Fine-tuning the floor plan for Powell River’s new public library is a step in the right direction for the project to proceed.
Terry Noreault, interim chief librarian, said after consultation with library staff, board members and some members of the public, a floor plan has been designed and submitted to the new library property developer for review and cost analysis. The design has been an extensive and well-thought-out process he added.
Noreault said in preparation for creating the floor plan, the library brought in an expert. There was a review of what is in the existing library, how the staff currently works and then there was discussion about the dreams for what they will be doing in the new library.
“[The expert] is responsible for taking all of that and turning it into how we are going to occupy this physical space in the most efficient manner possible,” Noreault said.
For example, the library is looking at housing a 50,000-book collection (about 25 per cent greater than the library’s current collection) at the new location and that takes a certain amount of shelving, so space had to be set aside to accommodate it.
Another important component in floor plan design is seating. Noreault said the normal figure would be about five seats in the library per thousand residents in the service area. In Powell River, that comes to about 100 seats. The seating in the floor plan proposal is for 106 seats so it’s almost exactly on the mark, according to Noreault. That is split between seating for public computers, where there is a big increase over the existing library, an adult reading area and spaces for children and teens.
The configuration calls for new library materials to be displayed beside the front door so people entering the library can easily monitor updates. Materials that require a little more supervision by the library staff, such as DVDs, will also be located in proximity to the main desk, as will the computers. Current plans are for 20 computer stations at the new library, compared to nine at the existing library.
Noreault said the library wants to handle all of the new space with no growth in staffing so ergonomics are important.
The pillars in the new library space have been incorporated into the design because the cost of removing them would be prohibitive. Noreault said the pillars draw a direction because the configuration creates a more linear component than open space.
“It wasn’t that difficult to work around,” he said. “It does provide some constraints but they are acceptable.”
Noreault said he is “really happy” with the design of the new floor plan.
“It fits in with what we want to do,” he said. “We are able to get everything that we wanted to get into the space.”
Noreault said the library board has reviewed the floor plan and there is also a furniture plan for the new facility. “We have full specifications of all of the furniture so we now know the furnishings and fixtures are fitting within the budget.”
Noreault said all of the documentation has been delivered to the developer so they can do their final costing to make sure everyone is aware of pricing. He said the city will work on the financing for the new library and what the request is going to be for fundraising that the library board will take to the community.
“We are moving along really well,” Noreault said. “I am happy with the progress we are making. We are all eager to get in it.
“We’ve gone to detailed design so we actually know where things are, we know what we need, and hopefully there are no surprises.”
