Home
About Me Teacher-Librarian Links BC Social Studies 8-12 Resources Email Me

 

27 Snappy Rules for Good and Evil in Library Architecture (2000) is aimed at public libraries, but many rules are applicable to school libraries as well.

SLJ Online Article: Architectural Follies by Serena Fenton (1 February 1999) has practical advice on creating the school library of your dreams.

Computer Ergonomics for Elementary School provides a good overview of computer ergonomics for elementary school students, and it also contains some inexpensive solutions to making computer use more comfortable for students.

Library Alive! (PDF) by Rose Dotten is a 5 page document on what to look for when designing or redesigning a school library.

Maine School Library Facilities Handbook is a fairly detailed handbook that contains an overview and description of essential areas, comparison chart, square footage table, shelving requirements, advice, glossary, resources, and more.

NCEF Information Resources: Libraries/Media Centers contains an annotated list of links, books, and journal articles on designing school library or media centers. This is the best webpage that I have found on facilities so I recommend that you start here.

Washington Library Media Association: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs: Facilities is a fairly brief overview of space specifications, function, planning and guidelines for school libraries.

School Library Journal: The Shape of Tomorrow: A cadre of talented architects is redesigning school libraries to boost student learning by Debra Lau (3/1/2002) is an interesting article about an elementary library that was redesigned. They do have some practical guidelines at the bottom of the article if you are inspired but don't have their budget.

Some Design Considerations When Building or Remodeling a Media Center by Doug Johnson contains General rules for planning, Planning committee questions, architect's questions, advice, and links to some floor plans.

Texas Education Agency: Texas School Libraries: Standards and Guidelines: Facilities contains a nice chart on the quality of the facility and how it relates to the quality of the library, an overview, and learner impacts.

UBC: SLAIS: Planning and Building Libraries is geared towards public libraries, but you may find something of interesting in their collection of links in Planning Guides.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: Classrooms, Library Media Centers, and New Technology contains Observations & Rationale, Design Considerations, and Pitfalls to Avoid. Design Considerations for School Library Media Centers gives you 7 suggestions for planning the location and design of the school library.

Up to top

 

Please report any dead links.

Back