Space needs by function

I can’t believe I’ve been such a slacker about blogging.  Sorry.

We are beginning the process of planning for a Learning
Commons here in the library.  This means that lots of
things will be moved, and here will be less space for current
(traditional) library needs.

Sara Greenleaf, interim director, has asked us to beginning
thinking about our space needs.  Here are the beginnings
of my thoughts.

I would be glad for input from any of you.

Archivist
Desk; Computer desk; Computer (two screens) / Printer / Adobe Pro 8.0; At least 3 outlets; Bookcase; Spike (archives security guard)

Student workers
Workspace for 2
2 computers/1 scanner
At least 3 outlets
Space for collection processing
Space for preservation activities (Phase box making; Encapsulation; Supplies; Paper cutter)

Researchers
Workspace for at least 2
At least 2 outlets
Near card catalog

Storage
Supplies for preservation and processing
Near student workers
Another flat file
Pre-process sorters

Collections
frequent access needed (Mss; Pro;Al; Fac; Unscanned phot; Yearbooks; Catalogs; H Books)

Less frequent access
Geneva collection
Special Closed Collection
Geneva boxed collections

Seldom accessed
Scanned photos
Accessions
Vault collection
Rare Books
Unprocessed (unidentified) items hidden in corners all over New Cold Storage

American Archives Month

I decided to use the display cases to promote American Archives Month, so I found some of our treasures to share.  We have four cases so we have:

• Lithograph and letter from the Civil War letters of Edward Taylor
• Scrapbooks of alum and poet Evelyn Hunt Tooley
• Examples from our programs collection
• Examples from our stereograph collection

Meanwhile, in the cage, student worker Pete Murphy and I have spent the whole afternoon searching for any mention of something call the “Hobart Crescent Club” and if the Women’s Collective Center was ever called the “Emma Goldman Center.”  We have found nary a word on either thing.  I guess today we are the unsuccessful history detectives.