<\/p>\n
I happened upon The Royal Oak<\/span><\/a>, a quaint bar nestled beside a Starbucks and a movie theatre in the suburbs of Atlanta<\/span><\/p>\n The food was just ok, but the thing that struck me was this statement on their menu:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA pub is a state of mind, and that alone sets it apart from any other drinking or eating establishment. It is a place where relaxation, stimulation, and conversation are the order of the day. \u00a0In their \u2018local,\u2019 as the English refer to them, a sense of being \u2018at home\u2019 is very much in evidence, and it is the publican\u2019s job to ensure the maintenance of that atmosphere.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n This got me thinking about libraries. What is our state of mind? <\/em>What is <\/span>our atmosphere<\/em>? Who is in charge of it? And perhaps the question for this blog: who designs it?<\/span><\/p>\n Is it the building manager\u2019s job to create engaging experiences? What about the Head of Public Services? She might have good intentions but probably does not have the time to devote to such a large enterprise. So what about the librarians or staff? Again, there may be some interest, but \u201clibrary as place\u201d most likely ends up other duties as assigned<\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been thinking about this a lot coming into a new workplace. I \u00a0walk throughout the building several times each day observing how patrons are using the space and how they have adapted to it. The library seems to have it\u2019s own unwritten code of conduct. For example, there are many large tables on different floors. All of them are filled with students (finals week)\u2014some of these are quiet zones, while in other areas people converse freely. Why is that? How was this ecosystem formed and how has it evolved over time? I have not noticed any library staff enforcing rules, so who is in charge?<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve started sketching layouts of the building with ideas for creating defined zones. Will simply rearranging the furniture have a positive (and noticeable) impact on study behavior? Will patrons accept what I design or simply do whatever the want?<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0I don\u2019t have any answers\u2026 just tons of questions, but think about the \u201catmosphere\u201d of your library. \u00a0Who is in charge of it?What needs to be done? \u00a0And what can you do to change it?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I happened upon The Royal Oak, a quaint bar nestled beside a Starbucks and a movie theatre in the suburbs of Atlanta The food was just ok, but the thing that struck me was this statement on their menu: \u201cA pub is a state of mind, and that alone sets it apart from any other … Continue reading Who is in charge of the atmosphere?<\/span> \n