! ? 'Cpoa7.s D73p 4f|^'St'^'*ii?^' i'^C?.- •% ' ■i 1 aft\}t Intorattg of Nnrtl] Olarnlitta (EoUfrttun of Worth OJaroUmatta Lp0 27.B no.^y 1 Planning, and Equipping the School Library 1946 Publication No. 257 PLANNING AND EQUIPPING THE SCHOOL LIBRARY By Mary Peacock Douglas State School Library Adviser Drawings by T. Cecil Bbown State Department of Public Instruction Raleigh, North Carolina 1946 FOREWORD With the growing appreciation of the function of the school Hbrary in the instructional program, greater concern has been evidenced for housing it adequately. Elementary schools with library rooms large enough and equipped to seat a full class group have demonstrated that wider reading and increased skill in using materials result when guided use is made of centrally organized library facilities. These results have long been noted in high schools. As new school buildings are erected and as older buildings are renovated, due consideration should be given to providing library quarters which facilitate the ever increasing use of books and other library materials by class groups and by individuals. Reading rooms should be made spacious, artistic, and inviting. Shelving to care for the anticipated maximum book collection should be included. Furnishings for the group to be served should be selected with due consideration being given to proper heights of chairs and tables for growing boys and girls. The decoration of the room should make it inviting and informal. Consideration of these factors has been given in the recom- mendations in this bulletin. General principles of school library planning are presented, which may well be taken into account before local plans are projected. Simplified drawings for equip- ment which can be built by local contractors and cabinet makers will facilitate the making of these items. The bulletin is designed to giVe practical help in planning and equipping the library of the average size school in our State. More pretentious arrangements and effective adaptations of these ideas can be suggested by school architects and by the State Department of Public Instruction. &M^ State Superintendent of Public histruction. November, 1946. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. For What Types of Schools Should Libraries Be Planned 5 IL Where Should the Library Be Located 5 IIL What Areas Should the Library Quarters Include ._.. 6 IV. What Space Should Be Allowed for Each Area 6 V. What Special Provisions for Related Areas Should Be Provided 10 VI. What Special Provisions for Light, Sound, and Decoration Should be Considered 10 VII. What Equipment and Furniture Should Be Provided - 12 VIII. What Floor Arrangement Is Advisable 24 IX. What Help Can the State Department of Public Instruction Provide on School Library Building Problems 24 X. What Are Some Manufacturers and Dealers of Library Furniture and Equipment 25 References 25 ILLUSTRATIONS Page Shelving : Plate I 7 Regular shelving, front and side views, with bulle- tin board recessed in center sections. Magazine shelving, front and side views. Plate II 9 Picture book shelving, front and side views, with elementary height shelves. ^_. Metal strip and bracket. Equipment for local production : Plate III 1 1 Dictionary stand, newspaper holder, display case, book truck. Plate IV 13 Circulation desk, trays, counter height shelving (movable). Workroom storage equipment: Plate V 15 Storage locker, double-faced counter (movable). Equipment for purchase : Plate VI 17 Rectangular table, round table, chairs for pupils, chair slides, chair for charging desk. Plate VII 19 Catalog case, vertical file, revolving dictionary holder. Floor plans : Plate VIII 21 Small school. Plate IX 23 Larger school. Planning and Equipping the School Library With the erection of new school buildings and the renovation and remodeling of many old ones, considerable attention is being given to providing adequate and attractive school library quarters. In this bulletin an attempt has been made to express briefly the factors which should be taken into consideration in planning school library quarters for the average type schools, especially those with enrollments up to 500 pupils, and to present graphic- ally arrangements and equipment w^hich have proved practical and appropriate. Especial acknowledgment is made to Miss Sue Hefley, State Supervisor of School Libraries, State Department of Education, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for helpful material and ideas. I. For What Types of Schools Should Libraries Be Planned? 1. Elementary schools, 2. High schools. 3. Union schools in which elementary and high schools are housed in the same building. IL Where Should the Library Be Located? 