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Summer 2008 Random Notes from the Library Tour in Wyoming and Colorado. by Lloyd D Mickelson Front Range Community College—Harmony/City Branch College: maintains the grounds maintenance maintains the parking lot hires one librarian for the college Later formed a Library District 400 tech high school students use the library, too. (editorial note: Maybe we should check with the school district to see if they want to be involved—financial, etc?) Look at the stop signs available for entrance to the campus. Partnerships are important! 2 years in the planning before the building started. Not enough study places in the library for the students to use. They need a place to hang out between classes, etc. 3300 sq fir—gross—library foot print. RUNNING OUT OF SPACE! Back room staff space needs to be larger than smaller. Kitchen included is important. Need a check in room, preferably one that has automation. College reserves –hold shelves for PUPS Wireless is really needed—is unfiltered, anyone can walk in and use. Community room—about 400 meeting a year. Kitchen in community room is a necessity. Lab computer room (Electronic Learning center) PUBLIC AND STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS. Instructional Design Center for faculty. Staff work area needed (reference, staff offices, etc. Teen section—neon lights is a nice touch! Group study rooms are good. NEED A LOT OF THEM. Public safety usage helps—needed. Have the circulation desks in close proximity—children’s, circulation, and reference and information. Librarians need to be generalists. Try to control the noise through spacing—need more sound proofing Have 900 student population who are also students at the main campus. GET SPONSORS FOR ROOM AREAS—CHILDREN’S. ROTARY READING ROOM IS INFORMAL USAGE. e.g. NOT PROFIT BROCHURES SPACE AVAILABLE. Work study students heavily utilized. Go to book buying line to process for new library cards during enrollment. Need longer operating hours in the day to accommodate the student needs. FINE ACCOUNTS SHOULD BE JOINT FUND. Those monies then can be used for mutual causes within the library. (There account presently has about $230,000 in it. They get about $6000 per month from fines. Schedule Program in the library. Natural lighting, Triple doors saves energy costs!!!!! ---PAGE BREAK--- Carpets cleaned 4 x’s a year. Upholstered furniture in children’s area needs more cleaning per year. Motorized shades are cheaper in the end because repair of same is more costly because PEOPLE are not careful enough when handling the ups and downs! window washing 2 x’s a year. Comfort level with children starting out going to the joint library experience. They tend to go to the institution when going to higher education because of the familiarity. A good thing! PARKING NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT OUT VERY CAREFULLY. STUDENTS vs PUBLIC SPACES. Seniors vs Young families with small children is a challenge. TALK TO THE CITY BUS PEOPLE TO WORK OUT A ROUTING AND STOP SCHEDULE FOR THE LIBRARY START NOW. Security cameras used at entrances and outside some exit doors (children’s area e.g.) used for identity purposes .Also will need cameras for going out into the parking lot. CAMPUS SECURITY IS VERY IMPORTANT!! Parolees or probation people. PA system—for emergencies, etc, should be considered. WHEN THE CAMPUS IS CLOSED THE LIBRARY MUST HAVE A SEPARATE TURN ON OR OFF SO UTILITIES (HEATING AND ELECTRIC) CONTINUES TO OPERATE IN THE LIBRARY. IGA should be general-- philosophical as opposed to the nitty-gritty details. Decision needed whether to use Dewey Decimal system alone, together with another form, etc. DDECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE EARLY. Great experience testimonies regarding the college students mingling with the pre-schoolers. Consider adding some other people to the facilities committee such as, a high school student, e.g., maybe someone who is going into architecture; university and/or college student; perhaps, a librarian for the high school, middle school, elementary school, a home schooler. NOTE: Maybe contact Amy Shelley, director of Garfield County Library, in Glenwood Springs, CO, for information about getting grants. Joint library use is common in Australia and Germany. USA is beginning to do more joints.(pun intended.) Good idea to have some group rooms with projectors, screens, and computers for the groups to use-geared for student projects. Have to reserve space and time. Tier seating for the computer labs seems to be a good idea. Campus network system at COT—allowing students to use their computers throughout. NEED SAME IN LIBRARY. Assistant learning technology center. Computer labs for training special needs (small area) learning disabilities—some physical such as blind, etc. Internet use agreement between the two entities is needed. Westminister/Front Range Library has 76000 sq ft building. Has 500 students, serves 105,000 public patrons.