service points on the floor, and to the washrooms
    • User Needs – what kinds of space do our users need, and how will we determine this?
    • The overall visual impact of the floor – how attractive is it for users?

    Discussion about which criteria should be most important in guiding decision-making resulted in the hope that both user needs and flexibility for the future could be served by the final proposal.  It was also agreed that we would use whatever data is presently available in making our proposal, as there’s not enough time to gather new data.

Action Items for Next Meeting:

Ian – will bring information from catalogues on possible tables and chairs for the various purposes we are considering: for a lounge and for individual study tables.

Carl – will see if figures can be found that help determine whether more workstations are needed, and, if so, which arrangements are desirable.

Susan – will confirm with Mary Stanley what has been discussed regarding an Information Commons in the library.

Alex – will survey staff who are also students regarding their views on space in the library.

Next Meeting: January 30, 2002 from 1:30 – 3:30
Porter 224A

First Floor Reconfiguration Committee

August 8, 2005