DiscoverDesign.org is produced by the

Urban Fusion - Mira Loma Library

By urbanfusion | L Redesign your school library with new spaces for community groups

fill text

Show Hide

fill text

This project is about redesigning our school library in order to improve the services offered to students and open it up as a community space for the neighborhood. The current design is small, outdated and currently only accessible by the students and staff of Mira Loma. For instance, the computers kept in the library for student use are spread out over three rooms, making it impossible for a teacher to teach something on the computer to all the students at once. This is largely because the school was built back in 1960, long before personal computers and therefore, the library was never designed with computer usage in mind. Another problem is that the library is closed off to the public when the doors leading into the main building and the library are locked. In order to open the library up to the community, we intend to expand the building and redesign the interior to make the library into a combination of a public and school library, so as to better serve the neighborhood.

Mira Loma High School opened its doors in 1960 as part of the San Juan Unified School District located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento County, California. Currently there are 1,625 students attending Mira Loma with 67 teachers, counselors and administrators, as well as 1 Staff personnel.

Director Positions:
•Director of Exterior Building Design- Jacqueline Banas
•Director of Interior Building Design- Frank Aguilera
•Director of Interior Decor Design- Nazgia Harris
•Director of Landscape Design- Ben Leaon
•Director of Community Relations- Miranda Marcussen
•Director of Sustainability- Rebecca Knox

On August 29, 2012, our group participated in a panel dicussion where we asked many questions regarding the requests and requirements for a new school library. We had many of our questions answered by the panel, and we enjoyed spending our time collaborating with those representatives. However, there were a few problems: many of us continued to repeat the same questions and therefore could not get some of the other questions answered, the flow of the conversation was silent in parts, and jumbled at other times. Overall, the panel was very helpful and we were glad to have the opportunity to speak with a knowledgeable grop of representatives.

Comments

Need you to please add a bullet list with director titles and names. Good overview--but, I see a few grammar errors. (Make sure you aren't leaving out commas--hint, hint.)

I look forward to the pictures for this tab. (Check your packet.)

By bgrueneberger, Educator at 10:31 pm, 04 September 2012

We can't upload pictures to this tab, so we are going to place it in the next tab over.

By urbanfusion, Student at 11:40 am, 05 September 2012

Thanks for catching that for me. The only picture you can load is your logo on this tab. Glad you figured that out before me! This looks very good.

By bgrueneberger, Educator at 12:01 pm, 05 September 2012

What ideas did you have for what the public will be using the library for, after hours. Is there going to be a full time librarian or security maybe?

By internationalco..., Student at 03:39 pm, 26 September 2012

Collect Instructions

Show Hide

Gather more information about your existing school library by taking photos, sketching, conducting interviews, and doing additional research.

Think About:

  • What are all the different functions / activities that currently take place in your school's library?
  • Do you enjoy working and reading in this room now?  Why or why not?
  • How is the library different than a typical classroom?
  • When you study at home, where and how do you read? (On the couch, on the floor, on your bed, outside, at the kitchen table, at a desk in your bedroom?)  Could similar comfortable places be designed for your new school library?
  • Will you redesign the interior of your existing school library or will you build a new addition for these spaces?
  • How do students collaborate around technoloyg with other students?  Where do you do this now?
  • In what ways could your school building become a small community center for residents after school hours?

Try This:

  • Take photos of your school's library, the media center, the study hall, or any other space where students are hanging out.
  • Measure the overall size of your school's existing library.  Is it crowded now or does it have empty space?
  • Measure the number of linear feet of book shelves in your school library.  Ask the librarian if they feel your library should contain more or less space for bound books?
  • Take photos of where students are studying at school - either independently or in a small group - throughout the school day.
  • Ask your school's administrator about any types of community groups that may already use your school building in the evening.
  • Interview your school librarian and several classmates.  What do they think about the existing library?  What changes would they make if they had a choice?
  • Make a list of all the different functions / activities that currently take place in your school's library.
  • Make a list of all the things you like about your library.  Ask several friends and your teachers their opinions.
  • Several new public libraries have opened recently around the world.  What can you learn from these?  Investigate... (links to come)
  • Some of the most impressive historic libraries provide an awe-einspiring place to learn.  What can you learn from these?  Check out...(links to come)

urbanfusion's work for the Collect Information step:

Summary
A classroom is used for a singular purpose and has enough seating for approximately 40 students.
Exterior Shot of the Library building.
4 comments
Students using space within the library.
2 comments
Interior of the Library, the main study areas.
2 comments
The compact hallway space leading into the library. It has no room and clogs up easily during...
1 comment
Use of the computer lab during class time, with limited space within the room. Director...
3 comments
Google satellite image aerial view of Mira Loma High School.
0 comments
Our team members for Urban Fusion. Back row left to right: Rebecca Knox, Frank Aguilera. Middle row...
2 comments

Brainstorm Instructions

Show Hide

Develop preliminary sketches to help you puzzle through new ideas and solutions.

