David,
Several years ago, we worked on a project for Marysville Getchell High School in Marysville, WA, based on the Small Learning Community (SLC) model. The school was organized around four small, autonomous high schools with a shared commons building for dining and fitness. During the design process, we explored various approaches to the library, ranging from a centralized model to a distributed one across the four schools.
Ultimately, the district chose the distributed model for many of the reasons you highlighted in your post. We divided the typical library square footage into multiple spaces throughout the campus, spanning multiple floors. Each school had its own primary library with curated collections aligned to its thematic focus, complemented by specialized "libraries" located closer to programs like science and CTE.
At the time, one of the main concerns was loss prevention. Our research found that open, distributed libraries experience only a negligible increase in losses annually. The district decided that the benefits of accessibility and relevance outweighed the potential for increased losses.
However, over time, the district shifted away from the SLC model in favor of a comprehensive high school structure for various reasons. Under this new model, maintaining a distributed library system has proven to be more challenging.
Lessons Learned:
1. A strong champion is essential to sustain and advocate for this type of library model.
2. Librarians need to stay closely connected to teaching teams to ensure collections remain relevant and well-curated.
3. A dedicated home base with sufficient storage for the librarian is highly beneficial.
If you'd like to discuss this further, feel free to reach out!
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Todd Ferking AIA
DLR Group, Inc.
Seattle WA
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-23-2024 08:32 AM
From: David G. Lever AIA
Subject: Distributed/decentralized middle school library/media centers
Colleagues - We are developing the design for a very small middle school that will house 5th through 8th grade. Our square footage budget is tight, and we are considering reducing the size of the library/media center and distributing parts of the collection to the collaboration spaces that will be the focal point of each grade level. We are seeking examples where this has been tried in the United States. Among the advantages we envision for this approach is that it will allow each book collection to be tailored to the age level of the users in the learning units.
I will appreciate any information that fellow school planners and architects can provide on this. If it's available, this would include the contact information for educators, librarians, and administrators who were involved in the design decisions and have experience of how well it works for them in the middle school setting.
Thanks - David
-- David Lever, AIA D.Arch
Educational Facilities Planning LLC
410-757-1469 (o)