Building Resources
Need fresh eyes to look at your space or a partner to brainstorm with? Contact Anne Hamland at ahamland@wvls.org or 715-839-5082 ext.150
Your library will be creating products to plan, inform, and market your building project.
Gather your marketing toolkit:
- Library logo or trademark image
- jpg, png image files for internet use
- pdf image file for print
- small and large files
- Designate one email address for all building project contact
- Gather or take pictures of current library space, indoor and outdoor, preferably on a sunny day
- Create an email list to send project updates and communications to the public: newspaper, radio, news channel, chamber, city council, city clerk, city departments, library board, friends of the library…
Compare your space, needs, performance with libraries in Wisconsin and across the country with these tools.
- Wisconsin Public Library Standards (Wisconsin DPI, 2018)
- Where does your library fall? Tier 1, 2, or 3?
- Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline (Wisconsin DPI, 2009)
- Space needs worksheet
- Use this worksheet to assess what you have versus what you need.
- Collection space, public computers, seating…
- Public Libraries Survey, Institute of Museum and Library Service
- Find your library peers, how do you compare to their performance?
Evaluate what you currently have (facts): collections, public work areas, public computers, staff workspace.
Compare
- What were the needs of the library when this space was built?
- What are the need of the library now?
- Use annual report data as well as pictures and library records.
Space needs
What are your space needs for traditional collection, programming, workspace, reading, browsing, small groups, large groups, parking, storage, public computers…
- Use the DPI Space Needs Worksheet
Is your space accessible? Inclusive?
- ADA Standards for Accessible Design, 2010
- Inclusive Services Assessment and Guide, Wisconsin DPI, 2019
Webinars & Self-paced Learning
- Building Project Webinar Series (WVLS/IFLS)
- Are You Ready for a Building Project? Assessing Space Needs and Community Readiness, April 2019
- John Thompson, Director, IFLS Library System
- Free Web Junction Series: “Making Space for Active Learning in Your Library” Betha Gutsche leads the FREE, self-paced, three-part series.
- Active Learning and Community Discovery
- From Discovery to Design
- Action Planning and Implementation
Inspiration Resources
Wisconsin Valley Library Service
300 N 1st Street
Wausau, WI 54403
715-261-7250