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Space Needs Assessment

The Russell Memorial Library is a valued community resource that continues to demonstrate its importance to the Acushnet community through the resources, services, programs and staff it provides.  However, the library is bursting at the seams and is need of additional space to accommodate both existing and new programs.  The primary challenges for the library are:

• A lack of space to maintain quality in the management of the collection, materials and equipment and to accommodate users.
• A lack of consistent safety, accessibility and environmental quality throughout the building.

Generally, staff knowledge of community needs and interests and their professional training serve as the main criteria in appraising the collection for purchasing, replacing, or weeding.” In recent years, “available space” has become an unfortunate additional factor.  Because the shelves are at capacity, the library needs to approach weeding as “one book in, one book out”. Even at full capacity, the current library facility is not able to meet the basic needs of the community. 

COMPARISON OF RUSSELL MEMORIAL LIBRARY TO
WISCONSIN PUBLIC LIBRARY STANDARDS, 4th EDITION

All of today’s figures are based upon a population of 10,368 in 2008
and a projected population of 14,421 in 2030

	Actual for Today	Recommended for Today	Recommended for 2030	Building Program for 2030
Print Volumes Held	23,892	44,582	62,350	50,400
Periodicals Received	87	119	164	125
Audio Recordings Held	633	2,280	3,173	875
Video Recordings Held	1,715	2,488	3,461	3,775
Reader/Computer Seats	8	70	98	74

Given the size of the current building, it is impossible for the facility to remotely approach the Basic Level collection level.   And perhaps the best way to illustrate space use is to show the current (substandard) collection and staff in its existing space, contrasted by the space it should have. The following table illustrates the minimum space that would be necessary to house these services adequately, even with no increase in collections or seating.

THE PHYSICAL PLANT IN 2010:  HOW IS IT BEING USED?

The library is clearly undersized to do the job it is doing today.  The collection of 26,279 items, 4 seats for the public, 4 public access computers and a meeting room for 50 would be need a facility of roughly 5,470 square feet to be housed adequately.  Since the present building is only 3,600 square feet, the space deficiency for the services being offered today is roughly 1,870 square feet.  In order to create an accessible layout for current holdings and workspace, with no increase in seating, or a single additional book or computer workstation, we would need roughly 5,470 square feet. 

summary of facility space requirements – future needs

The following information provides an estimate of the components and square footage requirements for a library facility based on an estimated population of 14,500 (20 year projection).

Area	Sq Ft	Materials	Staff Computers	Public Computers	Patron Seats
Browsing/New Materials	320	500		1	6
Audiovisual Materials	450	4775
Magazine/Newspaper Area	415	125 titles			6
Reference Area	375	1175		1	4
Information Technology	525	-		10
Adult Non-Fiction	1430	12375			6
Adult Fiction	1250	12050			2
Quiet Study Rooms	120				4
Adult Totals	4885	30875		12	28
Young Adult Area	930	3850		5	12
Children's Area	2000	16175		3	14
Youth Totals	2930	20025		8	26
Public Service Desk	375	250	3
Director's Office	125	75	1
Staff Room	150	-
Storage	350	-
Friends Area	100	-
Staff Work Area	650	500	3
Children's Office/Storage	100	75	1
Administration Totals	1850	900	8
Children's Program Room	475
Conference Room	350
Community Program Room	1175
Community Program/Meeting Space Totals	2000
Subtotals	11665
Non-Assignable Square Footage (25%)	2916
Estimated Grand Total	14581