Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
•
Purpose of Report
•
Sources of Program
Information
•
Limited Scope
2. Overview
•
Louisiana Tech University’s
Mission Statement
•
The Tenets of Tech
•
History of University
•
University Facts
3. Wyly Tower
•
Facts
•
Reasons for Replacement
4. Prescott Library
•
Library Mission
•
Library History
•
Library Statistics
5. Master Plan
6. Architectural Context
•
Quadrangle and Tech
Green Buildings
7. Vision Team Contributions
•
Meeting Notes
•
Participants
•
Libraries of Interest
8. Conclusion
9. References and Select
Bibliographies
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1
Executive Summary
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Purpose
The purpose of this report is to develop a preliminary program for replacement of
Wyly Tower that will be used as pre-program information for the design architect
that will be selected by Louisiana’s Facility Planning and Control Architectural
Selection Board. The goal of this report is to lay a vision for the new Library that
embraces the concepts and desires of both those that work there and those that
visit and use the facility.
Sources of Program Information
Meetings with President Guice and Leadership Team members
Meetings with four other Vision Teams consisting of administration, faculty, staff,
students, and alumni
Contributions from university reports and staff
Research, site visits, and observation from the reporting architect
Limited Scope
This report addresses the basic concepts of the new Library but does not address
specific space requirements for the new building(s), only those of a general nature
that will both assist and speed up the design process.
Vision Teams consisted of administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
2
Wyly Tower Replacement
Overview
Louisiana Tech
University’s
Mission Statement
As a selective-admissions,
comprehensive public university,
Louisiana Tech is committed to
quality in teaching, research,
creative activity, public service, and
economic development. Louisiana
Tech maintains as its highest priority
the education and development of
its students in a challenging, yet
safe and supportive, community of
learners. Louisiana Tech provides a
technology-rich, interdisciplinary
teaching, learning, and research
environment to ensure student and
faculty success.
"An institution of excellence and
model of leadership"
Centennial Plaza Clock Tower
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3
The Tenets of Tech
Central to the culture of Louisiana Tech is a
set of tenets that guide university students,
faculty, staff, and other constituents.
The Tenets direct the university’s academic,
co-curricular, research, and economic
development plans as articulated in Tech 2020,
the Institution’s ongoing strategic plan.
CONFIDENCE
EXCELLENCE
COMMITMENT
KNOWLEDGE
INTEGRITY
RESPECT
LEADERSHIP
LOYALTY
ENTHUSIASM
CARING
HOPE
PRIDE
4
Wyly Tower Replacement
History of University
The history of Louisiana Tech University
began when the Industrial Institute and
College of Louisiana was founded in
Ruston, Louisiana in 1894. The institute
was founded to develop an industrial
economy in the state of Louisiana. Four
years later, the school was renamed the
Louisiana Industrial Institute when
Louisiana adopted the Constitution of
1898. When the Constitution of 1921 was
passed, the school changed its name
again to Louisiana Polytechnic Institute to
reflect the school's evolution from a trade
school into a larger and broader technical
institute.
Entry adjacent to Prescott Memorial Library
Although the university was
informally called Louisiana Tech for
about five decades after the 1921
name change, it was not until 1970
when Louisiana Polytechnic Institute
officially changed its name to
Louisiana Tech University. Over the
course of its history, the school grew
from a small industrial institute with
one building to a university with five
colleges and an enrollment of
around 12,500 students.
Original Old Main Columns located at
North Campus
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University Facts
UNIVERSITY FACTS
Founded: 1894
Location: Ruston, Louisiana
Type: Four-year selective admissions research university awarding bachelor’s,
master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Mission: As a selective admissions, comprehensive public university, Louisiana
Tech is committed to quality in teaching, research, creative activity, public service,
and economic development. Louisiana Tech maintains as its highest priority the
education and development of its students in a challenging, yet safe and
supportive, community of learners. Louisiana Tech provides a technology-rich,
interdisciplinary teaching, learning, and research environment to ensure student
and faculty success.
Total Enrollment: 12,414 students from 48 states and 68 foreign countries.
Freshman Class: 1,962
Student/Faculty Ratio: 24:1
Average Freshman ACT: 24.5
Academic Calendar: Quarter system awarding semester hours. Three quarters
(Fall, Winter, Spring) equals two semesters at other universities.
Affordability: Approximately 84% of students receive some form of financial
assistance.
Varsity Sports: 16 varsity sports competing in NCAA Division 1 – Conference
USA.
Campus Community: Louisiana Tech’s pedestrian-friendly campus centers
around the Quad with its shady trees and the Lady of the Mist fountain. Ruston, a
friendly southern town of approximately 22,000, is home to parks, lakes, and
world-class mountain biking trails.
6
Wyly Tower Replacement
Wyly Tower Facts
WYLY TOWER
AND
PRESCOTT LIBRARY FACTS
Wyly Tower has 186,359 Gross Square Feet and is a 16-story facility that was
originally occupied in 1972. Wyly Tower adjoins the three-story Prescott Memorial
Library, which has 56,808 Gross Square Feet and was occupied in 1961. The 2nd,
12th, and 15th floors were gutted and
completely renovated in 2006. The
building was retrofitted with an
automatic fire suppression system and
has been well maintained. When
constructed, asbestos containing fire
proofing was applied to all structural
members and hinders on-going
maintenance and modernization. Routine
inspections from the Office of the State
Fire Marshal have cited deficiencies
within the building. An emergency
project has been submitted since 2011
to make modifications necessary to
resolve the Fire Marshal citations.
Wyly Tower (243,167 SF) houses the
University Library, State and Federal
Document Repositories, and provides
physical space for Information
Wyly Tower and Prescott
Memorial Library
Technology, Instruction Technology, Academic
Instruction, Research Administration, Academic Administration, Interdisciplinary
Education Support, Faculty Development, Electronic Document Storage, Central
Data and Computing Resources, and support of LONI network.
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Reasons for Replacement
REASONS FOR REPLACEMENT
The Office of State Fire Marshal has been citing deficiencies in the building.
Specifically cited are the following conditions:
•
The building stairwells do not exit to the exterior of the building. The
stairwell exits need to be modified to exit directly to the outside of the
building.
•
The elevator shafts and stairwells are not completely sealed and need to
be sealed.
•
The fire alarm system has been modernized, but does not meet current
code.
•
Window systems allow water intrusion and are energy inefficient.
Because of above ceiling asbestos, the window systems cannot be
replaced until asbestos is abated from the building.
•
Due to the 16-story height of the building, the city cannot maintain
adequate fire protection. The height of the building also makes the
building difficult to maintain.
Asbestos fireproofing & inadequate ventilation system
8
Wyly Tower Replacement
Reasons for Replacement
• The building’s mechanical and control systems do not meet current
ventilation requirements. They are energy inefficient and failing. HVAC
distribution piping and valves are corroding and are no longer reliable. The
condition of piping and valves hinders routine maintenance. Elevators are in
poor working condition and require modernization.
• The building circulation and restrooms are not ADA compliant and do not
meet other code requirements.
• The basement of Prescott Library has water intrusion issues causing finish
failures and constant work to control air quality problems.
