Posts I popped in at the Grove Library this afternoon. I only had my iPhone with me, but the photos give you an idea of the fantastic space and feel of it.
At first I thought that it was rather deserted. Then I worked out how many people were actually there, and compared that to how it would have felt in the old building that was half the size. The space is so well designed, with so many different workspaces, that even with a large number of people it feel extremely spacious and peaceful.
The demographic of people working there was about 15 years younger than in the old building. Wifi that “just works” probably attracted many people, as the majority were working on laptops or at the public access PCs.
If you are interested in a vision of what a public library can look like without a monolithic front desk, check out the shot I took with the self check out station in the foreground and the returns area in the background – with the counter for staff to do people work, The Grove: 2 weeks after moving in. No front counter .
The furniture had been moved about already and it really did feel like what I know Tricia and her team have been aiming for – the community loungeroom.
Congratulations to all involved.
Here is a slideshow of my photoset, Grove Library: 2 weeks after moving in .
Wow Kathy, that is so spacious, and great timing as I’m meant to visit a new library for my study, and there aren’t any new libraries around here.