• Improve electronic access so users can use electronic information sources side-by-side with print.
  • Electronic collections are expanding rapidly. Currently all the library's catalog, most periodical indexes and other access tools, and an increasing number of full texts are available in electronic form.

  • We need places where we help people one-on-one to use electronic, print and other media together.

  • We need places where we can teach groups of users how to find and use information.

• Provide optimal seating and collection storage space. We would like to be able to seat 50 percent of the student body, seat them in high quality sites, and store the books they need.

• Build places to use video, and facilities to store them.

• Provide space in Special Collections for collection storage and public events and gatherings.

• Upgrade of the Library for access to electronic collections.
  • This will be as near to state-of-the-art as is practical for an older building.

  • About 35 percent of the open seats in the building will be wired for network access. About 45 percent of all seats will either be wired for network use or equipped for electronic or AV services.

  • Reference is redesigned to facilitate teaching and learning with electronic materials, and a new electronic classroom/lab is in place.

  • Sixteen spaces equipped for video viewing are added, bringing the total to 36 seats, and storage capacity for ten years growth in audio and video media.

• Increase seating for student use.
  • When we are finished the Library will have 759 open seats for students, and 119 seats with installed equipment for electronic, audio, or media usage, for a total of 878 seats.

  • Our working goal is to achieve seating for 50 percent of the student body, a goal which we hope to exceed.

  • Though the basic architecture of the building works against it, we will have increased the number of spaces for group study from four to nine.

  • Our ability to improve seating was aided by the redesign of the staff area, which converted approximately 1,200 sq. ft. of space from staff to public use.

• Increase accessibility to collections.
  • Our planning efforts have devoted thought to improving the organization on the ground floor. The new design will reduce the feeling of getting lost, improve the quality of seating next to the collection, and make better use of natural light.

  • The current periodical collections will be moved to a more visible and usable location on the main floor.

  • Working with a professional designer and College Relations, we will improve signs for the entire building.

  • The collection storage capacity of the building will remain roughly constant, with more logical and efficient arrangement of collections.

• Improve special collections.
  • This plan has an improved and expanded space for promoting the use of unique special collections materials, and increased space for storage.

  • This plan supports the Library's role to encourage and celebrate scholarship and promote the understanding of the history of the College.

• Promote Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and safety.
  • This plan furthers our efforts to bring the building, insofar as is practical, into compliance with ADA. This includes retrofitting of door hardware, resetting shelves to proper aisle widths, and adding required signs.

  • To promote building security, we will have reduced the number of isolated areas within the building, and improved lighting in Coram stacks.

  • To promote safety of occupants, we will fit the Library with dual-action dry pipe sprinklers for fire protection. This will include 100 percent coverage for smoke and fire alarms.

  • A new water fountain system will replace the old one, eliminating the conditions that produced unacceptably high levels of lead in the water fountains.

• Redesign staff area.
  • Consolidated staff area designed to bring most staff together in one space. Includes ergonomic design for use of computers, steps to promote efficiency in staff interactions, and flexibility to adapt space as staff roles change. Accomplished with net reduction of staff space of 1,200 sq. ft.

• Accomplish work consistent with high quality of the existing Library and its original design.
  • Preserve the successful features that have made the Library the academic center of the campus, with inviting and varied study environments, well-designed service points, and a warm atmosphere.

Main Floor

Reference

The reference desk is moved to the center of the floor, and equipped with two microcomputers to help users find information and materials. The reference area includes 28 microcomputers with a combination of network, CD-ROM and other electronic formats for reference use. This area is designed to be the place on campus where users can get professional help to find information in all formats.

Instruction Room

We have constructed a space in which we can teach students, faculty and other users how to find and use information sources. It is set up with 22 microcomputers and a podium for the instructor, and includes both PCs and Macs. Its design includes overhead computing and video projection, with screens, blackboards and white boards in the front. This is located in the Library to enable librarians to teach with a combination of print and electronic sources. It is also used by computing staff to teach Internet access, word processing, spreadsheets, and other software packages. It is available to faculty members, students and others for one-time instructional use. When not being used as a classroom, the space serves as a computer lab for Bates students, faculty, and staff.

Exhibit area

An open space of approximately 440 sq. ft. Is designed to accommodate exhibits.This is at the front entrance. A wall was modified to allow easy hanging of art, and track lighting was installed to permit flexible lighting. There is a current need for new exhibit cases for this space, which would be used primarily to highlight materials from the Library's collections, the history of Bates, and exhibits from elsewhere.

Current periodicals

Current periodicals and newspapers will be relocated to main floor. The Library will locate the heaviest used current information in print and electronic form in places visible from the front door.

Reading room/photocopy area

This plan preserves the function of a very popular reading/photocopy area on the main floor. This has become a central place for group study and gathering on the campus.

Redesigned staff area

A renovated staff area brings all staff, with the exception of Audio and Special Collections staff, into one contiguous space on the main floor. It provides flexible work spaces, designed with ergonomic considerations, and adaptable to new technology.

Network connections to open library seating

Main floor renovations include 50 "wired" study spaces with power and data to support users' laptop computers. This will be extended as renovation is completed in the rest of the building to bring the total to approximately 290 wired study locations.

Audio and video

Space to store and use audio and video media has been upgraded with modern electronics, and space redesigned to store various media. A new group viewing room is now available, making four locations available for group viewing. An additional 10 individual viewing carrels are in place.

Microforms

Microform cabinets will be installed on moveable stacks to maximize storage space. A new reading area for microforms will be built, with flexible work spaces and appropriate lighting.

Organization

The ground floor is the largest floor in the building, and has been a difficult place in which to orient users. The redesigned stack and seating plan will provide stack aisle widths that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and visual cues tied to open aisles and windows to help users find their way about the floor.

Conference rooms

Two additional group study rooms for six people are provided.

Special Collections

The new reading room for Special Collections will be approximately double the size of the current room, with spaces for study, and flexibility to adapt the room to lectures, readings, and other events. Storage capacity will be increased, taking advantage of existing temperature/humidity controls that prolong the life of the unique materials kept here.

Study spaces and collection storage

The plan calls for removal of the 22 individual studies currently located on this floor. This will allow the Library to add approximately 50 additional user seats, and at the same time install book stack that will allow for no overall reduction in collection storage capacity for the building. This floor will get new lighting that promises to make this area one of the most attractive locations in the building for individual study.

Lounge

The lounge at the East end of the floor, which had been used as a computer lab for several years, will be returned to its original use as an open place for individual study. New lighting and an open furniture design should allow users to take advantage of the large windows and panoramic views.

Conference rooms

Two additional group study rooms for four people are provided.

Seating and Furniture

The plan will increase open seating (that is, seating not equipped with installed electronic, video or audio) from 635 to 759. This will enable the Library to continue to seat users according to demand. The plan calls for 41 new four-person tables, more than half wired for portable computers. This will provide more varied table seating than is currently possible, more effective use of floor space than the massive furniture originally used in the building, and will change the look and feel of many library spaces with task lighting.