New space will be constructed in one or more facilities on existing or other
campus sites. To fulfill the mission of the university, the Campus Master Plan
places key academic and administrative facilities in the central core of the
campus. New space will need to be strategically placed to foster interdisciplinary interaction and reduce duplication of space. Pedestrian and
vehicular traffic and how they relate to the campus and adjoining community
must be considered.
Exit path of interior stairs showing code violation
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9
Library Mission
LIBRARY MISSION
Prescott Memorial Library exists to support the
curricular, research, and service activities of Louisiana
Tech University. Prescott Library strives to provide this
support to all constituents of the University.
Students at work in the Library
10
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Library History
LIBRARY HISTORY
Louisiana Tech University was founded in 1894 as Louisiana Industrial Institute, by
Act 68 of the General Assembly of Louisiana. The Honorable George M. Lomax,
state representative from Lincoln Parish, introduced the legislation. Colonel Arthur
Taylor Prescott of Baton Rouge was elected the school’s first president, and he and
his family immediately moved to Ruston where he began to oversee the
construction of a two-story brick building known as “Old Main.” From the
beginning, the need for a library was recognized. Colonel Prescott set aside a room
in “Old Main” to serve as a reading room. The room was furnished with tables,
chairs, home-made shelves, and 125 books donated from his personal collection. It
is from this beginning that the library has grown today.
By 1896 the library had grown rapidly. It occupied most of the central quarters of
“Old Main” and contained a thousand volumes of standard works and a collection of
periodicals. In 1896 the library was designated a partial federal depository of
government publications and became a full federal depository in 1948. In 1955, it
became a depository for Louisiana state documents.
In 1921 Louisiana Industrial Institute was officially renamed Louisiana Polytechnic
Institute. The library continued to grow, and in 1927 it moved into its own building.
This building was thought to be the only building the library would ever need. It
had a capacity of about 49,000 volumes. In 1942 the State Board of Education
authorized the naming of the Tech Library as Prescott Memorial Library in honor of
the school’s first president, Colonel Prescott.
As Tech’s enrollment increased, so did the library. By 1957, the library held
approximately 65,000 volumes of books and bound periodicals and over 200,000
government documents, and again the need for a new building became apparent.
In the academic year 1961-1962, the library moved again. With the move into the
new building, the library became for the first time an open-stack facility where
students and faculty had direct access to the library material.
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Library History
Library History
On June 23, 1970, Governor John McKeithen signed a bill changing the name of
the university to Louisiana Tech University. The library was fast reaching its
capacity, and plans were underway for a new building. Ground-breaking for the
Wyly Tower of Learning, a 16-story multi-purpose building abutting the existing
library, was held in May 1970, and in 1973, the library moved into ten of its
sixteen floors.
Many changes have occurred since the library moved into this new building. In
1982, the library began replacing the Dewey Decimal Classification system, which
had been used since its inception, with the Library of Congress Classification
system. In 1989, the library archival department was renovated and the American
Foreign Policy Center established. The archives department is now digitizing
portions of its collection and making the material available on the web.
In 1993 the library catalog was automated through the formulation of a state-wide
consortium, officially known as the LONI Network. All library functions—
acquisitions, cataloguing, circulation, and serials—are now fully automated.
Through this consortium, the library is connected to all other academic libraries in
the state as well as many special libraries.
The consortium is a great asset to the library. Membership in the LONI Network
has allowed the library to offer access to many important research databases,
many with full-text access, and it continually provides the opportunity to expand
the many services the library offers. The library maintains a web page
(www.latech.edu/tech/library), provides electronic reserves and internet document
delivery, and offers a document delivery subscription service through
ScienceDirect.
The library facilities include conference rooms, computer stations, an electronic
reference center, and an electronic instruction classroom complete with video data
projector and document camera. Also housed in the library are a computer lab with
Internet access, two classrooms with satellite teleconference downlink capabilities,
and a compressed video classroom.
12
Wyly
Wyly Tower
Tower Replacement
Replacement
9
Library Statistics
Physical Space
Gross Square Feet – 56,808
Date Occupied – 1961
Holdings
Items
Bound Volumes – Books & Periodicals
456,152
Electronic Books
57,154
Government Documents
2,534,468
Microform Units
574,891
Audio-Visual Materials
553
Maps
39,769
TOTAL
3,662,987
Circulation
Items
Checked Out/In-House Use
50,399
Articles Delivered Electronically
412,884
Books & Articles InterLibrary Services
8,503
TOTAL
471,786
InterLibrary Services
Items
Items Loaned (Books & Articles)
4,506
Items Borrowed (Books & Articles)
3,472
Items Delivered (Articles for Fee)
525
TOTAL
8,503
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01
02
03
04
05
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
01
01
01
02
03
New Library
Location
01
02
03
ACADEMIC
THOMAS
ASSEMBLY
CENTER
SPEECH + PATHOLOGY
INFILL SITE
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS FUTURE ADDITION
TECH POINTE FUTURE ADDITION
INTEGRATED ENGINEERING + SCIENCE EDUCATION
BUILDING (IESE)
ATHLETICS
STADIUM ADDITION
ATHLETICS SUPPORT FACILITY
FIELDHOUSE
BAND PRACTICE / FLEX FIELD
RELOCATED MIZE TRACK
FOOTBALL PRACTICE FIELD
FLEX FIELD / PARKING / FUTURE TENNIS
RESIDENTIAL
SEMI-SUITE HOUSING
STUDENT SERVICES
ONE STOP
PARKING
TOLLIVER GARAGE
MISSISSIPPI GARAGE
NETHKEN GARAGE (FUTURE)
RECREATION
FLEX FIELDS
SUPPORT FACILITY
BASKETBALL COURTS
EXISTING BUILDINGS
RENOVATED BUILDINGS
PROPOSED BUILDINGS
FUTURE EXPANSION
Architectural Context
The quadrangle is the hub of activity
and considered the core of the
Louisiana Tech University’s campus.
The edge of the quadrangle also
housed Old Main; the first campus
building was erected shortly after the
founding of the University in 1894.
The quadrangle and the extended Tech
Green area are bordered by a variety
of buildings. Many of these buildings
are listed on the National Register.
Projects should be sensitive to the
historic qualities and should respect
those surrounding buildings. The
photographs show examples of
existing buildings that border either
the quadrangle or Tech Green. These
buildings serve as the historical
context of the new Library.
