Building Program for New Library

Carol Briggs

Highlights of 2001 Program with 2004 updated figures

(In December 2004, The Regents of the University of the State of New York granted an amendment to the library's charter to expand the service area to include the towns of Hillsdale, Copake and Ancram.  The library’s name was changed to Roeliff Jansen Community Library.)

  Description of Community

The towns of Hillsdale, Copake and Ancram , New York are located in Columbia County in the easternmost portion of the Hudson River Valley , near the western border of Massachusetts .  Overall, the terrain can be described as hilly, with rolling farmlands and woods.  The region is referred to as the “Roe-Jan” area, in memory of an early explorer.  The towns each consist of a village center of eighteenth and nineteenth century houses at its core, with newer neighborhoods in surrounding areas, farmland and young forest, and some new construction of larger houses on newly-developed land.  Busy New York Route 22 runs north and south on the east side of the towns, and the Taconic State Parkway is the major north-south route on the west.

Children attend schools in the Taconic Hills School District , from kindergarten through twelfth grade.  The school complex is located in Craryville.[1]

The population of the three towns has been fairly stable.  According to a recent report in the press, population has shown no significant growth as measured by the Census.[2]  A forecast[3] prepared by the Capital District Regional Planning Commission foresees only modest growth by 2030 for the three towns, as shown in the following chart.

  Demographic Information

In 2002, the service population of the library is 6, 535 people in the three towns.

  Library’s Location and History

The Hillsdale Public Library is located on State Route 23, just west of the major intersection with Route 22, in the center of town.  Across from the library on Route 23 is an IGA grocery store.  Although actually constructed in 1925, the library building appears as a traditional nineteenth-century one-story brick building.  The library is chartered by the State of New York as The Hillsdale Public Library Association, Inc., to serve the town of Hillsdale .  It also serves the towns of Copake and Ancram.  Trustees are self-perpetuating and elected by the Board.  The library was built to hold 5,000 volumes.  In 1925 when the library opened there were 3,500 books.  Its holdings as of December 31, 2001 were 16,902 items.

  Mission Statement

The mission of the Hillsdale Public Library is to provide materials and services for community residents of all ages for personal enrichment, enjoyment and educational needs.  The library is dedicated to providing practical access to all forms of media.  The educational needs of elementary and secondary students will be supported and programs developed to stimulate children's interests and appreciation for reading and learning.

  Holdings and Circulation Statistics

Collection Growth

652 volumes were added in 2001.

Currently own 14,182 books (2.17 per capita) of which 4,244, or 29.9% were for children.

Planning Efforts to Date

In the spring of 2000, the library developed and the Trustees adopted a Plan of Service, which sets goals for all aspects of library service as well as the facility.[4]  During this three-year plan, there are goals set for programming, an examination of space limitations, expansion of memberships and expansion of hours.  In the spring of 2002, accordingly, the Trustees have retained a Library Building Consultant to assist with facility planning.[5]

  Description of Existing Building

See Patience Kenney Jackson’s report pages 1.5 and 1.6 for full description.

Main Room measures approximately 21.5’ by 36’, or 774 square feet. 

This room houses the circulation desk and all adult services, including books, videotapes, CD’s, audio books, and four seats at a study/display table.

A room to the right of the entry vestibule measures approximately 13’ by 11’, or 143 square feet.  This contains six public access computers and one children’s jumpstart computer.

A room to the left of the entry vestibule measure approximately 11 ½’ by 10 ½’, or 121 square feet.  This area serves as office/workroom.

In this office area there are two additional rooms. There is a rest room (used by staff and the public) 7’by 4’ or 28 square feet. There is also a storage closet 4’ by 3’ or 12 square feet which stores office and janitorial supplies and technology equipment.

Total of the main floor area is approximately 1,060 gross square feet.

There is a full basement. It includes the children’s room, approximately 21’ by 21’, or

441  square feet, two tables for crafts, a large meeting table seats 10, a small local history collection, ongoing  book sale and furnace room.

Total area in use is approximately 2,120 gross square feet, or .32 square feet per capita in the service population.

The 1,060 square feet of purpose-built space represents a mere 0.16 square feet per capita.  Half of the building is retrofitted basement space and not built for the purpose for which it is being used.[6]

  Circulation services and catalog are automated.  There is also a card catalog.  The library’s computers are networked and share a color and black and white printer.  There is one circulation desk computer with scanner and receipt printer, one OPAC, one catalog card producing computer and one computer for director.[7]

Physical Plant Problems

There has been water penetration and damage on the library’s western wall.

The library’s basement is damp.

The interior of the library is not handicap accessible.

There is no space for additional shelving.

There is no space for additional computers.

There are no computers in the children’s room.

There is no staff service desk in the children’s room.

There is limited electric service and outlets.

There is no central air conditioning.

There is no separate meeting room.  Programs are subject to interruptions.  Patrons don’t have complete access to materials.

Staff work space is minimal. 

There is no separate Director’s office.

There is no lunch area.

There are no public restrooms.

The staircase to the basement from the vestibule is not visible from the circulation desk.

There is no space for quiet study, tutoring or group study.[8] 

  Space Needs – Standards and Norms

It is expected that a small public library building will offer between 1.25 and 3 square feet per capita in its service population, depending on collection sizes and meeting room spaces.

  For the Hillsdale Public Library serving 6,535 people this would be a library building of between 8,168 and 19,605 square feet. The population of 6,535 will be nearing 7,000 by 2022.[9]

  One parking space for every 400 (or 200) square feet of building, plus handicapped.

  General Recommendations:

Preserve the general ambiance of the original building.

Have only one main entrance visible to staff for security and control.

One-level layout for security, efficiency and ease of use.

Circulation desk must control the public entrance.

Accessibility throughout building as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Children’s room should be designed as a separate entity.[10]

Study spaces, meeting rooms and children’s room should have low ceilings.

Public spaces, e.g. stacks, circulation desk, meeting room should have high ceilings.

This is a people friendly library and we welcome conversation and visiting but we do need a space away from the circulation desk and children’s area where it will be very quiet and conducive to reading, contemplation and quiet study.

Many large windows to allow for bright natural light.

Area for house plants.

Central air conditioning.

Area for Friends to sort, display and sell books.  They now use part of the basement.

Site Requirements:

Chair and table storage

AV equipment storage

Building security

Collection theft detection

Parking

Sidewalk connections

Bicycle access

Space for plowed snow

Drop-off

Deliveries

Garbage cans and recycling bins

Maintenance equipment storage

Water spigots

Electrical outlets

Benches, signage, display cases, clock, etc.

Lighting

Illumination of building

Flagpole

Watering systems

Exterior maintenance requirements[11]

  Graduated Standards for library collections for
municipal population[12]

Books -  Regardless of the population served, the minimum total volumes held is 8,000 volumes.                      

Periodical Titles Received per 1,000 population
Regardless of the population served, the minimum
total titles received is 30 titles

  Audio Recordings held per capita
(CD’s only or CD’s and Bks on Tape?)

  Video Recordings held per capita

                        Collection Size (print, audio and video per capita)

25% Net Factor           1,990

30% Net Factor           2,388

Range:  Estimated Grand Total  9,951 to 10,349 Gross Square Feet