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Mira Loma Library

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

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Our goal at Urban S.TA.M.P. Inc. is to develop a design that incorporates both the classical 1960's feel of the library as which the school was built upon as well as the new urban diverse feel that the school has inquired throughout the years. Right now we feel as if there is a lack of representation of the diversity as well as individuality of the current student body. We hope that through our designs we'll be able to not only unite the generational gap but also the current students of Mira Loma High School. Our design will be one that encourages interactions between students, teachers, parents and the community. A school library should be something that is enjoyed, experienced, and relatable to every generation not locked away in a time capsule.

Collect Instructions

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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)

urban STAMP's work for the Collect Information step:

Summary
Our current school library functions as a place to study, check out books either for pleasure or educational purposes, a work area, a lounge for those students who either don't have a sixth or fir
This picture displays how the library has a limited amount of space to store books. Because of this...
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This is a picture of the main windows in the library. As you can see the blinds are long, off white...
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This is a picture of our tech room. As you can see once more, books are placed on the floor because...
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This is a picture of the front desk which is suppose to function as a check out center for books as...
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This is a picture of another section of the library, and as you can see there are more text books...
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This is a picture of the exterior of the library but it can also be viewed as a picture of...
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In this photo you can see the big cluster of students that happen when it's passing period....
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Brainstorm Instructions

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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

urban STAMP's work for the Brainstorm Ideas step:

Summary
Throughout this entire process all of our directors will be communicating and collaborating with one another to create the best design possible for the library.
For the construction of the walls, we will be using recycled concrete as well as other products we...
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For the insulation of the building, we will be using recycled denim much like the insulation we saw...
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For the interior of the building, we are going to paint the walls using eco-friendly, recycled...
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For the garden in our design we will be creating a Zen garden. Our garden will contain sand and...
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Our garden will also contain gravel or small stones along with the sand and larger boulders.
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Our design includes a glass roof and a glass wall for natural lighting. We will also include solar...
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For our design, we chose to add on to the existing library space instead of relocating the building...
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Develop Instructions

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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.

urban STAMP's work for the Develop Solutions step:

Summary
When creating our redesign of the library all of our directors at Urban Stamp Inc. envisioned a very similar design for the library.
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Final Instructions

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urban STAMP's work for the Final Design step:

Summary
Our design for the library has finally been completed.
An aerial view of the first floor of our library.
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An aerial view of the second floor of our library.
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A frontal view of both floors.
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Another frontal view of both floors closer to street view.
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A view of both floors from the back.
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