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Architectural Context
University Hall
Original Library
Constructed 1927 - Renovated 2010
23,115 Square Feet
Architectural Style: Colonial Revival
Listed on National Register
Location: Northeast corner of Quadrangle
Kenny Hall
Administrative Building
Constructed 1936 - Renovated 1985
56,768 Square Feet
Architectural Style: Colonial Revival
Listed on National Register
Location: South anchor of Quadrangle
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Architectural Context
Howard Auditorium
Constructed 1940
59,955 Square Feet
Architectural Style: Art or Streamlined
Moderne
Listed on National Register
Location:Southeast corner of Quadrangle
Hale Hall
Admissions and Architecture
Constructed 1927 - Renovated 2004
42,369 Square Feet
Architectural Style: 2nd Empire French
Listed on National Register
Location: Northeast corner of Quadrangle
18
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Architectural Context
Robinson Hall
Speech/Communication Building
Constructed 1940
17,978 Square Feet
Architectural Style: Colonial Revival
Listed on National Register
Location: West End of Tech Green
Ropp Center
Faculty Club
Constructed 1918 - Renovated 1964
7,511 Square Feet
Architectural Style:Italianate
Listed on National Register
Location: Southwest Edge of Tech Green
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Vision Team Contributions
PRESIDENT CHARGE MEETING
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015
PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHARGE
CHARGE FOR PRESIDENT
•
Provide a world-class, state-of-the-art library to meet the needs of the
university
SOLICIT IDEAS FROM VISION OR FOCUS GROUPS TO DEVELOP PROGRAM
•
Administration
•
Faculty
•
Staff
•
Students
•
Alumni
ADMINISTRATIVE VISION
•
Heaviest anchor at heart of university
•
Sense of destination or arrival
•
Establish boundary of Tech Green
•
Building set standard for university
•
Image of the university
o
•
20
Today a library does business differently
Convening Space
o
Faculty
o
Students
•
Stacks and Rack + Technology/Knowledge Center
•
Place where interdisciplinary activities are born
•
Information / Technology Center
o
Classrooms
o
Archive of Artifacts
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Vision Team Contributions
•
As a research university, both a consumer and a provider for an Information/
Knowledge Center
•
Transparent space
o
•
Reach in and out
Display place
o
Art
•
Gathering place
•
Culture by design
o
Furniture
o
Lighting
o
Levels
▪
Lower major activity
▪
Less activity / noise as move vertically in building
•
Information Commons
•
Design building so there is a reason everyone comes to Library
o
What drives people into building?
•
Experimental learning
•
Innovation Center
•
Incubator Centers
•
Promote life-long learning
•
Transformative space
FACTS
•
250,000 SF in Wyly Tower
•
180,000-190,000 SF in well-designed replacement space
OTHER DEPARTMENTS HOUSED IN WYLY TOWER OTHER THAN LIBRARY
•
Office of President and Administration
•
Computing Center
•
Governmental Archives
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21
Vision Team Contributions
VISION TEAM MEETING #1
OCTOBER 9, 2015
VISION TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS
Why do we need a library? It’s more than a library in the traditional definition of
racks and stacks; it is a place of learning, collaboration, study, research, and so
much more.
Location is critical to preserve campus unity and should be located in the central
core and serve as the heaviest anchor in Tech’s quad and Tech’s green extension.
DESIGN CONCEPTS
•
Daylight and inviting environment
o
Transparency of space
o
Visibility not only to exterior environment but also to content such as
archives to encourage and invite users to explore and use library
resources
•
Innovative
•
Accommodate fast-moving technology
•
Flexibility of space that can be changed / updated with minimum
interruptions and expense
•
Friendly, inviting space where people want to come
•
Adequate budget to fund not only building, but also technology and staff
The interior of the library should include the various spaces:
•
The main entrance should have information and service centers with
convenient access.
•
Reduced hard copy material and more digital for global access
•
22
o
Access to hard copies by robotics which eliminates quantity of physical
space
o
Access to instant global digital information
o
Seamless transition between hard copies and electronic
Collaboration Areas
o
Interactive Walls
o
Visual Display
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Vision Team Contributions
•
Group Meeting Areas
•
Group Study Areas
o
•
•
•
Varied arrangement
Private Study Areas
o
Varied arrangement
o
Quiet study areas
Research Areas
o
Publications access
o
Writing proposals
o
Proofing
Technology with Student and Faculty Access
o
Quick access to internet and digital data base
o
Computers
o
Color and 3D printers
▪
o
Scanners
o
Projectors
▪
o
•
•
Student and faculty can prepare for presentations
Binding and publication capabilities for completed project production
Technology Trained Library Staff
o
•
Biometric identification with auto charging
Assist users in finding resources and training in using library-provided
technology resources to their fullest extent, including key word
knowledge for access and intellectual searching.
Video Production and Editing Facilities
o
Cameras
o
Cameras that enable visibility to lecturer
o
Acoustical considerations
Other than Library Uses of the Facility
o
Campus information
o
Displays such as art, competitions
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23
Vision Team Contributions
o
Campus activity information center
o
Meeting spaces with easy access and convenient parking
o
Organizations
▪
Research groups
University seminars and other support classrooms
▪
Technology rich with smart boards and other devices
▪
300-400 seat auditorium
•
Disability and BARC Center
•
Testing Center
o
Online testing
o
Proctors access
o
Core instead of multiple silos located across campus
•
Continuing Education
•
Research
•
College Offices
•
Executive Administration
•
Remote Conference
•
Interactive Facility between Users, Library Staff, and Researchers
•
Social Area
•
24
▪
o
Coffee / food bar
o
Gaming room
o
Interactive and interdisciplinary space
o
One-stop shop
o
Comfortable and varied seating and accommodations
o
Convenient access to power and data
Extended Hours
o
Beyond 11:00 closing
o
Security is paramount
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Vision Team Contributions
WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT WYLY TOWER?
•
Interior décor
•
Lack of daylight
•
Imposing and not inviting
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT WYLY TOWER?
