On November 13, 2012 the Stanaker Neighborhood Library, Houston, TX, part of the Houston Public Library, reopened following a major renovation. Founded in 1950 and opened anew in 1985, the 9,265 square foot branch now features red and orange aluminum exterior panels and a fresh entry canopy with new pavers and a purple ceiling that will lead patrons toward the remodeled entryway. Along with a refreshed landscape, including a butterfly garden and native plantings, the library now includes dedicated spaces for children, teens, and adults. There is also a meeting room, a gaming space, a larger computer area, and an adult living room. Striving for energy efficiency, the $3.2 million project, designed by English + Associates Architects Inc., features updated mechanical systems, a cool roof, additional insulation, and new lighting. Funding came from a Community Development Block Grant and Public Library Consolidated Construction Fund support.
Colorado’s Anythink Wright Farms branch, named one of Library Journal’s New Landmark Libraries in 2011, will have added to its cachet with the January 13 construction of The Studio, a digital learning lab for teens, with a focus on “digital media and collaboration/creativity in digital production.” The space is funded through a $100,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. As one of only a dozen initial grant recipients, The Studio will be looked upon as a model for learning lab efforts. The three- to five-week reconfiguration will make use of existing space to house state-of-the-art video equipment, a green screen, and a recording studio.
From January 7–21, the Lawrence Public Library, KS, originally founded as a subscription library in 1854, will move to temporary quarters in expectation of its mammoth renovation and expansion project (see Hotline, August 20, 2012). The final piece of the construction puzzle was put in place late last year when city commissioners approved library director Brad Allen’s suggestion that the library take up temporary residence at a former Borders location during the project. The relocation will keep the larger effort on schedule and within its $19 million budget.
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Data-Driven Libraries: Navigating Options & Measuring Outcomes: Librarians today are facing the inescapable reality that data is slowly beginning to govern much of what they do. Whether it is figuring out the best way to curate data sets or learning how to parse the ever growing number of metrics that every library is generating, librarians have to determine the most constructive way to deal with this ocean of information that a growing number of software companies and applications are making available. Watch this webcast series to learn innovative data-driven solutions that will navigate you through the data to create viable plans for your library's future |
About Bette-Lee Fox
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