Table of Contents
Introduction
Statement
To support the evolving needs of the community a foundation for a resilient and connected individuals by expanding access to knowledge connection, and reflect the library’s commitment learning and community vitality.
community and foster connected society , empower knowledge and social commitment to lifelong
As community needs evolve , the role of libraries has shifted from being primarily a place of books to dynamic community hubs that provide education, technology, wellness, and social engagement resources. In smaller communities where public space is limited, the library becomes a vital resource center that influences how people navigate the neighborhood, feel a sense of place , and experience belonging , offering programs and spaces that reflect the specific values and needs of the area.
The Indian Valley Public Library (IVPL) has served five communities for over 60 years, and its evolution into a community center reflects a deep commitment to serving the community. Over the years, the library has become a place to connect, learn, and grow.
Guided by a mission to foster lifelong learning, inclusivity, and community well-being, the library is dedicated to addressing the evolving needs of the communities it serves, aiming to fill a crucial gap by offering services that reflect the values and aspirations of its residents. The new library will serve as a community anchor —a place where individuals of all ages can gather, access valuable resources, and experience a strong sense of belonging.
Concept
of Great Places
NURTURES AND DEFINES SENSE OF COMMUNITY
• Greater community organization
• Sense of pride and volunteerism
• Perpetuation of integrity and values
PROMOTES SENSE OF COMFORT
• Generally stimulating
• Sense of belonging
• Feeling of freedom CREATES IMPROVED ACCESSIBILITY
• More walkable
• Safe for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Greater connections between uses
William H. Whyte was a pioneering urbanist and sociologist whose work transformed the way we understand public spaces and human behavior within them. For over 16 years, he studied the street life of New York City and documented pedestrian behavior and city dynamics. His ideas are the foundation for place making , which is the idea that we build our communities around places , reinventing public spaces as the heart of every community and strengthening the connection between people and the places they share.
A collaborative process by which we can shape our public realm in order to maximize shared value. Placemaking inspires people to collectively reimagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of every community.
What if we built our communities around places?
4 KEY ATTRIBUTES FOR GREAT PLACES
• They are accessible and well connected to other important places in the area.
• They are comfortable and project a good image.
• They attract people to participate in activities there.
• They are sociable environments in which people want to gather and visit again and again.
Key Elements of Urban Spaces
Design
Non-Fiction
An Auditorium was identified as a need for the library to host community events, educational programs, community forums, and provide rental opportunities.
The existing Cafe and Commercial Kitchen is a public cafe that may have hours outside of the library for community programming and events, and serves as a gathering space that supports local business.
The front building provides an accessible Coworking Space that supports remote and hybrid workers, offers flexibility, and encourages networking. Additional meeting space is included for community members, organizations, and legislation, and multi-functional and flexible space for workshops, community events, and adaptable library programming.
The Makerspace is an innovative, hands-on environment with access to specialized tools and technology. It has a separate entrance to be used by local schools or public groups for educational workshops or supplemental learning.
Community Partner Space is for local organizations and non-profits like Integrate for Good, Mitzvah Circle, and Keystone Opportunity Center. This can be used as satellite space for workshops, community volunteering, storage, educational programming, and expanding key programs.
The Staff Workspace is on both floors and is designed to support efficient workflow and collaboration. It includes access to the loading dock, a delivery/receiving area, storage, private offices for each of the full-time staff members, a private conference room, and staff break room. Part-time staff members also have space to do off-desk work.
THE PLAZA is the heart of public life, designed to bring people together. It serves as the primary destination and gathering place, and the starting point from which the rest of the space unfolds. The outward expansion in the angles of the plaza reflect the way streets and pathways radiate from a city’s central square, guiding movement and defining zones. In the city, buildings shape plazas, STREETS, and social spaces. Book stacks play a similar role in the library, defining distinct zones while maintaining a sense of openness.
SUNLIGHT is a magnetic force people gravitate to, creating a sense of vibrancy and energy.
STEPS are the informal amphitheater, transitional social gathering zone.
THE STREET CORNER is not just an intersection, but a social magnet, natural gathering point, and activity hot spot critical to the vitality of urban space.
THE STREET is the “river of life of the city, the place where we come together, the pathway to the center. It is the primary place.”