•
Location
OTHER FACILITIES OF INSPIRATION
•
•
North Carolina State (Craig Dykers – Snøhetta Architects)
o
Technology Rich
o
Hybrid
Temple University
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Vision Team Contributions
VISION TEAM MEETING #2
OCTOBER 14, 2015
VISION AND CONCEPTS
FUNCTION OF LIBRARY (“THE RIGHT NAME”)
•
Media Center
•
Technology Center
CONCEPTS
•
Needs vary because people vary due to interest and backgrounds such as art,
engineering, and technology
QUALITIES OF PHYSICAL SPACE
•
Transparency
o
Large glass areas looking out and in
▪
o
Help explain space
Large glass areas interconnecting interior spaces
▪
Encourages creativity
▪
Interaction
▪
Good mental health
CHARACTERISTICS OF BUILDING
•
Visual Monument
o
Face of Tech
o
Landmark
o
Protect history
o
Reconnect alumni
o
Recruit new students
o
Well-designed landscaping
▪
o
New north entry across railroad track
o
LEED Certified Building
▪
26
Bring outside space in
Solar design considerations
Wyly Tower Replacement
Vision Team Contributions
▪
Substantive design
▪
Environmental concerns
▪
Green building
▪
Architecture building used as a teaching tool
o
Environmental Condition
o
Writable walls
VARIETY OF SPACE
•
Mixing chamber
o
•
Variety
o
•
Seattle Public Library
North Carolina State Library
Adaptive / Flexible Spaces
o
Not traditional desks
o
Tables / Pods
o
Large group to small groups
o
Deal with increasing enrollment + 12,000 – 15,000
PHYSICAL SPACES REQUIREMENTS
•
Study
o
Individual
o
Small group
o
Teams
•
Tutoring
•
Collaboration
•
Large Group with adjacent break-out areas
•
Art Display
o
Project Exhibition
ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY
•
Wireless access
•
Printers / color
•
Charging stations
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Vision Team Contributions
•
•
Food Center
o
Coffee
o
Limited menu
Satellite Book Store (limited inventory)
OPERATION OF PHYSICAL SPACE
•
Expanded hours
o
Lighting
o
Security
o
Convenient access both pedestrian and vehicular
o
Technology access for projects
OTHER USES OF SPACE
28
•
Scheduled activities
•
Distance learning
•
Multi-purpose spaces
•
Access to technology for visitors / alumni
•
Community Center
o
Comfortable furniture
o
TV
o
Decompress area
Wyly Tower Replacement
Vision Team Contributions
VISION TEAM MEETING #3
OCTOBER 16, 2015
FUNCTION / CONCEPTS
MULTI-USE
•
Wide spaces but window to outside in small space
•
Team Room
•
o
Technology changes – so space needs to be flexible
o
1st come / 1st serve
Collaboration (Interdisciplinary)
o
Local
o
Distance
•
Access information most important / not books
•
Display (sampling of many places)
•
o
Art
o
Painting
o
Sculpture (watch to engage)
o
Music
Hub-jewel of all other pieces of campus
o
Place everyone wants to be
•
Rich academic exchange
•
Center of campus
•
If can only bring a student to one building on campus – Library (people +
history + programs)
•
Mall of Academia “All in the Family”
•
Brick & Mortar – dynamic
•
“Beacon in distances”
•
Tolerate dorms, but hang out at library
•
Library does not receive good reviews from accreditation teams
•
Feel history, but also look forward to change
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Vision Team Contributions
•
“Knowledge Center”
•
Wanting people to be there and learning vicariously
•
Engage alumni to help sustain monetarily – bring in community
•
Game Day lectures
•
Multiple purpose / use; flexible
•
“Open” verses “closed” spaces – people in the dark as to what goes on in
campus
•
Two type books
•
Art; Architecture – constant
Research; always changing
“Access to Knowledge”
•
Study can be a social experience; stay connected to other people
o
o
CHARACTERISTICS OF BUILDING IN GENERAL
•
Visualization walls
•
Outside comes inside and inside goes out (Tennessee did a good job)
•
Inner - more about you; outer areas more social
•
Access to graduate by “card” biometric
•
Faculty research particularly important along with student engagement
•
Books and social area
•
Open design
•
Transparency - bring people in and more inviting
•
Robotic book retrieval
•
Archives (Storage) similar to Kings Library in London, also Yale Library
•
Archives on display
•
Current Federal Expository might be highlighted
•
Robots for less-used volumes, but display commonly asked-for books
•
Ticker for stock updates (in Business Department)
•
Formal and informal instruction space
•
Areas to display different colleges (rotating)
o
o
o
o
30
STEM exhibits
Art
Business
Work shops for area students
Wyly Tower Replacement
Vision Team Contributions
•
Open lecture area
•
Visual access but sound control in limited areas
•
Can not turn corner of university without seeing history of university and
tradition; connection with past and present. Endears students to university.
•
Textbook adoption where “course book” references are in library
•
Roof-top garden / decks and grade access (like Ropp area) and terraces
•
Sustainable design – University lead “LEED Certified” – Platinum, Gold, Silver
or Certified
OPERATIONAL ASPECT
•
Automatic book retrieval
•
Staff to help retrieve information
•
“Help” for technology
•
Bring own device (group with large screen projection)
•
Kiosk
•
Space allocated to graduate students
•
Electronic journals are needed
•
Presentation areas
•
Coffee + books + comfortable chairs with view to exterior
•
Writing center (help with writing) “BARC”
•
Better access to electronic resources
•
Engineering “Technical Access”
•
Money for continued support
•
Virtual browsing all contents of library
•
Reception area for “parties”
•
Another auditorium with recording ability
•
Student groups, community groups - needs glass with movable tables
•
Writing walls with electronics
•
Electric glass transparent goes opaque “privacy glass”
•
Sustained furnishing with viable replacement plan; otherwise becomes a
museum
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Vision Team Contributions
•
Focus on display, provided equipment not computers since users typically
have their own Laptops + provide “access” to technology
•
Checkout space for i-pads, etc.
•
Faculty wants to be where students are
PROGRAM OF SPACES
• Teaching classrooms
o Multiple – encourage student to use
• “Book Aesthetic”
• Serendipitous discovery
• Graduation – study/research
• Undergraduates – collaborative space + study + socialize
CHARACTERISTIC OF UNIVERSITY’S LIBRARY TODAY
•
Musty
•
Claustrophobic – stuck in 70’s time warp
•
Grab a book and go
•
Not inviting
•
Business-oriented culture
•
Don’t know what’s here
•
No reason to come
•
Call colleagues for access to their resources
•
Bio-Med – all material is dated
o
•
Limited access to journals
Not a place you want to visit
RELATED LIBRARIES OF INTEREST
•
Arizona State
•
Hunt Library
•
University of Tennessee
o
•
32
Open social
Nation British Museum
Wyly Tower Replacement
Vision Team Contributions
VISION TEAM MEETING #4
OCTOBER 16, 2015
FUNCTION / CONCEPTS
•
Recognition of past; north entry
•
Place learning, ideas, gathering
•
Do we need a library?
•
Flexible technology
•
Headphone without music gives signal “let me have privacy”
•
Some people “homers” work at home verses university setting
•
Like feel of books, texture and smell (tactile) responses
•
Archives (museum) have value (designated space)
•
Not stacks and “quiet please”
•
Adaptable without major renovations
•
Embracing our students and space they want to be
•
Tolliver; like open space and more modern, get a drink
•
Favorite place on campus? “where most students are”
•
Comfortable environment
•
Want communal space not silos
•
Family environment
•
Brand library
o
Tech Commons
o
Old “Student Union”
o
Pentagon
•
Computer area
•
Small group
•
Large group
•
Respect to the past with exterior façade with forward thinking to future on
the interior
•
Trendiness falls apart in 10 years
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Vision Team Contributions
•
Nod to past; like history
•
Tenets of Tech reflected in new structure
o
•
Terrace on each floor; inside and outside
o
•
Loyalty
Walls of glass
What makes you want to come to the building?
o
Extracurricular activity
o
Place to move outside college building
o
Place to relax
o
Open, atmosphere
o
Coffee shop and comfortable atmosphere
o
Community feel; events going on there like debates, speeches, etc.
