Started from the bottom now we're here: assembling a small public library from start to finish

Started from the bottom now we're here: assembling a small public library from start to finishBessie Sullivan, Haliburton County Public Library; Sandra Dupret, Fleming College; John Louie, Carr McLean

Photo credit: Fleming College

Started from the bottom now we're here: assembling a small public library from start to finish

The bottom:

•Local Demographics

•Establishing need

•What we had

The assembly:

•Fleming College’s Sustainable Building and Design program

The finish:

•Layout and Design

•Moving the branch

•What we have now

Photo credit: Fleming College

Wilberforce, Ontario

Municipality of Highlands East•~230 km NE of Toronto•1,493 year-round households (19.6% of Haliburton County)•3,249 year-round residents•4,374 private dwellings including seasonal•Average housing price $156,620 (range sub $100,000 to plus $700,000)•Median income $38,491 per household (average $47,161)

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SOLS Needs Assessment, 2003

“[The Wilberforce branch is a] stand-alone building that was not designed for library services. The building is inaccessible, dark, and cramped.”

ARUPLO Guidelines

What we had

757 square feet

3,200 items

11.5 hours/week

What we should have

2,500 square feet

7,500 items

20 hours/week

Serving a user population of 1,000 – 5,000

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

“When fire trucks wear out you replace them. When libraries wear out you replace them.”

Joan Barton, Highlands East Councillor (Haliburton County Echo, November 27, 2012)

“I am a firm believer that the only way to reduce costs for the Municipality is to build better, more sustainable buildings. Cutting programs and services can only continue for so long.”  

Steve Kauffeldt, Highlands East Councillor

“Not only is this building a gathering place, its construction became a community effort.” Bessie Sullivan, CEO/County Librarian HCPL

(Bancroft Weekly, June 24, 2014)

The Library Launchers

Photo credit: The Highlander

Photo credit: The Highlander

“Highlighted in the Haliburton County Public Library’s statement of values is sustainability; this project with Fleming College’s Sustainable Building Design and Construction program fits beautifully into our mandate.”  

Bessie Sullivan, CEO/County Librarian HCPL(Media Release, Fleming College, November 28, 2012)

Sustainable Building Design and Construction

What is Fleming College’s Sustainable Building Design and

Construction Program?

The program provides 26 students theoretical and hands-on experience with leading edge sustainable building practice through the actual construction of a full-scale, public building that incorporates the most sustainable options available

The buildings created are open to the public as functional, living examples of sustainable technologies, materials and philosophies in building science.

Our Partnerships

Create functional, high performance, sustainable community buildings

Contribute significant labour to community projects Involve the community in the sustainable building process through education and participation Partner with local trades and suppliers to source all materials

and services locally

We engage in partnerships with municipalgovernments and not-for-profit agencies to:

Curriculum to DO THIS

Intense 20 week Ontario One Year certificate; students are in class 45 hrs/week

Balance of classroom and job site time; 30% classroom and 70% construction site

Team based approach shared by faculty and students

Committed community partner and exciting project able to meet z

sustainable curriculum requirements Leading practitioners to teach, design and lead students through construction Complete a structure that exemplifies leading edge sustainable practices

4C’s Food Bank and Thrift Shop - Haliburton

Kinark Outdoor Living Centre - Carnarvon

R.D. Lawrence Place - Minden

Performing Arts Centre - Madoc

Camp Kawartha Environment Centre at Trent

Habitat for Humanity - Peterborough

Camp Maple Leaf- Pigeon Lake

Abbey Gardens – West Guilford

Wilberforce Branch

Start here:

End here:

So you want to build a library? Where do we start?

Initial discussions between Fleming College and the Municipality of Highlands East

Research involved touring Haliburton County Libraries and meeting with staff for discussions of pros and cons of existing facilities

Staff feedback, client needs, budget allocation and curriculum requirements contributed to the overall design

The design process involved Haliburton County Library CEO Bessie Sullivan, Havencraft Design, Fleming College Sustainable Building faculty and staff– Pat Marcotte, Ali Lam, Chris Lalonde, Ted Brandon, Levitt Goodman Architects, structural engineer Tim Krahn (Building Alternatives) and the Municipality of Highlands East Council

What is a Sustainable Building?

