Post-Occupancy Evaluation

Transcription

1 Post-Occupancy Evaluation Contents Introduction Part 1: Characteristics of the Library Building Part 2: Performance of the Library Building overview of process, scoresheet for general use a. assessor to complete b. survey of librarians c. survey of maintenance personnel Part 3: Public Perceptions of the Library survey of public library users

2 Introduction: Post-Occupancy Evaluation This document is intended to guide librarians through the process of evaluating a new or refurbished library building after its users have moved in. It will also be useful to people planning a new library as it highlights important points for consideration. Like previous Post-Occupancy Evaluations (POE), the questions developed for this POE are based on criteria discussed in People Places.. This version expands upon that basic framework by combining feedback from the users of library buildings - the public, the librarians, and the maintenance staff amongst others. The questions raised in this guide will hopefully encourage a broader discussion of the issues that impact on library building design. For those interested in rating their building, the following table is provided, however it should be stressed that this is by no means a comprehensive nor exhaustive method of evaluating a library. To do a self-guided evaluation of your library building: 1 Complete the questions on the following pages of the Post-Occupancy Evaluation. 2 Add up the scores on the right hand side of each page for the individual categories. Note that not every question yields a score. Only the questions followed by a number in brackets needs to be included in the total, for example, will score 5 points. 3 Enter the scores into the table below for an indication of how well the library building is functioning post-occupancy. Note Scores for the Public Library User Survey (Part 3) can derived by conducting a library user survey and then selecting the answers with the highest frequency. For example, if the majority of people surveyed chose for a particular question, then the score will be 5 points. Refer to the State Library of NSW for recommended sample sizes. Ref. Post Occupancy Categories Score /Total Evaluation Part 2a Architecture /15 (0-10) (11-12) (13-15) Part 2a Part 2a Part 2a Site /27 (0-19) (20-23) (24-27) Service /73 (0-54) (55-63) (64-73) Environmental /41 (0-30) (31-35) (36-41) Part 2b Workflow & Productivity /30 (0-22) (23-25) (26-30) Part 2c Part 3 Maintenance /34 (0-25) (26-29) (30-34) Public Perceptions /39 (0-28) (29-33) (34-39)

3 Part 1: Characteristics of the Library Building Characteristics Details of Library Address Phone Library Manager Building Owner Architecture Building Professionals Year of Completion Internal Spatial Atmosphere Architect: Builder: Consultants: Describe: (eg. institutional, civic, living room, cutting edge, retail) Design Excellence Awards List: Procurement Project Background What were the main reasons for upgrading your library? Organisation Central Branch Regional / District Typology Stand alone Joint-use Co-located Total Project Cost Funding Private Public Original Gross Floor Area New Gross Floor Area No. of Floors Dedicated to New Library Projected Catchment Population (specify year) Benchmark Calculations: Service based Benchmark Calculations: Population based Staff Numbers Equivalent FTE s: Opening Hours days per week, or hours per week Function Size of Original Collection No. of material items:

4 Part 1: Characteristics of the Library Building Size of New Library Collection No. of material items: Special Collections List: No. of Public Access Computers with internet access: Wifi Yes No If yes, limited or universal? Informal Browsing Lounge Area Yes No Collection Area (tick if provided) Reading and Study Areas (tick if provided) Furniture (tick if provided) Resource Areas (tick if provided) Staff Areas (tick if provided) Amenities (tick if provided) Additional Service Areas (tick if provided) Books and Volumes Periodicals Non-Print Material Virtual and Digital Resources Meeting Areas Study Areas Browsing, Display, Information Carrels Single Study Desks Group Study Desks Lounge Seats Single Seats Catalogues, Photocopiers etc. Vending Machines, Telephones Service Desk Staff Work Area Storage Foyer, Lobby Toilets, Restrooms Plant Equipment, Maintenance Areas, Storage Children s Area Children s Story Telling Area Video/Computer Games Area Young Adult Area Specialist Genre Collection Area, specify: Local and Family History Section Multipurpose, Training, AV Room Bookshop Cafe, Coffee Shop, Refreshments Toy Library Community Services, Banking Stack Storage for Archival Materials, Conservation Mobile Library Services Area Central or Regional Work Area/ Community Offices Other, specify: Automated Library Technology Yes No If Yes, what type?