CHARACTERISTICS OF BUILDING
•
Nod to past (exterior) – contemporary space
•
No “hotel” type dividing walls
•
Decompress space; peaceful “seat on bench in Quad”
•
Viewing screen for student-owned computers
•
Power for laptops; charging stations (variety for chargers left at home) (lay
down; non-connected charging) (“inductive charging”)
OPERATION ASPECT
34
•
Group study library; collaboration
•
Need group areas; like Tolliver
•
Collaboration and study
•
Technology integration
•
Write on walls, step back and look at
•
Well lighted
•
Not drab colors; wood (natural material) but not “sleepy”
•
Collaborative opportunities with markerboards
•
Comfortable furniture with work space (limited space required)
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Vision Team Contributions
Conclusion
•
WIFI; technology
•
Racks / stacks necessary
•
Annotated bookmarks
•
Coffee shop + WIFI + Food
•
Expand operable hours
•
Bring community in our house
•
Library that closes at 5:00 is of little value to a student
•
Break needed every 2 hours
•
Gaming areas; danger of arcade; positive – keep students on campus to
improve/increase use – maybe better located other space such as Tolliver
•
Lockable lockers for personal items storage during time in library
•
Printer Lab
•
o
Posters (College of Education)
o
3D
o
(Basement of Tolliver)
o
(Printing and binding)
Accessibility important
LEAST LIKE
•
Journal access is poor
•
Location
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35
VISION TEAMS
PRESIDENT’S
CHARGE
MEETING
Dr. Guice
Meeting
Sept. 29, 2015
TEAM 1
Meeting held on
Sept. 29, 2015
TEAM 2
Meeting held on
Oct. 14, 2015
TEAM 3
Meeting held on
Oct 16, 2015
@ 10:30 a.m.
TEAM 4
Meeting held on
Oct 16, 2015
(p.m. mtg)
36
Dr. Les Guice, President
Dr. James King, Vice President for Student Advancement
Dr. Stanley Napper, Vice President for Research and Development
Dr. Terry McConathy, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Sam Wallace, Assistant Vice President Administration & Facilities
Carrie Flournoy, Executive Assistant, Title IX & Compliance Coordinator
Brooks Hull, Vice President for University Advancement
Paula Herrington, Library
Ashley Jackson, Library
Sue McFadden, Library
Dr. Patrick O’Neal, Associate Professor Biomedical Engineering
Karl Puljak, Director for School of Design
Jennifer Riley, Director of Development Univ. Advancement
Dr. Bill Campbell, Assoc Dean for Graduate Studies for ANS
Dr. Angela Kennedy, Dept. Head for Health Information Management
Dr. Lee Sawyer, Professor / Director of Physics & Chemistry
Dr. Heath Tims, Associate Dean Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Celia Lewis, Professor Dept. of English
Dr. Judith Roberts, Dept. of Communication & Media Studies
Dr. Steven Webre, Interim Associate Dean for Liberal Arts
Karen Rispone, SGA, Union Board Student Recruiters
Tangela Smith, SGA
Tyre Kenney, Residential Life
Johnny Adams, Student Affairs
Tianna Turner, Residential Life
Boris Teske, Library
Kevin Cuccia, Library
Abigale DeSoto, Library
Dr. Kathleen Heiden, University Senate Rep (Human Ecology)
Kevin Singh, University Senate Rep (School of Design)
Lindsey Vincent, SCITEC
Dr. Julie Rutledge, Human Ecology
Dr. Donna Hood, School of Nursing
Dr. Kerri Phillips, School of Communication
Lisa Merritt, School of Communication
Dr. Jason Pigg, Social Sciences
Dr. Pasquale De Paola, School of Design
Jamie Newman, Biology
Dr. Teresa Murray, Biomedical Engineering
Dr. John Harrison, Curriculum, Instruction & Leadership
Dr. Prerna Dua, HIIM
Chris Coleman, Education
Dr. Braden Romer, Education
Steven Toaddy, Education
Dr. Leland Weiss, Mechanical Engineering
Kim Barlow, Academic Affairs
Hunter Greene, Admissions (student)
Conclusion
Other Libraries of
Interest
Arizona State University – Hayden Library
Architect – Weaver & Dover
National British Museum
Architect – Foster + Partners (New York)
North Carolina State – James B. Hunt Library
Architect – Snøhetta (New York)
Purdue University – Hicks Undergraduate Library
Architect – GMB Architecture + Engineering (GMBae)
(Grand Rapids, MI)
Seattle Public Library
Architect – Rem Koolhaas
Temple University – New Library
Architects – Snøhetta and Stantec
University of Tennessee – John C. Hodges Library
Architect – McCarty Bullock Holsaple, Lindsay &
Maples, and Cooper & Perry (Knoxville, TN)
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37
Conclusion
THE TRADITIONAL LIBRARY REDEFINED
A secular old Chinese proverb defines the beginning of wisdom as calling
things by their right names. The connotation of Library conjures up different
images and ideas to different people, particularly those of different ages. The
evolution of the Library straddles the era when the traditional definition of
Library was that of “racks and stacks” and “quiet please” and a more modern
era that views the Library as a multi-purpose interdisciplinary collaboration
space where social interaction and information exchange are as important as
the bound information contained in the printed books and journals of the
Library. The Library’s traditional role as a repository for physical books and
periodicals is quickly fading. The importance of collection size is losing
importance, while greater emphasis is being given to providing access rather
than ownership. Subscription costs to scholarly journals and electronics have
steadily risen at unsustainable rates for most institutions. Companies such
as Google meet the needs of most users, and their databases dwarf most
Library collections. Fewer students and staff start research in the traditional
Library each year when compared to the previous year.
As the cost of completely comprehensive collections is continuing to be more
unaffordable, libraries need to offer “access to,” and not necessarily
ownership of, scholarly materials. Whereas the traditional Library was
measured by the number of volumes held, total expenditures, gate count,
reference requests, and presentation, the new Library is measured by the
impact on student enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and collaboration.
Other measuring sticks for the new Library include impact on student
learning, contribution to facility research productivity, impact on faculty
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grant proposals and funding, and support of faculty teaching. An adequate
budget should be planned to fund not only the building but also technology
and staff.
The modern-day Library and the Library of the future are places where the
printed word is rapidly being replaced by the advent of the electronic word
and format, providing instant access to current information around the
world. They are also a facilities that address both what a student and user
needs and what a user expects. The modern library should be a place that is
inviting and that people desire to visit, a place that promotes learning,
collaboration, social exchange, and, as a student expressed, “a place where
people want to be.” The new facility should be one that embraces new
technology and preserves the integrity of the past. With this said, what is
the re-defined name for the new Louisiana Tech Library?
Based upon ideas generated from multiple Vision Teams, with the teams
representing a cross section of the University including administration,
faculty, staff, students, and alumni, the following branding names or terms
were offered:
• Learning Commons
• Knowledge Center
• Technology / Media Center
• Information Commons
• Mall of Academia
• Tech Commons
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Conclusion
These are among the suggested brands or names for Louisiana Tech’s new
re-defined facility that identifies what the Library of the present and future
should be.
THE TRADITIONAL LIBRARY REPURPOSED
The Library of the future repurposes the traditional role. In many institutions
less than half of the volumes are ever circulated. Despite declining usage of
printed material, the printed material continues to occupy extensive space.
The new Library’s function is to bring students together to work, study, and
socialize. This “Learning Commons” should offer comfortable furniture for
both individual and group study. The furniture should be flexible to meet a
variety of needs and arrangements.
