Aaron Cohen Associates Ltd
159 Teatown Road
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
Tel: (914) 271-8170
Fax: (914) 271-2434
E-mail: aca2013@acohen.com
http://www.acohen.com
FIRM AND PROJECT TEAM
Aaron Cohen Associates LTD has planned and consulted on more library projects than
any other library consulting firm in the United States. We have worked for a wide variety
of libraries and library systems and believe we can leverage our experience to provide
an exact fit in the study, recommendations and assessments of libraries facilities,
technology and services.
Our extensive portfolio of library planning includes more than 1000 facilities. We have
worked in urban, suburban and rural areas, and for public, academic, medical, law,
research, corporate and governmental libraries.
Our recognized competencies are:
 Long Range Master Plans.
 Strategic Plans.
 Facility Plans.
 Service Delivery Plans.
 Site Selection.
 Programming.
 Preliminary Cost Estimating.
 Community Studies.
 Workshops/Focus Groups/Town Meetings.
 Construction Issues/Value Engineering.
 Systems Integration
 Scheduling.
 Marketing Plans.
 Service Plans.
 Technology Plans.
 Operational Efficiency Studies
 Systems Integration and Audio/Visual Plans.
What Makes Our Firm Different?
Experience
We began in the early 1970’s when Aaron and Elaine Cohen led their first library space
planning workshop and began their consultancy for public and academic libraries. Soon
the practice expanded to include law, medical, school, corporate, research and
government facilities. We have in-depth knowledge of the ways in which libraries
function and their dependence upon their facilities and we shared this with our children
too. Indeed, Alexander Cohen joined the team five years ago with a generational view of
libraries, computers, knowledge management and life-long learning. His experience in
today’s libraries has expanded our understanding of the future of library services,
programming and management as well as the need for integrating operational
technologies. Our experience is broad: projects have ranged in size from the very small
to the very large.
Innovation
We have been especially successful in fostering imaginative solutions that balance the
resources of the institution with needs of library users and library staffs, their Boards and
their funding agencies. This inclusive perspective has yielded exciting programmatic
innovations. For example, we were the originators of the concept of the Information
Commons. We placed cafes in libraries before selling coffee and lending books became
popular. We introduced the concept of public libraries as information-based cultural
community centers. Our firm’s on-going research in the behavior modes of library
patrons was applied during our fifteen year involvement with the National Library of
Singapore and our 7 year involvement with Long Island University. Here, we explored
new ways of doing things while focusing on traditional methodologies to help our clients
develop the library objectives, and strategies that support successful outcomes.
Attention to Individual Needs
Despite our master planning and short range facility improvement experiences, we
approach every program and community individually – not with a cookie-cutter or
template solution in mind. On every project, we use an “Appreciative Inquiry” approach
to frame the discussion. We gain an understanding of the customers and staff by
sharing our library research.
We inquire about the library’s current strengths and
challenges, and help describe strategies for innovation. We plan for successful
outcomes by discussing what the community could look like in the future. Indeed, our
very first book -- Space Planning And Designing For Libraries -- contained a chapter on
human behavior as it relates to the library setting.
Our research has grown more important over the years. We have extensive research on
library buildings, pedagogical activities and changing user behaviors. We invested in
new mapping technology and software to share resources over the internet. Our team
thrives from new ideas as we research and explore generation M, new materials
handling technologies, customer services and “library as place.” When the facility layout
needs improvement we offer our facility assessment tool which was developed over the
past 40 years. Our recommendations support the potential for more efficient use of
building space that supports patrons in the 21st century.
Organizational Development
Those looking to improve their library buildings - librarians, staff members, trustees,
planners, interior designers or architects - are likely to be contemplating how to improve
operations. Our library consulting firm, Aaron Cohen Associates LTD., has embarked on
a new approach for addressing and streamlining building operations. We are focusing on
library buildings and technology with a variety of planning services.
Any building that works well integrates technology, function, and usability. It is necessary
to understand how, in fact, humans feel about space and how they behave within that
space.
You may have encountered problems in running your library that are clearly related to
facilities; on the other hand, your primary issues may lie in the areas of human
resources, fund raising, organizational structure, relationships with the academic
community, or any one of a number of areas.
Our experience and expertise has allowed us to be of assistance to libraries facing
different, and difficult, issues. Adding to our own years of experience, our associates
bring to the table many different kinds of talents that can all be put to use in helping you
to solve your library’s issues and problems.