5 Part 2a: Performance of the Library Building Performance Architecture Strong Architectural Presence on Street score /15 Internal Spatial Quality / Ambience Architecture Expressive of Local Identity Site Main Street/Shopping Area Location Yes (1) /27 Site highly visible from Main Street/Shopping Area Clear exterior signage locating the library Yes (1) Transparent facade with high visibility into library Ground Floor and Street Frontage Fully Accessible Site Priority Pedestrian Access Walking distance to public transport less than 500m Access to safe and convenient car parking Accessible for all vehicles Potential for future expansion Yes (1) Service (observational) Effective circulation spaces preventing congestion /73 Wayfinding inside library Lighting system with adequate intensity and even distribution Appropriate lighting for each different activity area Appropriate sound levels for each different activity area Acoustic/Speech Privacy Low Background Noise Outlook onto landscape/surrounds Collection signage Shelf signage Fully accessible internal layout Book shelf height under 1600mm for adults Book shelf height mm for children Aisle widths greater than 1500mm Clear view of books on lowest shelf from standing Library furniture specifically for children/youth Dedicated storage for each activity area eg. children s multipurpose rooms, archives, lockers, cleaning Environmental (observational) /41 Natural Light Natural Ventilation Thermal Comfort (temperature, humidity) Indoor Air Quality Recycling system for paper, glass, plastics etc. Collection of Rainwater Recycling of Greywater / Stormwater Yes (1) Use of Green Energy Sources Energy efficient lighting system, with zoning Energy efficient mechanical systems, with zoning Other ESD initiatives / General Level of Commitment

6 Part 2b: Survey of Librarians Librarian Survey Workflow and Productivity /30 Rate the impact of internal building layout on workflow and productivity score Rate the impact of the building on your morale/ mood Rate the adequacy of space provisions for required tasks Rate the flexibility of the building in adapting to different activities eg. small and large groups, noisy and quiet activities etc. Rate how the building affects your ability to maintain sight lines/supervision across the library Rate your ability to maintain security in the building In terms of the building design and planning process what would you do differently next time? In terms of the building design and planning process what would you be happy to repeat? How does the new building improve your ability to provide quality service to your community? (compared with the old library) What potential changes to the building would allow you to provide even better service to your community in the future?

7 Part 2c: Survey of Maintenance Personnel Maintenance Survey Maintenance /34 Rate the adequacy of vehicular access to the building for maintenance purposes score Rate the ease of moving large or bulky equipment through the interior Rate the ease of moving furniture for day-to-day cleaning (vacuuming, wiping down etc.) Rate the durability of interior fittings and surfaces as a result of normal daily use Is there adequate storage for maintenance equipment? Is it easy to access fixtures for maintenance? Is it easy to buy spare or replacement parts for the building? Rate the overall performance of the building in terms of maintenance and servicing What potential changes to the building would make maintenance and servicing easier in the future?

8 Part 3: Survey of Public Library Users Public Library User Survey Details Age group 0-12 yrs yrs yrs yrs 65+ yrs Gender Male Female Occupation Student Unemployed Home-based Self-employed Trades & Professional Retired Services Purpose of Visits How often do you visit the library? Everyday Once a week Few times Few times Once every a week a month few months How often are your visits unplanned? Always Frequently Sometimes Rarely Never Do you mostly use the library for something Specific General specific or just general browsing? What do you use the library for? Personal Family Work Study Recreation (circle all relevant) Other, please specify: How often do you use the library to meet friends Always Frequently Sometimes Rarely Never and socialise? How often do you use the library for recreation? Always Frequently Sometimes Rarely Never How often do you use the library to do research, Always Frequently Sometimes Rarely Never study or work? Public Perceptions /39 What do you like about the library building? What do you dislike about the library building? Does the architecture of the library building inspire you? survey continues on next page...

9 Part 3: Survey of Public Library Users Rate the aesthetic quality/ look of the library exterior: Rate the aesthetic quality/ look of the library interior: Do you feel welcome at the library? Always (5) Frequently (4) Sometimes (3) Rarely (2) Never (1) Do you feel safe at the library? Always (5) Frequently (4) Sometimes (3) Rarely (2) Never (1) Is it easy to find your way around the library building? Always (5) Frequently (4) Sometimes (3) Rarely (2) Never (1) Is it easy to find a comfortable space where you are not disturbed by others? Always (5) Frequently (4) Sometimes (3) Rarely (2) Never (1) Do you think the library is attractive to people in your age group? If no, why? Is the technology in the library is up-to-date in your opinion? What would you like to see provided at the library that currently isn t provided?