Blazing the Trails in Library Design

Today's modern Libraries have been almost unrecognizable over the past 12 months or so. There have been so many changes and adaptations to how we handle the ins and outs of Library culture. We have seen complete mass shut downs, face coverings for everyone, curbside pick ups, extensive quarantining of materials and innovative program distribution to patrons in a digital format. And now we're beginning to see more facility openings, whether light or all-in and with that comes new parameters that are really anyone's guess as to how best to handle them. So at a time of such uncertainty in what to do next and just how we go about it, I feel like reevaluating how Libraries are designed from this point forward is a very valid exercise in Interior Design. There has never been a more exciting time to try something new and explore just how I can blaze a few trails of my own by introducing my new design program to Libraries that will change the way you put together your Library from now on.

THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS

For as long as Library design has been a thing, people have hired a team of top-notch architects, designers and contractors to assist in putting together a very functional and aesthetically pleasing Library design that appeals to their public and meets current and local cultural demands. Funding methods are considered, capital campaigns are carefully put together and a budget is formed. Buildings are designed, finishes are selected, and quotes are presented by the construction team. And then inevitably (more often than not) pricing comes in much higher than the budget allots for and a fun little term called "Value Engineering" takes center stage and every last design detail is scrutinized and cut down to an almost unrecognizable design concept in order to get things back on track. Now the Library Director is staring at building that may or may not still work for their staff and patrons, but hey!, we saved money and got it back on budget.

BUT WHAT IF?

What if there was a different scenario you could follow that would put you back in control of your Library design AND save you money? But I'm jumping ahead of myself a bit. Let me give you a little bit of my back story. About 9 months ago, I was mindlessly scrolling through Instagram when I came across a business-building program that caught my interest. I'm not typically lured in by the shiny objects people attempt to dangle in front of my ever-so-lovingly-gullible face, but this one struck me. I'll explain the many details one day in a future blog post, but for the sake of time, let me break it down into a quicker version. I did invest my time, energy and money into this particular program because it made so much sense to me and I'm glad I did. Because for that entire Summer, I absorbed every last drop of design-business wisdom I could get my hands on until I finally landed on a brilliant revelation. Library design could be MUCH easier and more cost-effective if someone was willing to put in the time and effort. So I began building a design concept that I believe will open doors for you that you never even thought possible.

ENTER "OFF THE SHELF"

I have created a program that teaches Library Directors and their staff how to design their own Library interiors at a fraction of the cost. I call it Off the Shelf and I'm really excited about presenting it to people like you that want to put together a cohesive and well-thought-out design that functions the way you want it to. The control is yours. The time spent is yours. The money saved can be put elsewhere.

I've put together all the details, product specifications, furniture specifications, signage and artwork design and wrapped them up in a very easy-to-use digital learning course that anyone can complete in as little as 4 weeks. Off the Shelf contains 4 design Modules with multiple short video lessons for each module as well as ample downloads and handouts for you to follow and use throughout the entire program. I've also added a private Facebook group for new students so you can ask me questions any time you need to as well as start and carry on conversations with like-minded design students who can help keep you on track. To make it even easier, I'll be conducting live coaching calls throughout the digital course learning period where students can submit their questions and share where you're getting stuck so I can talk you through it and help you move forward.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS

Each module is broken down into very distinctive phases of my design process. And yes, this is my own design process that I have been using for nearly 15 years as a commercial Interior Designer. So I know it works. The first module is all about selecting your interior finishes and how to apply them to your building professionally. The guesswork has been taken out of it. All of it. I've got plenty of design schemes for you to choose from and once you select your favorite, the rest of the design modules will coordinate with your selection so you don't have to do any extra design work . . . unless you just want to.

Modules 2 and 3 cover furniture. You will learn exactly how to lay your space out so that it functions best for your patrons and staff, while Module 3 will show you how to finalize your furniture specifications and get your furniture ordered. The final module covers signage and artwork specs and how to make everything work with your overall design scheme as well as how to handle installations of each. With this method, it's so much simpler than you might think. And just to show you how simple it is, I've put together a free Webinar that explains everything in more detail so you know what you're getting before you ever commit to a purchase. I would love for you to join me as I lay out how everything works. If you want to sign up, you can start here at my Free Upcoming Webinar Info Page where you will be put on the list to be first to sign up in the coming weeks. I plan to release the free webinar at the end of this month, so don't miss the announcement. Sign up today so you can be there. I'll be taking questions at the end of each webinar so come prepared with any you may have.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Design is ever-changing. Embracing that change and learning to roll with it and modify how we learn and do things is so important. I've designed this new digital learning program, Off the Shelf, to help Library Director's and their staff design the building they expect while saving money simultaneously. So sign up and learn more about the program. Even if you're not currently in the market to design from scratch or even begin a re-purposing project, this will give you insight into what you're capable of and how you might design your future Library when the time comes.