Academic Libraries as High-Tech Gateways: A Guide to Design and Space Decisions (review)

Academic Libraries as High-Tech Gateways: A Guide to Design and Space Decisions, Richard J. Bazillion and Connie L. Braun. Chicago: American Library Association, 2001. 250 p. $55.00 (ISBN 0-8389-0792-X)

The title of this book describes it as a guide for design and space, giving the impression that the book discusses the characteristic planning of a new facility. It does not give an indication that the book deals philosophically with the changes in information services that may impact the design and space decisions. In 1995 Chris Ferguson reviewed the first edition of this work and noted that he, too, was surprised by what he characterized as two distinct books woven together into one entity. The review, which appeared in Library Resources and Technical Services (40, April 1996: 188-90), made the observation that it was difficult to determine the intended audience of the work. So it is with the second edition. Bazillion and Braun have again woven two distinct works into one volume, giving the reader more than the title would suggest. For example, in Chapter One the authors discuss the need to limit the number of search protocols in order to make information searching less confusing for users (p. 5). They also enter a lengthy discussion about computer literacy, information literacy, and electronic publishing, especially e-journals. The library's central role in the teaching/learning process is also noted.

The approach the authors use is understandable given today's changing needs in buildings. It appears that the authors want to make certain that those planning new buildings are sufficiently grounded in the theory of today's electronic information technology. Therefore, planning teams must recognize and consider such needs as intelligent buildings, lighting, power, and appropriate furniture. They must also take into account the changing focus of the building. The authors help us realize that library buildings are now much more than storehouses or warehouses for traditional format materials. Given the growing teaching/learning mission and role of today's libraries, the building must be designed in such a way that it can provide a central space for many activities. Electronic classrooms, collaborative study rooms, conference space, appropriate furniture to plug in laptops--all must be recognized and planned.

Because of the need to emphasize the building as a place for more than the storage of materials, the authors suggest that planning include alternative methods of materials storage. While they recognize compact shelving as a viable alternative, they make no mention of the increasingly popular automated storage and retrieval systems now used in several libraries around the country. The Oviatt Library at California State University at Northridge was the first to install and use an automated industrial mini-load system to store and retrieve materials such as books and bound journals. The Bruce T. Halle Library at Eastern Michigan University, which opened in June 1998, was the second to install such a system. At the Halle Library, a three-aisle system provides storage space for up to 800,000 items in a three-story vault. The materials in these systems are well protected from the ravages of sun and moisture, and the library users are able to retrieve the materials in less than ten minutes using the online catalog. There are currently several other such systems in place around the country and it is disappointing that the authors failed to mention them.

It was not clear how new libraries were selected for inclusion in the material. Nor was there any information about the size of the campuses of the libraries that were included. For example, the library at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis opened at about the time that the first edition was published. An attempt to include the very newest construction might have given more currency to the information. Although a good deal of academic library construction has...