SAMPLE OF RECENT PROJECTS
The following previous library projects have been broken down into four categories:
1. Organization and Leadership Development
 KAUST
 Argonne National Laboratory – 14 libraries
 National Library of Singapore – 5 regional and 15 branch
libraries; 14 year involvement
 Atlanta Fulton County Library System – 13 libraries
 Buffalo and Erie County Library System – 52 libraries
 Georgetown University
 Carnegie Mellon University
 Johns Hopkins University
 Yale University
 California Polytechnic Institute
 Michigan State University
2. Reorganization and Renovation
 Long Island University Library
 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
 University of Illinois at Chicago
 Carnegie Mellon University Hunt Library
 National Agricultural Library
 Cornell University Medical Center
 Georgetown University
 Tufts University
3. New Addition and Renovation
 University of the Pacific
 Fuller Theological Seminary
 NASA Langley
 Virginia Polytechnic University
 University of Missouri School of Journalism
4. New Building
 Eastern Michigan University
 U.S. Food & Drug Administration
 National Library of Singapore
 New Mexico State University
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
The Master Facility Plan for Stanford University consisted of several tasks: Service Plan,
Functional Relationship Analysis, Space Needs Assessment, Technical Organizational
Design, Management Collection, Renovation Design, Schematic Plans and 2D Interior
Design and Planning for a new 500 year repository. The outcomes for the Master Facility
Plan included the following:
 Recommendations for the reutilization of existing buildings on campus.
 A review of current and future collections – high density storage
requirements.
 Facilities management/operations planning.
 Technology integration.
 The development of alternative plans for redesign – and the
consideration of different strategies including phased implementation of
the existing libraries on campus.
 Renovation and reconfiguration plans.
 Review of furnishings and equipment.
 Interior design; security, operations.
LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY
Aaron Cohen Associates was retained as library planning consultant for LIU from 2000
to 2006. The project includes:
 Technology integration for three campuses;
 Strategic operations plan;
 A Renovation and Reconfiguration Plan for C.W. Post University
Library that did not include any expansion of the library. The existing
interior was transformed from a fixed rigid space to an open flexible
environment to encourage a learning community;
 Schematic and interior design;
 Distance education research project;
 Master planning for C.W. Post and Brooklyn campuses;
 Facility management and security.
ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORIES
Outline assessment of current library services for this major government facility; facilities
needs assessment included an inventory of the ten existing library spaces; inventory of
furnishings and equipment of all ten libraries; computer aided design for all ten libraries;
planning documentation to shift resources within the library system for greater access,
usage, and storage. The design and specifications for the installation of compact
storage to house the collections as part of a long range master plan to develop a new
central library. ANL is one of the primary government laboratories in the nation and we
were proud to provide our expert guidance on library space planning to the extension of
its library systems.
ST LOUIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Our Library consultancy can become familiar with the libraries patrons, staff and
administration through focus group sessions and strategic planning discussions.
Throughout our involvement with the St Louis County Public Library, we knew, the 100M
funding project was going to succeed. Our direct support to the library director helped
develop a community-centric needs assessment and building program for the entire
county included site selection parameters, and general location recommendations. Our
work also included a highly detailed competitive master planning report; reviews of the
architectural schematics and the development of preliminary cost estimates for a 45,000
square foot main building. This project won a $100 million construction grant from the
voters.
FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Aaron Cohen Associates Ltd., together with architectural firm William McDonough
Partners of Charlottesville, VA, was chosen to develop a Building Program and provide
Space Design Schemes for a new Library building. The existing space of 43,480 sq.ft
was renovated and new space of 51,000 sq.ft. was added. ACA developed zones for
staff, user seating, collection and collection processing. Service desks were combined to
provide operational efficiency. Materials processing space focuses on the flow of
materials to patrons. New scholarly workstations for PhD students were created. ACA
developed furniture layouts for plans provided by architects and made recommendations
for design.
U.S. FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION
During this project, we identified key technical hurdles, addressed the challenges of
collection development and delivery of information to the scientists’ computers. We
consolidated 5 libraries into one central facility. The new library is approximately 30,000
sq.ft.