1. Where it is most convenient and accessible to the largest number of pupils. (1) Near the center of inter-class traffic in a high school. (2) Adjoining or convenient to the study hall in a high school. While the library room may serve for both library users and study groups, this arrangement is not recognized as the best practice when more than 35 pupils (the equivalent of one class group) are scheduled for general study without specific library assignments. (3) Near the English and social studies classrooms. (4) Near the upper grade classes in an elementary school. (5) Easily accessible to elementary and high school pupils in a union school. Planning and Equipping the School Library 2. Where expansion is possible. Experience shows that most school library quarters heretofore have been too small. Location between staircases or other architectural features which make expansion impossible may later handicap library service. 3. Where there is a maximum of natural light, preferably with east or west exposure. 4. Where there is a minimum of disconcerting noises, such as those of playground, gymnasium, and music. 5. Where width of the reading center may be wider than the average classroom. Frequently this can be provided on the second floor front of two or three-story buildings. The wider rooms allow more informal and effective arrangement of equipment. in. What Areas Should the Library Quarters Include? 1. Circulation and reading room. 2. Workroom space and librarian's office. 3. Storage space. 4. Small-group conference room or rooms. 5. Audio-visual screening and listening room which may also be used as classroom. IV. What Space Should Be Allowed for Each Area? 1. Circulation and reading room. 25 square feet per reader. 48 seats as minimum for enrollment up to 300. 15% of student body beyond 300 for high schools. 40 additional seats for enrollment beyond 500 in elementary schools. For schools with enrollments beyond 700 communicate with consultants. Entrance should be on the side center with double doors. This gives better wall space and simplifies supervision. s// v/ yy v/ \y/ 1 L ' / / / / J' A I U r Planning and Equipping the School Library The equivalent of the space of two classrooms will provide a reading room seating 48, a combination storage-workroom-office, and a conference room. See page 21. Roughly the maximum seating capacity of a reading room which is the approximate width of a standard classroom can be estimated at one person for each foot of length. A reading room 22' x 50' can seat 50 pupils. Union schools should provide library space for ele- mentary and high schools adjoining so that library personnel can supervise both groups. Reading room space will approximate that needed for each group separately. 2. Workroom space and librarian's office. 11' X 12' as minimum. Adjacent to reading room. Librarian's office may be combined with workroom, but it is desirable that the librarian have "a few square feet he can call his own" for undisturbed technical work necessary for an efficiently run library. 3. Storage Space. May be provided in workroom unless extensive col- lection of back issues of periodicals are required for reference work, or other exceptional needs are made known. Separate storage space for reference maga- zines will require not less than 120 square feet. 4. Conference room. 10' X 11' each as minimum. Adjacent to reading room. This provides a place for small groups to work to- gether without disturbing the larger group working individually in the reading room. Planning and Equipping the School Library i < f ""T'^'l oy \oy'\\-..^/ II ,.^y H < ^ ^ Ui J u: J < U V N tf (0 ijj > J J - (i> iiJ UI J tf) 1 20 Planning and Equipping the School Library floor space and should be used only in large rooms. Circulation desk should be placed to command the entrance. Dimensions for Circulation Desk Length over-all 5 f eet - 7 feet Depth 24 inches - 30 inches Height : Standard height type 39 inches (Requires suitable swivel chair) Sitting height 321/0 inches (7) Dictionary and atlas stands. See plate IIL An upright dictionary stand can be purchased from a dealer or made locally. A revolving dictionary stand for use on another piece of furniture should be secured from a dealer. (8) Card catalog case and stand. See plate VIL It is recommended that the card catalog case be secured from a library furniture dealer to assure exact dimensions and features to fit precision-cut library cards. The number of trays depends on the size of the book collection and the completeness of the cataloging (author, title, and subject cards and shelf list cards). Estimate 1,000 cards to each tray, estimate five cards per book for cataloging and one card per book for shelf list ; base estimates on anticipated book collection of ten books per pupil. (9) Picture and pamphlet file case. See plate VIL A legal size filing case of four drawers of either wood or steel construction is recommended. The letter sized filing cabinet is too narrow for mounted picture collections required of accredited ele- mentary schools. (10) Newspaper rack. See plate III. A floor stand for newspapers is more practical than a section of shelving. On the other hand a Planning and Equipping the School Library 21 d £i. D Q D Q .V c?^ ^ ^ Jt 4 (0 < % uJ 3: H Di > < 22 Planning and Equipping the School Library floor stand for magazines is less practical. News- paper rods should be secured from a dealer. (11) Book truck. See plate III. A small three-shelf book truck is almost in- dispensable for handling returned books and for taking books to and from classrooms. (12) Display case. A glass display case about the dimensions of a table is desirable for displaying objects and books. Floor space for it should equal that needed for two tables in order to allow groups to see the displays. 