Library design developments down under Janine Schmidt, Director, Mukurta Solutions, Australia presented at the Maynooth University Library and IFLA Library Buildings and Equipment Section Seminar: "Key issues for library space: international perspectives" March 3, 2016 Maynooth University Library, Maynooth, Co Kildare, Ireland https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/library/events/key-issues-library-space-international-perspectives-maynooth-university-and-ifla-library-buildings

1. Library Design Developments
Downunder
Janine Schmidt, Director Mukurta Solutions and
Trenholme Director of Libraries Emerita, McGill University, Montreal Canada
Maynooth University Library and IFLA Library Buildings and Equipment Section. Key issues for library space: international perspectives
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4. Overview
• Trends in general
• Australian trends
• Reflections
• Geelong Regional Library
• Gold Coast Libraries
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5. Trends
• Renovating, repurposing, adaptive re-use
• Focus on user needs – community involvement and consultation
• Adapting to economic realities
• Expansion
• Learning centres/commons/innovation incubators
• Makerspaces, media laboratories, innovation laboratories, 3D printing, IT help
• 24 hour access with downloadable content
• Personal study spaces, group/informal gatherings, auditoriums, cafes
• Interplay internal/external spaces
• Light, vibrant colours
• Partnerships/shared spaces
• Sustainability
• WOW factor
Maynooth University Library and IFLA Library Buildings and Equipment Section. Key issues for library space: international perspectives
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6. International sharing of knowledge and
experiences
• IFLA. Library Buildings and
Equipment section. Other sections
• ARUP. Future Libraries. Workshops
summary and emerging insights.
2015.
• 1001 libraries to see before you die.
https://1001libraries.wordpress.co
m/
• Numerous websites e.g.
https://1001libraries.wordpress.co
m/other-sites/
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7. Geelong Library and Heritage Centre
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• Geelong is 2nd city in
Victoria
• Port
• 75km from Melbourne
• Population 200,000

8. Geelong Regional Libraries
 Victoria, 5th in population served, loans and 2nd in visits
 Governed by local government council and funded by State and local governments as
well as self-generated funding
 16 libraries and 2 mobile libraries (4 new libraries opened in past 3 years)
 Operational Budget $11m
 148 staff (76 EFT)
 450,000 collection items
 108,000 library members
 1.7m physical visits / 750,000 website visits
 2.5m loans of collection items
 263,000 loans of e-collections and growing
 118,000 plus attendances to lifelong learning programmes
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9. Geelong Library and Heritage Centre
 Replace 1959 building with significant cultural and learning institution in heart of city and
CBD
 Iconic architecturally designed landmark
 Contribute to placemaking and urban socio-cultural regeneration
 Anchor for cultural precinct
 Major destination and attractor of visitors from within and outside the region
 A centre for discovery about Geelong and the Geelong Region
 Central library for CBD residents and workers - this will be their local Library
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Inspiration from dome shapes
• 7 irregularly shaped floor-slabs
supported by columns that rise
through the building
• ‘Dome’ constructed from hexagonal
blocks of glass reinforced concrete
(GRC) bolted to a steel lattice-work
exo-skeleton
• 9 floors including a basement (called
Lower Ground), a mezzanine level
and a plant room at the top of the
dome
• Vertical movement is by 2 lifts,
including a large goods lift, and by
stairs
• Vibrant colours with unique colour on
each floor
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• 100,000+ collection items
• 2km+ public records + local collections
• 4.2km mobile shelving
• Headquarters and central library for GRLC
• 5 Star environmentally sustainable design

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• $45.5 million funding ($20m CoGG, $15m State,
$10m Fed)
• Opened 20 November 2015
• 130,000 visitors to date
• 50 PCs including 6 touch-screen PCs for kids, 5
gaming machines + large video screen in youth space
• 30 staff

20. City of Gold Coast
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• 1 hour from Brisbane
• 527,828 residents
• 70 km beaches
• 260 km waterways
• 287 days sunshine
(usually)
• 2,245 parks

21. Gold Coast City Libraries
• More than 8,500 real visits daily
• Almost 3,000 virtual visitors daily
• Klout score 56: Monday
• 13 branch libraries, 2 mobile
• Local Studies, Special Needs,
Corporate Libraries
• Collection Services
• Small administrative nerve centre
March 2016Maynooth University Library and IFLA Library Buildings and Equipment Section. Key issues for library space: international perspectives
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22. Gold Coast City Libraries
March 2016Maynooth University Library and IFLA Library Buildings and Equipment Section. Key issues for library space: international perspectives
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Since 2000, 2 new
mobile libraries, 9
new libraries, and
refurbished others

23. Technology
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24. Colour
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25. Fit with environment
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26. Flexible use of space, mobile desks, seating
and shelving
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27. Functional staff and work areas
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28. Art work
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29. Communication, signage and marketing
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30. Self-service and automated return
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31. Sustainability
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32. Partnerships and Sharing
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33. Other Downunder Developments
• Libraries firmly fixed in community
• Extensive consultation with users
• Detailed briefs
• Emphasis on collaboration between
architect/interior
designer/librarian/design team
• Data collection to support case for
support
• User-based design – library user
journeys – library as experience
• Welcoming, engaging, iconic,
connecting people, place, knowledge
• Linking real and virtual – website is
virtual front door
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34. Acknowledgements
• Patti Manolis, CEO Geelong Regional Libraries
• Alan Howell, Manager, Geelong Library & Heritage Centre
• Photographs and details provided by Alan Howell and sourced from
Geelong Advertiser “Sneak peek inside library”
• Further details: Geelong Library and Heritage Centre
(http://www.grlc.vic.gov.au/glhc
http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/glhc/default.aspx)
• Marian Morgan-Bindon, City Librarian, Gold Coast City Libraries
• Further details: https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/library/default.html
• Colleagues everywhere
• Contact me: janine@mukurta.com
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Go raibh maith agat. May you have goodness.