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Overview of Planning for Library Facilities <br />Across the country, library facilities are being renovated and expanded to accommodate the <br />new ways citizens are using libraries. Even as technology enables more research, reading and <br />learning activities to occur on mobile platforms, libraries are becoming places to bring people <br />together — places to use access to information to share and create new ideas. Now more than <br />ever, libraries are providing the space needed to build connections and link various community <br />assets. As John Palfrey states: <br />People are moving away from physical objects, by and large, as sources of <br />discovery and information. But the need for human interaction —for humanity, in <br />the broadest sense — has never been greater. Libraries can thrive at precisely this <br />intersection. <br />Vibrant communities are continuing to build public libraries, but today, the choices around <br />what type of facility or library is the right fit for a community is more challenging than ever. <br />There is no one model for a public library. They vary tremendously in facilities, staffing, service <br />models, collections, technology and, indeed in every aspect of operations. <br />The American Library Association has not set standards for public library facilities since the <br />1970s: <br />ALA no longer sets prescriptive standards for libraries in America. The reasons <br />for this is that each library serves a different community with different needs. <br />For example, a public library serving a community with many young families <br />wants and needs a library with different facilities and services than a library <br />serving a similar size population with a high percentage of empty -nesters and <br />retirees. (ALA website page on facilities) <br />Minnesota does not currently have state standards for public libraries, and while many states, <br />such as Wisconsin, do have standards, they tend to be broad or minimum standards that <br />provide little guidance to a well-developed, sophisticated library system such as Washington <br />County. Kentucky, for example, provides the following standards: <br />1. Library facilities are well-maintained. <br />2. Buildings are conveniently located and accessible to all. <br />3. The library is comfortable and efficient and provides a safe environment for <br />users. <br />4. The library is inviting to users. <br />5. The library has external signage that identifies the facility as a library, and <br />internal signage to facilitate use. <br />