2. Workroom and librarian's office. (1) Running water, sink or lavatory. (2) Cupboard shelves for storing paste, cards, mending materials, etc., may be under sink. Depth about 18 inches. (3) Regulation shelving on one or more sides. (4) Storage locker. See plate V. (5) Worktable. (6) Typewriter desk with drawers. (7) Typewriter. (8) Catalog case for shelf list cards. Estimate 1,000 cards for each tray and one card for each book. Can use trays in card catalog case in smaller schools. (9) Letter file case — two to four drawers. (10) Chairs, two or more. (11) Electrical outlets. At worktable for electric stylus used in marking books and on baseboard. 3. Storage space. Shelving at least twelve inches deep for back issues of magazines, display materials, and temporary book storage. 4. Conference room. (1) Regulation shelving on wall side. (2) Counter height shelving with glass partition above on side adjacent to reading room. Planning and Equipping the School Library 23 24 Planning and Equipping the School Library (3) Table. (4) Chairs, 4-6 for each table. 5. Audio-visual room. See Plate IX. (1) Sound resistant floor, walls, and ceiling. (2) Cabinets, cases, and files for the storage of recordings, filmstrips, sterographs, and other audio-visual materials. (3) Switch near the door for controlling luminaries. (4) Screen. (5) Dark curtains. (6) U-channels at the sides of windows to prevent leakage of light. (7) Double electrical outlet at rear of room for pro j ector. (8) Electrical outlets on baseboard on all sides of room. (9) Blackboard. (10) Tablet-arm chairs to seat class group. (11) Table with chairs. (12) Electrical outlets for radio and phonograph. VIII. What Floor Arrangement Is Advisable? 1. Double doors at center of hall side for entrance. 2. Circulation desk located centrally. 3. All chairs visible to librarian from workroom as well as from anywhere in library. 4. Reference books, fiction books, and magazines shelved away from entrance to avoid congestion and to allow supervision. 5. Display case or section visible from entrance. 6. Open area around entrance and circulation desk. 7. Browsing center with easy chairs to invite reading. IX. What Help Can the State Department of Public Instruction Provide on School Library Building Problems? The State Department of Public Instruction is in position to give concrete suggestions in planning school buildings, including special areas such as the library. Consultation before plans are drawn for a given building may result in more functional provision for special services. Assistance Planning and Equipping the School Library 25 in planning layouts for libraries in new buildings, additions to old buildings, and renovations within buildings can be secured on request to W. F, Credle, Director of Schoolhouse Planning, State Department of Public Instruction, Raleigh, N. C. Mrs. Mary P. Douglas, State School Library Adviser, State Department of Public Instruction, Raleigh, N. C. X. What Are Some Manufacturers and Dealers of Library Furniture and Equipment? Excellent help in designing and arranging library quarters can be secured from most manufacturers of library equipment. Those listed below will supply catalogs of library furnishings, and in some instances will prepare suggested layouts with the expectancy of bidding on the equipment to be purchased. Globe-Wernicke Company, 5029 Carthage Avenue, Cin- cinnnati, Ohio. Leonard Peterson and Company, 1222-1234 Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, 111. Library Bureau Division, Remington Rand, Inc., 104 Luckie Street, N. W., Atlanta, Ga. Southern Desk Company, Hickory, N. C. Standard School Equipment Company, Silver City, N. Y. Yawman and Erbe Manufacturing Company, Rochester, N. Y. References An extensive list of references on school library planning can be supplied on request, but the following citations cover the general needs in planning library rooms for the average sized school, whether union, elementary, or high school. Douglas, M. P. "Design and Equipment of Consolidated School Libraries." In American School and University. Eleventh annual edition. American School Publishing Corporation. 1939. p.297-303. Douglas, M. P. Teacher-Librarian's Handbook. American Library Association. 1941. $1.90. p.102-110. 26 Planning and Equipping the School Library Fargo, L, F. Lihrarij in the School. 3rd edition. American Library Association. 1939. $3.50. p.263-318. (New edition in preparation.) Fargo, L. F. "School Library Planning and Equipment." In American School and University. Seventh annual edition. American School Publishing Corporation. 1935. p. 229-232. Library Bureau. Planning the School Library. Library Bureau Division, Remington Rand, Inc., Buffalo 5, N. Y. 1945. Free. L_ UNIVERSITY OF N.C, AT CHAPEL HILL 00034033901 FOR USE ONLY IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTIO! Form No. A-368, Rev. 8/95