Lessons Learned in the OSLC Library Remodel Project

• Talk to EVERYONE! We placed clipboards in all of the rooms we were considering making changes to and asked people to write down how they used the room or if they knew how another group used the room. We also held a congregational meeting and several meetings with the Church Council seeking input.
• Research EVERYTHING! The internet and the public library are great tools. American with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements, Library Space Planning Guide by the Connecticut State Library, Libraries in Churches List, National Church Library Association, Webjunction (library furnishing recommendations), Google images (search church library for examples) and the professional development collections at public libraries. Some of these are tools for larger public libraries but they can still be applied to small libraries.
• Be considerate of those who designed the original rooms. There are many reasons why they did things the way they did and that information will help you plan any changes you make. Remember they worked just as hard on that design as you are on the new design.
• Understand early that you will not be able to please everyone but be considerate of their concerns.
• Pick a well-rounded team with a variety of skills and abilities. Carpenters and metal shop workers are important to include. The custodians will also be very helpful but remember they have their own normal work to do so don’t expect them to be able to clean up after every step of the project.
• Compare prices and products with library specific catalogs, office supply companies, and then check local sources.
• Be prepared for budget overruns!
• Ask for volunteers early and often.
• Have Fun!

Grand Opening / Rally Sunday

Northern Minnesota is known for short summers when residents spend weekends on vacation and out at the cabin on the lake. So Rally Sunday, the first day of Sunday School is known as the day most members return to church after a long summer vacation. Our goal was to have everything ready by that day and we came very close. We have a few pieces of furniture we would like to add and would like a thick fun rug for the children’s area so they can sit comfortably on the floor.

The reaction of the congregation to the changes has been very positive and the space is a hub of activity on Sunday mornings that would never have been possible with the previous layout. Parents now have somewhere to sit and relax and visit with other parents while their children are in Sunday School classes. Teachers visit, plan their schedules and share last minute preparation tips for upcoming lesson plans. Older students not in Sunday School meet there to see if they can help anywhere or sit and visit as well. We even have one high school teacher who uses the conference table to grade student papers while he waits for his son. We have also subscribed to a local Sunday paper and judging by how it is spread across three different tables by the end of the Sunday School hour, I would say it is well read!

The lounge has also been well received. It is still large enough for the choir to use for practice and has a meeting room style table to be used as a buffet for small groups and is comfortable and private enough for brides getting ready before their ceremony. The only disadvantage to its location is the steps that limit handicapped accessibility.

Final Two Weeks of the OSLC Library Remodel Project

New carpeting is installed in the library and now it is time to dismantle the shelves in the storage area, carry them to the new library and reassemble them in their permanent locations. Since we had just assembled the shelves a few short months ago you would think this would be an easy task, but it was still a challenge!

I had three middle school age volunteers that were a huge help to me this week. I placed labels on the shelves to indicate where each category (we use a modified John system with 15 categories) should start and they moved 1500 books into their final locations in our new space. While checking their work and finalizing shelving placement I was amazed to discover they had less than a dozen books out of order. They also helped me prepare new materials for our new book display. Ryan, Kyle, and Sarah H. are the best kids around!

Final week
An incredibly busy week! We had a team of eight assemble chairs and desks and it became a competition to see which group could assemble a chair the fastest! Desks and boxes of supplies were moved back into the work area and the computer was installed. My husband was very busy finishing special shelving design projects while I finished all the details that make everything actually work in the library.