Students are installing the Insulated Concrete Foundation (ICF)

Staining exterior siding using non-toxic finishes.

Locally sourced, sustainable harvested post & beam frame

& timber frame features

External features Passive solar design capturing the sun’s heat in winter and blocking heat in summer Clerestory roof design to allow natural sunlight to reach the entire floor area Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) roofing for highly efficient roof system Galvanized roofing for a cooler temperature roof and rainwater collection Rainwater collection cistern for landscaping/grounds maintenance usage Enviroshake (shingles made of recycled tires & rubber) siding as well as locally sourced board & baton Triple glazed fibreglass windows

Green roof on entry

If these walls could talk…… Straw bale walls with hand applied local, natural clay & lime plaster

Interior wall board (drywall) made from recycled Tetra-paks insulated and resource efficient double stud walls with recycled newsprint (cellulose) insulation

OR

What do we see?

Natural sunlight.

Both locally cut timbers and reclaimed timbers were used in construction.

Natural Marmoleum flooring made of linseed oil.

Fully accessible and barrier free design.

Artistic Features

Usable Space

What’s next?

BCT – Youth in Action Canteen

THANK YOU

Sustainable Building Design and Construction

Ted Brandon, Administrative CoordinatorPatrick Marcotte, Academic Coordinator and FacultyAli Lam, FacultyEric Lewis, Project Manager (current)

Chris Lalonde, Wilberforce Library Project Manager (past)

Finishing touches

• September 2013– Fleming students wrap up their

program.– Local contractors hired to finish

trim, flooring, HVAC, mechanicals, etc.

– Determined that landscaping and paving would need to be completed in spring 2014.

• December 2013– Community survey to determine

new and expanded hours for new branch.

• February 2014– First batch of Carr McLean

furnishings arrived and assembled.

September 2013 – February 2014

Layout and DesignCarr McLean's initial involvement in furnishing the Wilberforce Library started in July 2013. Tender was submitted based on the product descriptions and layout provided within the tender.

Layout and Design

Layout and Design

1. Circulation desk and or Information desk

2. Shelving

3. Tables and chairs for reading and computer areas

4. Children's area

5. Lounge seating

6. Display

Although the form and function of library spaces continue to evolve, all libraries of any scale still have commonalities with respect to furnishings.

Layout and Design

Layout and Design

3. The as-built site measurements of the library may affect spacing and location of furniture.

4. Accessibility to the actual locations of floor mounted electrical and data outlets may impact the placement of furnishings.

5. The actual locations of windows, window sills, switches, control panels, as well as electrical and data outlets may result in changes to quantity, size and location of shelving.

Typically the actual products supplied will vary from the initial scope of products specified.

1. The initial assessed needs may change.

2. Further discussion of product features and how they function may alter product selection.

Layout and Design

Finishing touches

• March 2014– Ontario Trillium Foundation

Grant awarded, allowing us to purchase additional furnishings.

• April 2014– Snow finally melts and

landscaping commences.• May 2014

– Book moving campaign begins.

• June 2014– Second batch of Carr

McLean furnishings arrives.– Moving into the new branch,

and opening.

March 2014 – June 2014

“It’s getting them [the patrons] involved in a way that’s kind of fun.” Erin Kernohan-Berning, Branch Services Librarian HCPL

(Haliburton County Echo, May 27, 2014)

Wilberforce book moving campaign:

• Borrowed from a similar campaign in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

• Patrons were encouraged to check out a bag of books from the old branch and keep them until the new branch opened.

• Patrons returned books to new branch, and all fines were waived for 2 months after opening.

Saw approximately 50% increase in circulation during the campaign.

Photo credit: Haliburton County Echo

Moving the Library

ARUPLO GuidelinesWhat we have now

2,200 square feet

4,000 items

16 hours/week

What we should have

2,500 square feet

7,500 items

20 hours/week

Serving a user population of 1,000 – 5,000

What we had

757 square feet

3,200 items

11.5 hours/week

“We did it together. It does take a community to build a library. You guys are a part of it, you guys own it. Enjoy.” Dave Burton, Highland’s East Reeve

(The Highlander, June 26, 2014)

Photo credit: The Highlander