ENTRANCES are the gateway to interaction, the threshold of sociability. They are highly visible, easy to navigate, and well integrated into the surrounding streets and plazas.
where people can stop, rest, and observe. They function as moments of stillness and and stimulation and creating contemplative zones that support focus, relaxation,
QUIET READING ROOM
THE TEEN SPACE provides space for academic support, gaming and social activities, book clubs and writing groups, and other teen resources.
A semi-public, flexible gathering space supports teens while they’re navigating identity, independence, and belonging. The threshold space acts like a social buffer that encourages casual interaction, collaboration, and visibility, while still having a sense of ownership over “their” zone.
The entrance is open and visually connected to the plaza, allowing a seamless transition into the street.
Demco® ColorScape® 2-Tier Pull-out Browser Box
Sustainability
Materials
Reflected
Wayfinding +Signage
Sustainability transcends beyond materials and building practices; it encompasses the way space supports people, relationships, and the social fabric of communities over time. A truly sustainable environment nurtures not only ecological well-being but also social equity, inclusivity, and resilience. The library lays the groundwork for a more connected, equitable, and enduring community future and becomes an active agent of social infrastructure, supporting long-term community wellbeing, resilience, and success.
Green is associated with growth, renewal, balance, and harmony, directly aligning with the goals of social sustainability and community well-being.
Blue symbolizes trust, openness, and tranquility, creating a sense of safety and peace that communicates stability and inclusiveness, and reinforces the library as a trusted social anchor in the community.
These colors are conceptually tied to the future-focused, community-first mission of the library, symbolizing its core values of sustainability in every sense.
6 Interface Flooring
Northern Grain 4.5mm
Nordic Wash
GREENGUARD Gold, HPD, NSF 332
7 Interface Flooring
Northern Grain 4.5mm
Glazed Oak
GREENDGUARD Gold, HPD, NSF 332
FLOR Carpet Tile Tivoli Touch Bone
Green Label Plus Certified
1 Turf Grille Ceiling Scape
Panel Size: 24”W x 48”L
Panel Type: G4
Custom Color Match
2 Turf Grille Ceiling Scape
Panel Size: 24”W x 48”L
Panel Type: G4
D004 Washed Ash
3 Turf Voronoi Acoustic Ceiling Tile
Panel Size: 24”W x 24”L x 4”D
50 Ivory
4 Arktura Softspan 48 A
Module Size: 8’W x 8’L x 10”D
Module Material: 12mm Soft Sound (PET)
Caspian
5 Arktura Softspan 48 A
Module Size: 8’W x 8’L x 10”D
Module Material: 12mm Soft Sound (PET)
Custom Color Match
Wayfinding + Signage
Barry Community Foundation. “7 Elements of a Healthy Community.” Www. barrycf.org, 28 Apr. 2023, www.barrycf.org/about/7-elements-of-a-healthycommunity/.
Fournier, M. D., & Ostman, S. (2020). Ask, listen, empower: Grounding your library work in community engagement.
Gehl, J. (1996). Life between buildings : using public space (Third edition.). Arkitektens Forlag.
Hammock, A., Pandolfelli, G., Samuel, T., Fils-Aimé, P., Grande, M., D’Ambrosion, M., Murphy, M., Kaur, S., Logan, J., Feuerstein-Simon, R., Cannuscio, C., & Benz Scott, L. (2023). Understanding how suburban public librarians respond to the health and social needs of communities. Library & Information Science Research , 45(1), 101217. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.LISR.2022.101217
IVPL. Indian Valley Public Library . Retrieved from https://www.ivpl.org/
Lushington, N., Wolfgang Rudorf, Liliane Wong, Blake, N., & Al, E. (2016). Libraries: A Design Manual . Birkhäuser.
Project for Public Spaces. “What Is Placemaking?” Www.pps.org, www.pps.org/ category/placemaking.
Project for Public Spaces. “What Makes a Successful Place?” Project for Public Spaces, 2009, www.pps.org/article/grplacefeat.
Sullivan, Margaret (2017). Designing community: 10 essential library spaces. Retrieved from https://www.demcointeriors.com/blog/designingcommunity-10-essential-library-spaces/
Whyte, W. H. (1980). The social life of small urban spaces . Conservation Foundation.
Whyte, W. H., & Underhill, P. (2009). City : rediscovering the center (1st ed.). University of Pennsylvania Press. https://doi.org/10.9783/9780812208344