Specific needs vary because people vary according to interest and
backgrounds such as art, engineering, or technology. Therefore, the space
needs to be flexible. The space also needs to afford access to wireless
networks and electrical outlets, multi-media labs and support, and should be
accompanied by relaxed food and drink accommodations. Related academic
support units, such as centers for teaching and learning, specialized labs for
math, writing, languages, student advising, and technical support should
share space in these new facilities. This new learning commons therefore
provides students a “one-stop shop” for academic assistance. What was
formerly an isolated space associated only with books is now a vibrant,
inclusive space fully accessible to students, faculty, alumni, and guests.
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Conclusion
Space needs in the new Library are changing. Most traditional Libraries have
the majority of their space taken up by physical books and journals, even
though in a typical Library 50% of the volumes have never circulated (in
some institutions this number is as high as 80%). The trend is to replace the
book storage with space for collaborative learning and other activities, as
well as other academic support services (teaching and learning centers move
into the Library space). E-books and e-journals provide instant access to
needed resources with limited physical space requirements. Books that are
stored in high-density robotic facilities achieve 15 times the density of onsite open shelving.
LIBRARY TRENDS
Top trends in the next generation of libraries are:
•
Fewer physical resources
•
Comfort and collaboration
•
Flexibility and modularity
•
Wireless connectivity and outlet access
•
Integration of academic and support services
•
Food and drink services
The Library is being repositioned and equipped to continue to be the
intellectual center of campus.
MOST LIKED
AND
LEAST LIKED ITEMS
OF
CURRENT LIBRARY
It is important to note that when the Vision Teams were asked what they
liked most and least about the current Library, the answers were consistent.
The most-liked comments were typically limited to the location of the current
building. The least-liked items were more numerous and included lack of
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41
Conclusion
Conclusion
daylight, interior décor, stale and musty environment, claustrophobic
surroundings, uninviting grab-and-go atmosphere, and lack of access to
journals. Comments were made indicating that accreditation reports for
many of the colleges report the Library as lacking. The desire of what the
new University Library should be seems to be a direct reaction to this list of
least-liked items.
BUILDING
LOCATION
As stated in Sasaki’s 2014 Architecture Guidelines, “The siting and
orientation of buildings helps define the character of the campus. The
placement of new buildings should respond to the alignment of adjacent
buildings and adhere to the outdoor spaces defined in the Master Plan. New
buildings should be oriented according to the Master Plan to maximize use of
building site, and to engage and improve the quality of the outdoor realm.
Buildings should not block pedestrian routes, view corridors, or encroach on
campus outdoor spaces. Building orientation should consider future
development on or adjacent to the site, including potential linkages to future
developments and open spaces. Building placement should respond to the
existing comfort zones on campus, and optimize solar access and shade.”
The new Library will be the most used and recognized building on campus.
Therefore, it should be located in a position of preeminence. The location is
critical to preserve campus unity and should be the heaviest anchor in the
core of the campus. If the structure is a single building, it should be located
on the site currently occupied by Wyly Tower. This location is significant for
the following reasons:
•
It is located on one of the highest, if not the highest, elevations on
campus.
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26
Conclusion
•
It is located on the northwest corner of the quadrangle, which is the
hub of the University campus.
•
It will become the new face of Louisiana Tech University, the “crown
jewel” of the quadrangle.
•
It serves as the gateway to the north entry of the campus. It should
recognize the historically significant columns of Old Main which was
the University’s first building, built in 1894 but destroyed by fire in
1936.
The current footprint of both Prescott Library and Wyly Tower combined is
approximately 30,500 square feet. If the current 243,167 square footage of
the building was duplicated, the new building (if the project was a single
building and not separate buildings) would be 8 stories high. It is the
architect’s opinion that, due to the scale of the campus, the new building
should not exceed six stories. With the new refined concept of the Library,
the new building might very well be 70-80% of the size of the existing
Library and still meet its goals. If this is the case, a new six-story building
with approximately 30,000 square feet per floor is projected to satisfy the
new program requirements.
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
The architectural design guidelines indicate that all new buildings should not
only respect building placement, but should also consider setbacks, form and
massing, heights, orientation, facades and fenestrations, material and color,
ground level treatment, entrances, roof form, mechanical equipment
screening, historic significance, minimum construction standards, and
accessibility.
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43
Conclusion
Opinions concerning design and style of the new Library are as numerous as
there are people. The charge of this report is not to design nor to make final
decisions concerning the architectural style of the new Library. However, a
few of the comments that were recorded during Vision Team meetings
concerning design and architectural style are as follows:
EXTERIOR
Exterior Facade
This building will be an iconic building that represents the flagship of the
University. The exterior facade should respect or give a nod to the historical
context of the architecture of the quadrangle with forward thinking to a
modern, flexible, and transparent exterior that meets the functional and
aesthetic needs of the University.
The scale of the building should be given prime consideration. Buildings
greater than six stories in height are out of scale, less inviting, and out of
step with Tech’s vision and Master Plan. Through-building pedestrian
walkway areas that would link pedestrians’ travel from the north entry to the
quadrangle would be desirable. How these objectives are accomplished will
be the role of the design architect.
Landscaping
Budget should be provided for landscaping of this new building, adjoining
quadrangle, and the north gate entry. The landscape should enhance the
characteristics of the surrounding space and use materials that are
consistent with the University’s Master Plan concerning hydrology, landscape
elements, and plants. The new landscaping should extend onto the new
44
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Conclusion
terrace areas of the Library to soften the edges of the building and to bring
the outside into the new climate-controlled space. The landscaping should
provide shade to make the space more attractive to use, particularly during
the many hot, humid days of the Deep South.
INTERIOR
Hierarchy of Space
The hierarchy of space should be ordered in a subliminal way and in a
manner to promote rich academic exchange. The ground floor should be
inviting and should be the “noisiest” floor. The perimeter of the building
should house the most public and collaborative spaces. These spaces should
also afford the most daylight, as well as integration of inside-out space.
Creating an atrium to open up the building vertically and introduce natural
daylight due to the large footprint, both for reasons of aesthetics and
function, should be considered. The building should be designed as a mixing
chamber to encourage integration of different types of space.
Outside landscape spaces, consisting of terraces or outdoor patios, should
be extensions of interior space on all levels of the building. The spaces
should range from private study and relaxation spaces to group collaboration
spaces, as well as spaces used for outdoor instruction.
As you move into the core of the building, the use of the space should
become more private and less noisy. This core space should also be given
access to daylight areas where possible, even if it is by a transparent wall
looking through another space. The interior core spaces that have no
daylight access should house areas such as toilets, elevators, mechanical
Wyly Tower Replacement
45
Conclusion
rooms, janitor closets, and other support spaces that are occupied at limited
times or rarely occupied, but are essential to the overall performance and
function of the building.
As one moves higher vertically in the building, the less public the building
should become. This same space concept of housing the more public areas
around the perimeter daylight areas should remain constant, with the core
remaining for the more utilitarian functions. Integration of interior spaces
into the exterior by means of terraces should be considered, both on the
ground and upper levels. Maximization of view, particularly at the upper
levels, should be considered along with solar orientation and energy
concerns. Transparency of space encourages creativity, interaction between
users, and, as commented by a nurse on the vision committee, “promotes
good mental health.”
