ST. TAMMANY PARISH LIBRARY WELCOME BUILDING PLANNING COMMITTEE July 7, 2004 6:30 – 8:30PM

ST. TAMMANY PARISH LIBRARY

WELCOME

BUILDING PLANNING COMMITTEE

July 7, 2004

6:30 – 8:30PM


Process Roadmap

• St. Tammany Demographics• St. Tammany Parish Library• Peer Libraries• Library Standards• Prototype Regional & Branch Libraries

Recommendations (Draft)• Recommendations (Final)


Tonight’s Agenda

• Process & Agenda Bob Wilson

• Recommendations Bob Wilson Vote Tally & Committee

• Next Steps Bob Wilson

• Bio & Participation CommitteeForm


Tonight’s Objectives

• Finalize recommendations.

• Schedule next steps


Findings Accepted

• STPL should be an “Excellent” system by Louisiana Standards

• STPL should be in the 90th percentile by National Standards

• Population in 20 years will be at least 300,000• Collection size should total 3.5 items per capita

(1,050,000 items)• 375,000 or more sq ft will be needed to house the

collection and the serve the citizens of St. Tammany


Recommendations Ballot

• Used to facilitate discussion.

• Not intended as complete.

• Not binding.


Recommendations Categories

• New Building Recommendations.

• Existing Building Recommendations.

• Process Recommendations.


New Building Recommendations: #1

• STPL should utilize three types of new library buildings:Regional LibrariesCommunity LibrariesSatellite Libraries.



• Regional Libraries are needed to house complete collections to achieve economies of scale and to house unique or near unique service functions. Regional Libraries will range in size from 30,000 to 70,000 square feet. The space needs prototype formula will be utilized to determine both the number of Regional Libraries and the appropriate size for each location.



• Community Libraries should be large enough to house a full service library branch and a collection of at least 35,000 volumes. Community Libraries will range in size from 12,000 to 30,000 square feet. The space needs prototype formula will be utilized to determine the appropriate size for each location.



• Satellite Libraries will be short term, small (4,000 to 7,000 square feet) rental facilities used to confirm a demand for library services in a rapidly growing area. Once demand is confirmed, an appropriate Community Library will be built utilizing the library space needs prototype formula.



• All new sites and buildings should allow for future expansion to accommodate population growth patterns.



• New building sites should be highly visible within the community and located on major roads/highways which are capable of handling patron traffic. Geological fault lines should be considered in site selection decisions.



• New buildings should be rectangular in shape to facilitate future expansion or additions. Odd shaped buildings make expansion difficult.



• Book collection space should not exceed 45% of total building space.



• All new library buildings should have meeting space for at least 60 people.



• Natural lighting should be utilized wherever practicable.


Existing Building Recommendations: #1

• The Mandeville Branch is in an excellent location within the community and is a tremendous asset to the community. Children’s and Adult Programming are adversely affected by the lack of meeting space. Consider adding a meeting room to the Mandeville Branch and acquiring nearby land for additional parking.



• Reconfigure the Covington Branch as a Community Library by moving some functions (Examples: Louisiana Room, ERC, Information Technology Section) to a Regional Library.



• Reconfigure the Slidell Branch as a Community Library by moving some functions (Examples: Government Documents Collection, Electronic Library) to a Regional Library. Renovate to add study carrels and additional patron restrooms.



• The existing Lee Road Branch site has potential for expansion. Consider using the existing Lee Road Branch building as a meeting room and build a new Community Library on the rear portion of the existing site.



• The existing Madisonville Branch is inadequate in size to continue housing a Community Library and should be replaced with a new Madisonville Community Library. Consider using the Madisonville Branch building for a specific library function or returning it to the parish for an alternate government function.



• The existing Lacombe Branch site has some potential for expansion. Determine if the existing branch site combined with the vacant land to the immediate west (if available) is large enough to accommodate a new Lacombe Community Library. If not, locate a suitable site on the main highway to house a new Lacombe Community Library.



• The existing branches at Folsom, Bush, Pearl River, and Abita Springs are inadequate in size to continue serving the needs of the citizens of St. Tammany Parish and should all be replaced with appropriate Community Libraries. None of the sites of these branches are large enough to accommodate the necessary expansion. New Community Libraries should be built in each of these communities utilizing the space needs formula to determine the appropriate size for each location.



• The existing Causeway Branch Library is a Satellite Library housed in a rental facility. Its original function was to relieve overcrowding at the Mandeville Branch. Upon completion of a Regional Library in western St. Tammany, re-evaluate the need for a Causeway Branch and build a new Community Library as necessary.



• The existing (new) Pontchartrain Branch is a Satellite Library housed in a rental facility. Its original function was to relieve overcrowding at the Slidell Branch. Upon completion of a Regional Library in Eastern St. Tammany, re-evaluate the need for a Pontchartrain Branch and build a new Community Library as necessary.



• The functions housed in the existing Headquarters Annex Building should be located either within or adjacent to a new Regional Library.


Process Recommendations: #1

• LBOC (Library Board of Control) should utilize both local & “library expert” architects in the design and construction of new library buildings.


Process Recommendations: #2

• LBOC should ensure that all library construction is in compliance with New Directions 2025 planning guidelines.


Process Recommendations: #3 & 4

• LBOC should solicit “town hall” community input for library design.

• LBOC should obtain local political leadership input.


Process Recommendations: #5 & 6

• LBOC should appoint a Site Selection Committee.

• LBOC should review the Strategic Building Plan every five years. This process will be used to adjust for changes in population growth and demand for library services.


Additional Recommendations

• All sites should be purchased as soon as possible even if construction is not imminent.

• Consider land or building swaps with parish or towns.

• Co-ordinate site selection with the Parish Green-space Purchase Project

• Building orientation should take advantage of sun orientation, prevailing breezes, circulation at site & in building should be intuitive.


Additional Recommendations

• Architecture should reflect the vernacular • Buildings should have a strong relationship

with the outdoors.• Building designers should meet & interview

staff and end users.• Display space for art (permanent &

temporary) should be planned into the buildings & sites.


Next Steps

• Sept. 21 - Committee Presents Report to Library Board Of Control at

Joint Special Meeting• November - Library Board of Control Briefs

Parish Council• Bob Wilson is Contact Point:

[email protected] phone # 504-813-7515Office phone # 985-893-6283 Ext. 106

mailto:[email protected]


Bio and Interest Forms

• A brief bio of each committee member is needed for the committee report:Examples: Teacher, City Councilperson, Architect,

Friends of the Library, Retired Librarian, etc.

• Express interest in additional participation:Examples: Presentations to Community Groups, Site

Selection Process, Fund Raising, Millage Election Process, etc.
