Forthcoming course on Librarians Influencing the Design of Library Buildings

Librarians involved in planning a new library building, or a major refurbishment will be facing current financial challenges. I have extensive experience of working with librarians to achieve library buildings that meet community and professional needs, and know it isn’t all about money. More than ever, librarians need to use all their expertise and ingenuity to influence the design of library spaces for optimum use
Having researched and visited hundreds of libraries nationally and internationally, I have built up a repository of relatively low cost innovatory space ideas and solutions. Take the wonderful OBA Library: Amsterdam, a multi million pound project, but full of ingenious ideas that are easily copied. Many of these are derived from theatre, which has always been about achieving dynamic and flexible spaces, on little money. These ideas can also be adapted towards transforming existing spaces.
I will be running a course at The Cilip Headquarters in London on September 23rd 2010
CILIP Event Details: Influencing the design of new library buildings
The CILIP course will take account of the economic situation and include lower cost solutions. It will focus on achieving a building that meets geographical community needs and also professional requirements by becoming an effective rather than passive client, influencing each stage of the process. The need is to set up a design decision making process that genuinely engages those closely involved with the library, particularly front line staff. Participants will look at key critical aspects of the library design process, gain a deeper insight into the practicalities of the process and work in groups, to make decisions that will be evaluated to help inform real-life design issues and compromises.