It is important to plan the Library based upon future needs rather than past
precedent. The designer should be aware while developing the Library that it
needs to be a flexible, vibrant space as opposed to that of a museum. All
spaces should be adequately sized, not only for the present 12,500 student
population, but also for the 15,000 projected student population.
Main Entrance
The main entrance to the Library should be easily recognizable and be in a
predominant location at ground level with easy access for all users. Careful
consideration should be given to access from both parking and pedestrian
traffic from the core of the campus. The new Library should be a facility
46
Wyly Tower Replacement
Conclusion
that protects the history of the campus, reconnects alumni, and helps in the
recruitment of students. The main entrance should encourage entry and
reflect the history, tenets, and ideals of the campus.
Information and Greeting Areas
Information and greeting areas should easily be identified upon entering the
new Library. These areas should promote a sense of “I am glad you are
here” as opposed to more sterile and less friendly environments found in
some traditional Library spaces. The Library staff has to take on a new role.
Even though the traditional role of the Library staff will remain in the sense
that the staff is there to help the users access information, how information
is accessed, both from the printed material and digital information, will be
part of the evolution of the staff’s new role. The need for student and user
education on how to access online information will become increasingly
important. This will encourage students to be better lifelong learners. With
the aid of the Library staff, the user’s knowledge should be enhanced to the
fullest extent possible by giving instruction in the use of intellectual search
tools.
The information center should also be the hub of the campus. A user should
instantly know what is going on in all portions of the University from this
central location, regardless if it is an educational opportunity, lecture,
display, sport, social, or other campus event. The medium to display this
information should be adaptable to change and frequent updating.
Wyly Tower Replacement
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Conclusion
Mobile Access
The Library should continue to offer the ability to check out resources. The
method of checking out should adapt to current technology through the use
of apps accessed from users handheld electronic devices. These mobile
resources should allow the ability to being able to search the catalog, locate
available computers and workspaces in the Library, determine Library hours,
and pay for services at the coffee shop and bookstore and the use of Library
equipment.
Exhibition Center
Space should be provided for the display of student, faculty and outside
University work and research. It was suggested that the display change
weekly or monthly and involve the entire campus. Work not only from the
Arts and STEM exhibits but also from all other disciplines and majors on
campus should be incorporated and rotated in and out of this exhibit space.
Interactive exhibitions such as paintings or sculptures should also be part of
this exhibition area and would serve to engage people and promote
collaboration. These activities would encourage additional user traffic as well
as make the total population aware of what is happening on other parts of
the campus. This would increase interest and help eliminate the individual
isolated silos found across the current campus.
Conference Center
Space should be provided for both small and large group conferences. These
areas should provide for both in-University and out-of-University functions.
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Conclusion
The Conference Center should include large group meeting spaces along with
break out areas. Innovative ideas of how to separate spaces and activities
without using the traditional concept of folding walls should be explored. The
size of this space should be determined during the architectural
programming process.
Auditorium
The Library should include an auditorium. It was suggested during one Vision
Team meeting that the size of the auditorium should accommodate 300-400
people. This would be used as a gathering center that would accommodate
faculty or guest lecturers, organizational meetings, research groups,
university seminars, and other academic functions. Availability to the
community should also be considered in order to become a better city,
parish, and state partner. The auditorium should be technology rich, have
good acoustics, and be accessible from both the exterior and through the
Library. Parking for these functions should be considered.
Campus Offices
With the removal of Wyly Tower, some campus administrative offices and
their functions will need to be recreated. These offices and areas include
Information Technology, Instruction Technology, Academic Instruction,
Research Administration, Academic Administration, Interdisciplinary
Education Support, Faculty Development, Electronic Document Storage,
Central Data and Computing Resource, and support for the LONI network. A
decision will need to be made as to whether these functions are to be
housed in the Library or in another building on campus. The President
Wyly Tower Replacement
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Conclusion
indicated during one of the meetings that if his office were located in the
Library building, he would like for it to be located on the ground level.
Location of these other functions will be determined as part of the Schematic
Design phase.
Educational Support Areas
Currently BARC (Bulldog Achievement Resource Center) is located in Wyly
Tower. This area seeks to connect students to the University by providing
them with academic and co-curricular resources, by providing them
opportunities for involvement in the University and community, and by
helping equip them to succeed in completing a degree program while
enhancing their overall student experience. Components of this program
include the Learning Assistance Center, Writing Center, and Basic and Career
Studies. Space for these important components should be provided and
made readily available and recognizable to students.
Testing Center
Testing space should be included in the Library and be accessible from the
main entry. Online testing with proctor supervision is required for some
testing. Continuing Education testing centers could also be part of this
space. It has been suggested that this central center is preferred to the silo
approach of being located in various departments around campus. Distance
Learning accommodations should also be provided.
Remote Conference Center
With the advent of technology, the inclusion of people with varied
backgrounds and from varied locations is becoming increasing popular and
50
Wyly Tower Replacement
Conclusion
valuable. Space for these remote Conference Centers should be included.
Variety in both size and arrangement is desirable, along with access to stateof-the-art equipment and technology.
Collaboration Areas
A basic tenet of the building is to develop a space where people not only
want to be, but also want to study and be interactive on both an educational
and social level. Therefore, collaboration spaces should be incorporated into
the design, particularly around the daylight activity areas of the building.
Architectural features such as interactive walls, visual display walls, and
other technology-based features should be included. Consideration of the
use of electronic privacy smart glass that changes from transparent to
opaque should be investigated. During one Vision Team meeting, a comment
was made that “the dorm room is where students sleep, the classroom is the
space where the student is engaged through lecture and interaction, but the
Library should be a place where many students hang out for both private
and group study.” The Library should be arranged so that serendipitous
discovery is achieved every time a user enters the Library, and that
experience will be enhanced by the Library’s design and arrangement.
Study Areas
Study areas will remain important to the new Library, just as they were to
the traditional Library. These areas should take on innovative and varied
types of study areas. The Library should use only desks, tables, and pods
that are both adaptive and flexible and that can easily transform the use of
space into multiple arrangements. Individual study areas will be required,
with some provided in very private areas and others provided in a more
Wyly Tower Replacement
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Conclusion
open environment. Many students now have different ways of
communicating “please respect my privacy, I am studying” than students in
the past. During one Vision Team meeting, a student indicated he expressed
his desire to not be interrupted by wearing headphones. Even though he
indicated he did not have any music playing during times of intense study,
he used the headphones not only as an acoustic barrier to outside noise, but
also as a subliminal message of “privacy needed” to other Library users.
Group study areas will also be required that have a variation in both the type
and size of work and study spaces. With greater focus on team learning,
these areas have become increasingly important. Both secondary and
collegiate classes continue to incorporate team approach projects, those that
simulate the after-college work experience. This teaches students how to
work with others in an effort to produce the best product or solution. To
assist in these efforts, technology to support preparation of both class and
professional presentations should be available. These presentation and
collaboration support devices include the following:
•
Smart Boards
•
Interactive Walls
•
Writable Walls
•
Projectors with computers to power equipment
•
Cameras for recording and evaluating practice sessions
•
Wireless access
•
Electronic charging stations
•
Electronic Stock Ticker to alert users to outside business world events
of the day
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Tutoring Space
Space to accommodate both individual and group tutoring should be
included in the Library. This space should be designed to accommodate
students that need additional help and instruction outside the classroom.
