Libraries for All
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Capital Program Office:
capital.program@spl.org
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Seattle, WA 98104-1193
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© 1999 Seattle Public Library
Universal Branch Building Program: Return to UBBP Table of Contents
3.2 Adjacencies 3.3 Design Issues 3.4 Components and Furnishings publish date: 14 March 2000
3.0 Staff Workroom3.1 Function
This space contains the behind-the-scenes work area for all branch library staff except the Branch Team Leader. It should be organized by function, including the check in and sorting of returned items, staff workspaces and delivery. This area is almost always undersized in public libraries, seriously hampering the efficiency of library operations.
Incoming calls can be answered from this area and staff should be able to see whether additional help is needed at the circulation desk. Each staff member needs an individual space for storing work related materials, although he or she may share a workstation.
Primary:
Circulation desk
Secondary:
Exterior and interior book returns
Delivery area/loading dock
Branch librarian's office
Staff break room and restroom
Care in design of the workroom is very important. Time needs to be spent in understanding the multiple functions that staff undertake and the volume and traffic flow of library materials and staff members. One of the goals is to minimize the number of times individual items are handled. Some of the functions are:
Checking in and sorting of returned library materials for reshelving
Ergonomic issues related to repetitive tasks and movement of materials should be taken into consideration. Adjustable height work surfaces and seating are needed throughout the workroom.
Receiving and sending library materials and other items to other libraries
Planning public programs and preparing program materials
Preparing staff work schedules
Staff meetings
Work space for volunteers
Communicating plans and information among staff and volunteers
Training staff members
Acoustical buffering is required in the workroom because of the multiplicity of activities and number of people potentially using the space concurrently.
There should be operable, screened windows in the staff areas.
The checkin/sorting area needs to be out of the workroom traffic flow and adjacent to the book returns. This area needs an adjustable height counter housing computers for checking in the materials and shelves within easy reach upon which to place the checked in materials by category. Space needs to be adequate to allow the movement of return book bins, delivery bins and book trucks.
The sorting shelves should be standard 90" library shelving, rather than storage shelving so that items will not be shelved two rows deep. Each shelving section can accommodate 7 shelves.
Moving materials from the fire-rated book return room and interior book drop (if separate) should be carefully designed. The use of cutting edge technology is important in this area. If bins are used, the weight and size of the receiving bins, their ease of rolling, the mechanism to raise the books as the bins are unloaded, are all-important.
Each librarian and the Coordinating Library Associate (CLA) require a dedicated workstation. Rolling file cabinets, shelving and space for a book truck should be included.
The CLA's workstation needs as much privacy as possible since the duties include consulting with individual staff members.
Clerical workstations may be shared; however, each staff member needs drawer or similar space to store their work related materials.
Workstations could include drawers and pull out breadboards to increase their flexibility.
Each staff workstation will be wired for electrical, telephone and data transmission and have a barcode scanning device to increase staff efficiency.
Task lighting may be used at workstations.
A staff communications center including a bulletin board and slot wall for clipboards and acrylic distribution bins should be next to mail slots for each staff member and volunteers. There should also be a shelf to hold SPL manuals and notebooks.
The delivery area should be carefully designed to be adjacent, but not in the middle of the work area. Attention to the height and depth of the bin holding area is very important. Slide out shelves under counters to hold bins similar to those in the Bainbridge Island Library workroom should be considered.
It is recommended that a modular workstation for checking and sorting materials should be developed for the system.
Space for recycling bins should be allocated.
Workroom clutter should not be visible to the public.
The branch team leader's office should be located next to the staff workroom with a connecting door and windows. The office needs to be a separate enclosed room with blinds to provide privacy when needed.
Office systems furniture for workstations, large enough to accommodate book trucks,
number depending on branch size
Computers for each workstation
Networked staff printer
Telephones, fax, photocopier and TTD
Master light controls placed near staff entrance door
Checkin/sorting stations
Shelving, 90", for sorting
Book trucks
Worktable
Volunteer workspace
Clock
Safe large enough to hold cash register drawer
File cabinets, 1 to 3, depending upon size
Communications center with mail slots for each staff member and volunteers
Mail and delivery sorting area counter and bin storage
Sink and counter
First aid kit, portable
Waste and recycling receptacles
Branch Team Leader's OfficeDesk and computer space
Desk chair
Visitor chairs
File cabinet
Bookshelf