Selected List of Work
Public Libraries
Arlington Public Library
Arlington, MA
Atkinson Public Library
Atkinson, NH
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library
Atlanta, GA
Barnstable Federated Library System
Barnstable, MA
Bedford Public Library
Bedford, NH
Berks County Public Library System
Reading, PA
Broward County Library System
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Brown Library
Seabrook, NH
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
Buffalo, NY
Cambridge Public Library
Cambridge, MA
Columbus Public Library
Columbus, GA
Chicago Public Library
Chicago, IL
East Brunswick Public Library
East Brunswick, NJ
Grand Rapids Public Library
Grand Rapids, MI
Jefferson Parish Library System
Metairie, LA
King County Library System
Seattle, WA
Lane Public Library
Hamilton, OH
Lane Public Library
Hampton, NH
Leominster Public Library
Leominster, MA
Lincolnwood Public Library
Lincolnwood, IL
Manchester Public Library
Manchester, CT
Manhasset Public Library
Manhasset, NY
Morse Institute
Natick, MA
New Haven Public Library
New Haven, CT
New York Public Library
Bronx Borough Branch
Mid-Manhattan Branch
Donnell Branch
Research Branch
New York, NY
Plymouth Public Library
Plymouth, MA
Ridgefield Public Library
Ridgefield, CT
Saratoga Public Library
Saratoga, NY
Saint Louis Public Library
Saint Louis, MO
Seekonk Public Library
Seekonk, MA
Scarborough Public library
Scarborough, ME
Shrewsbury Public Library
Shrewsbury, MA
Spokane Public Library
Spokane, WA
Springfield City Library
Springfield, MA
Thomas Crane Library
Quincy, MA
Tompkins County Library System
Ithaca, NY
Waltham Public Library
Waltham, MA
Washoe County Library System
Reno, NV
Westerly Public Library
Westerly, RI
West Palm Beach Public Library
West Palm Beach, FL
College and University
Libraries
Arizona State University
Phoenix, AZ
Arizona State University West
Tempe, AZ
Augusta Technical Institute
Augusta, GA
Christendom College
Front Royal, VA
Cleveland State
Cleveland, OH
Cornell University Medical Center
New York City, NY
DeKalb College
Decatur, GA
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI
Fuller Theological Seminary
Pasadena, CA
Hartnell College
Salinas, CA
Hofstra University
Long Island, NY
Keene State College
Keene, NH
Long Island University
Glencove, Brooklyn
& Southampton, NY
New England College of Technology
Providence, RI
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM
Paul Smith’s College
Paul Smith’s, NY
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Williamsport, PA
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton, NJ
Simon Fraser University
British Columbia, Canada
South Seattle Community College
Seattle, WA
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
Tufts University
Boston, MA
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
University of California Riverside
Riverside, CA
University of Central Oklahoma
Edmund, OK
University of Illinois
Champaign/Urbana, IL
University of Illinois @ Chicago
Chicago, IL
University of Minnesota
Duluth, MN
University of Nevada
Reno, NV
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA
University of Penn. Health Science
Philadelphia, PA
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
University of Tampa
Tampa, FL
University of Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX
University of Victoria
British Columbia
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
University of Western Ontario
Ontario, Canada
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
Western Oregon University
Monmouth, OR
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
Widener University School of Law
Wilmington, DE
Widener University School of Law
Harrisburg, PA
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA
School Libraries
Boys Latin School
Baltimore, MD
Calhoun School
New York, NY
Gilman School
Baltimore, MD
Harpeth Hall School
Nashville, TN
Kreiger Schecter Day School
Baltimore, MD
Loyola School
Baltimore, MD
Madira School
Washington, DC
Notre Dame
Baltimore, MD
St. Paul’s School for Boys
Baltimore, MD
St. Paul’s School for Girls
Baltimore, MD
Spence School
NY, NY
Special, Corporate, and Research Libraries
Amer. Institute of Architects
Washington, D.C.
Blanton-Peale Institute
New York, NY
Consumers Union
Mt. Vernon, NY
Digital Equipment Corp
Merrimac, MA
Engineering Library
New York City, NY
Hewlett Packard Res. Library
Corvallis, OR
IBM Watson Laboratory
Yorktown Heights, NY
International Council of Shopping Centers
New York, NY
Kennametal
Latrobe, PA
Lederle Laboratories
Pearl River, NY
Martin Marietta
Baltimore, MD
Nynex
White Plains, NY
Raychem Corporation
Menlo Park, CA
Sandia National Laboratory
Albuquerque, NM
Schering Plough, NJ
UpJohn Laboratories
Kalamazoo, MI
Medical Libraries
CUNY Bio-Medical Libraries
New York City, NY
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts
Tripler Army Medical Center
Honolulu, HI
Tufts University Medical Center
Boston, MA
Government Libraries
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne, IL
Arnold Air Force Base, TN
Commerce Department
Washington, D.C.
Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, OH
Federal Reserve Banks NY, Kansas City & San Francisco
FDA – White Oak Campus
Silver Spring, MD
NASA-Langley
Norfolk, VA
National Agricultural Library
Bethesda, MD
National Defense University
Ft. L.J. McNair,
Washington, D.C.
National Resources Library
Dept. of Interior,
Washington, D.C.
National Library of Bermuda
Hamilton, Bermuda
National Library of Singapore
Republic of Singapore
Naval Research Laboratory
Washington, D.C.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN
Office of the President
Washington, DC
USAMRIID
Ft Detrick, MD
U.S. Customs Service
Washington, DC
U.S. Geological Survey, VA
Law Libraries
Alameda County Law Library
Alameda, CA
Irell & Manella
Los Angeles, CA
New York University Law School,
New York, NY
Riverside County Law Library
Riverside, CA
U.S. Court of Appeals
Atlanta, GA
U.S. Court of Appeals
Boston, MA
University of Maryland School of Law,
Thurgood Marshall Library
Baltimore, MD
University of Ontario Law Library
Ontario, Canada
Widener University School of Law
Harrisburg, PA
National Library
National Library of Singapore
Singapore
Office of the US President
Art Libraries
Clark Art Institute
Williamstown, MA
Moore College of Art
Philadelphia, PA