Research Areas
With Louisiana Tech University serving as a premier research University,
research areas within the Library are very important. It is important that
the technology is available to these users to be able to produce a final
professional project and presentation. Access to publications through the
internet, other institutions of higher learning, printed material, and journals
is necessary. Areas that will assist users in writing proposals and proofing
work will be required. Limited segregation of areas might be considered for
graduate students and faculty due to the nature of their more stringent
independent study and research; however, the concept of collaboration of
space that includes all users should be kept in mind during the planning
process to avoid complete isolation of these areas.
Technology Areas
Most University Library users today have their own portable computers.
Therefore the technology needs of many users are not that of having a
computer available, but more that of having equipment needed to present or
print information, as well as to have access to the internet and the global
digital data base. Access to the following equipment should be provided:
•
Color printers
•
3D printers
•
Scanners
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Conclusion
•
Projectors
•
Thumb drive access and transport
•
Cameras for recording and transmission
•
Binding machines for assembling publications or reports
Cost of using the equipment or supplies could be controlled by biometric
identification with auto-billing features. Space should be planned for areas
where students or faculty could simulate a presentation environment using
equipment such as projectors. Technical assistance from Library staff should
be available when needed. Acoustical and lighting considerations should be
given to optimize the effectiveness of this space.
Book Storage
With physical collections of the new Library being reduced due to access to
global digital information, consideration should be given not only to how the
printed material will be housed, but also to how the collection will be
presented. Book robots that provide automatic book retrieval and increase
density by 15 times over traditional open shelving should be considered. This
reduction in area will significantly reduce the physical size requirements and
construction cost of the space, although the robotics come with added
expense. Projections of space requirements can be calculated based upon
other parts of this report under Library Facts.
There will also be portions of the Library that need to contain the written
word, even though this same information might be available online. This is
particularly true of the arts and similar disciplines. Access to University
academic classroom textbooks and material should also be available. It is
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also advisable that the most popular type of printed material be displayed so
that it can be easily viewed and in a manner that creates interest for all
Library users. A book aesthetic feature should also be incorporated into the
overall design of the new facility. One Vision Team member indicated that
she “liked the tactile experience of the traditional Library in terms of texture,
as well as the sense of smell” that created the sense of a place of learning.
University Special Collections, Manuscripts and Archives
The Library also houses the University Special Collections, Manuscripts and
Archives. These collections are currently housed on the fourth floor of Wyly
Tower. The space is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and provision
of access to materials which document the history of the University, Ruston,
Lincoln Parish, and North Louisiana. Currently when a user enters this fourth
floor space, it appears as “Fort Knox” and is uninviting. Reconsideration of
this space should be given so that users have visual access to some of the
contents of the area without actually entering the space. This would
encourage interest and use or observation of these collections. The
byproduct of this added interest would promote additional value to these
University Collections. Design consideration shall maintain the security
required for these important collections.
Federal Repository
The University is a Federal Repository and currently houses its collection in
the basement of Prescott Library. The program was originally established by
Congress to ensure that the American public had access to its government’s
information. This collection provides free access to the materials, both in
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Conclusion
print and online. Louisiana Tech is one of 24 federal repositories located in
Louisiana. During Vision Team meetings, discussions were held concerning
the University’s need to continue to serve this function due to the amount of
physical space required to house the collections compared to the actual use
of the space, particularly with the advent of online access. A decision will
need to be made by the administration regarding providing this space prior
to the programming phase.
Gaming and Community Center Areas
Many modern-day Libraries include additional social areas, such as gaming
and TV rooms. These areas serve to attract students to the Library and serve
as social spaces. These social spaces add to the diversity of the Library and
encourage user interaction. These same spaces also provide a
decompression zone for users that need to take a break. If a decision is
made to include this space, caution should be given to acoustical
considerations and location. Duplication of spaces in other locations on
campus should also be evaluated.
Limited Food Service
Many of the discussion groups indicated a desire for limited food and
beverage services, similar to a coffee shop. This would primarily be a
location that would have a very limited food menu and would serve coffee
and other beverages. It would allow access for students and users at all
times and would be especially convenient during the extended hours of the
Library, as well as during inclement weather.
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Conclusion
Satellite Book Store
A limited inventory satellite bookstore should be considered. This would
allow users to access a limited inventory of “most-used goods” that are
needed in association with their time and work in the Library. The
advantages would be similar to these of the limited Food Service Center that
is being proposed.
Interior Décor
Selection of interior finishes and colors are important to the success of the
design of the Library. A suggestion that was made during one Vision Team
meeting was to use a color palette that promotes learning and not one that
is drab and creates a “sleepy” environment. Selection of furniture should be
evaluated not only based on design and color, but also based on the texture,
comfort, and flexibility of arrangement.
LEED Certification
LEED certification has been suggested for the new building. The decision
whether to pursue this option will need to be made by the Owner and User
Agency. If a decision is made to move forward with LEED certification, the
level will also need to be determined (platinum, gold, silver, or certified).
Being considerate and respectful of the environment could also become a
teaching tool for the users, particularly those in the architectural and
engineering programs at the University. If LEED certification is pursued,
careful design and research should be given to avoid many of the hidden
risks associated with green buildings as well as added cost.
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Conclusion
Extended Operation Hours
The new Library should have extended hours. During one Vision Team
meeting, one student indicated that a Library that was not open after 11
p.m. was of little value to him. The concentrated study times of many
students of today start in the early evening hours and continue through
much of the night. With the pressure of multiple classes and projects, many
times a student is working through the night up until the time to turn in a
report, take a test, or make a presentation. When access to resources and
equipment during these all-night sessions are not available, it causes a
hardship on these student users.
Another important aspect of extended hours deals with building and campus
security. Creating a secure environment that is well lit and has convenient
access to and from the Library is paramount.
SUMMARY
So what should the new Louisiana Tech University Library be? Based upon the
research and collective thoughts of the many involved in the Vision Team
meetings, it should be a Learning Commons that is located at the core of the
campus, that is respectful of the architecture of the campus, and that
becomes the new face of Louisiana Tech. It should be inviting, a place where
most people are and where they want to be. It should be a place that
integrates and incorporates the outside environment into the inside space,
that encourages collaboration, that addresses both the traditional role and
the new role of the Library and staff, and that provides the facilities,
technology, and environment to make its users both successful and
productive. That is what the new Louisiana Tech University Library should be.
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References and Select Bibliographies
REFERENCES AND SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Photos courtesy of Louisiana Tech University
Mission Statement – www.latech.edu/administration
History of Louisiana Tech University – Wikipedia
Facts about Louisiana Tech University – www.latech.edu
Library Mission – www.latech.edu/library/about/mission
Library History / Statistics – www.latech.edu/library/about/history.php
Master Plan Photo – Sasaki’s 2014 Master Plan Report
Redefining the Academic Library, Managing the Migration to Digital –
University Leadership Council
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