Think About:

  • Many libraries just have rows of book shelves and a few tables and chairs for students.  But is this the best way for students to access, learn, and share information today?
  • How does collaborative learning occur in a library?
  • How can you provide both quiet and noisy learning spaces in a library?
  • Does the library have a separate entrance so community groups can enter/exit in the evening without having to walk through the entire school building?

The library will need to include four big types of spaces and furnishings:

  • a reading room / study loungue (tables with computers, chairs, couches, etc)
  • book storage and a circulation book check-out counter (shelves, work counters)
  • librarian's office and workspace
  • meeting rooms (tables, chairs, technology options)

Try This:

  • You'll need to decide where will this new library be located in your school.  Are you redesigning the exsiting space or building a new addition?
  • Walk around the exterior of your school building and take photos of your existing library and / or a possible location for a new library addition.
  • Use Google Maps to view and print out an aerial photo of your school.  Identify a location for the library.
  • Contact your school's building or maintenance department.  They may already have a floor plan of your school to use as a reference.
  • Sketch bubble diagrams to figure out the spatial relationships between the various rooms and spaces in your new or redesigned library.  Which spaces will be next to each other?  Which spaces should not be next to each other?
  • Make lots of sketches to get your early ideas down on paper.  Learn from each different idea.

Your design or redesign of a new library might include the following types of sizes of spaces.  These are just suggestions.  Feel free to revise this and incorporate other spaces you think may be needed.

Library space planning rules of thumb:

space 800
students in your school		 1200
students in your school		 1600
students in your school		 2400
students in your school
Reading Room / Study Lounge with computers
 1,400
square feet		 2,100
square feet		 2,800
square feet		 4,200
square feet
Book storage and book check-out counter
 1,400
square feet		 2,100
square feet		 2,800
square feet		 4,200
square feet
Librarian's office / workroom 120
square feet		 120
square feet		 240
square feet		 240
square feet
Meeting rooms 1 room at
250 square feet		 2 rooms at
250 square foot each		 3 rooms at 250 square foot each 4 rooms at 250 square foot each
TOTAL 3,170
square feet		 4,820
square feet		 6,590
square feet		 9,640
square feet

urbanfusion's work for the Brainstorm Ideas step:

Summary
Many libraries contain basic requirements to be a library; they have a few book shelves and some tables and chairs, but what are some ways to better Mira Loma's student's access, learning ability, and
For this inspirational section of the library, we wanted to incorporate the same open atmosphere...
4 comments
For a water feature, we wanted to include an aquarium based system that would situate itself around...
6 comments
For our design, we will be incorporating many water/energy efficient designs that are also artistic...
4 comments
This is an example of the landscaping we are planning to incorporate. The walkways are surrounded...
4 comments
The Folsom library on right and Machias Libraryin Washingotn on the left is the inspiration for the...
4 comments
This is another example of the gardens we wanted to implement. The walkways are to be surrounded by...
5 comments
5 comments

Develop Instructions

Show Hide

Now's the time to take what you've learned from the steps above and develop your own solution for a new or redesigned library.

Try This:

  • If possible, build a rough physical study model of your library.  You can't really understand the building's shape until you make a quick study model.  Don't worry about making a fancy finished model at this time.  Instead, use cardstock, scissors, and tape to quickly create a large 3D form.  See how it looks.  Break off different sections, add new pieces, and try out new ideas.
  • Take a photo of your model and upload it to your student user account here.
  • Sketch or use software such as Google SketchUp, AutoCAD, or Revit to get your ideas out of your head to share with others.

urbanfusion's work for the Develop Solutions step:

Summary
For the new renovation of the library, our team decided that an expansion of the original layout would definitely suit the library’s interior.
2 comments
The three back rooms are: the music room (in the middle), the Tech room (on the right), and the...
2 comments
The model with the roof over it As we approach a competed model in both physical form and in the...
4 comments
These are the bathrooms that we designed in sketch up.
1 comment
The large square in the background is the study room where the aquarium will be, and where there is...
1 comment
12 comments
This interior of the renovated library showing the main librarian's desk area in the center of...
3 comments

Final Instructions

Show Hide

urbanfusion's work for the Final Design step:

Summary
Based upon feedback the changes we made to the sketch up are: the placement of the librarian's desk, placement of the technology room, music room, and language room, placement of the doors and windows
The gardens are in the foreground; with the library in the background. The green wall is our wall...
2 comments
Aerial view of the library
0 comments
0 comments
0 comments
The side with the gardens is the front
4 comments
This is the back view of the library
1 comment
1 comment