2013 Institute: Digital Spaces, Library Places: Leveraging Technology

A Libraries 2020 Initiative hosted by the Ontario Library Association.

View Photos of AILP 2013

On behalf of the 2013 Annual Institute on the Library as Place Steering Committee, thank you for your participation and attendance on July 9 and 10! It was a resounding success.  More than 150 speakers and delegates attended the two-day event at the beautiful Bram & Bluma Salon at the Toronto Reference Library in downtown Toronto.    

Conference Structure:

One keynote, 10 workshops (in 5 time-slots), exhibit, one social event, two meals (cocktail/appetizer reception, lunch), refreshment breaks throughout. (see abbreviated program below).  Download full program details.

TUESDAY JULY 9:

12:30 – 1:00

Welcome to delegates: check-in



1:00 – 2:15: Opening Keynote with Craig Edward Dykers

Craig Dykers has established offices in Norway, Egypt, England, and in the United States. His interest in design as a promoter of social and physical well-being is supported by ongoing observation and development of an innovative design process.

As one of the Founding Partners of Snøhetta, Craig has led many of the office’s prominent projects internationally, including the Alexandria Library in Egypt and the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo, Norway. He is currently overseeing Snøhetta’s two New York City projects, both under construction: the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at the World Trade Center and the new Times Square Reconstruction. Craig is also leading the design of two new projects in San Francisco, the expansion of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the waterfront Golden State Warriors Arena. Other recent projects include the James B. Hunt Jr. Library at North Carolina State University completed this year, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery Expansion Masterplan in Buffalo, New York, the Wolfe Center for the Arts at Bowling Green State University, and the Museum for Environmental Sciences in Guadalajara, Mexico, which is currently in development. In 2011, Craig and Snøhetta collaborated with the Guggenheim Museum on immersive installations for their series titled “Stillspotting.”

Speaker:  Craig Edward Dykers, Partner, Director, Architect, Registered Architect: New York  AIA, siv. ark MNAL, NCARB, FRIBA, FRSA, LEED AP  

2:15 – 2:30: break

2:30 – 3:45: Concurrent sessions (2)

A)    Bootcamp Basics: Design Challenge: A before and after case study to explore Design Challenges: A renovation challenge was presented.  Participants worked in small groups to examine the challenges this case presented, then collaborated and developed design options and solutions.  Solutions were discussed, followed by a project “reveal”. 
Presenters and facilitators: Tina Ranieri-D’Ovidio, Principal, mc architects and Anne Bailey, Director, Branch Libraries, Toronto Public Library. * A Planning Essentials session.

B)   Technology Transforming Academic Spaces: In this session, we “visited” the Hunt Library spaces with faculty and students and explored what it takes to create a library that can inspire.
Presenter: Kristin Antelman, NCSU Libraries 

4:00 – 5:15  Concurrent Sessions (2)

C)    From “Temple of Knowledge” to “Place of Desire”: Designing Maker, Creative, Collaborative Spaces for Innisfil Public Library
  Within months of embracing the bold vision of sparking ideas to ignite a dynamic, creative community, IPL initiated a pilot Digital Media Lab and incorporated ‘maker culture’ within programs and services in the existing Lakeshore Branch. In addition, they obtained approvals for a branch expansion and engaged Shoalts & Zaback Architects to transform the library space.
Presenters: Gerry Shoalts, Principal, Shoalts & Zaback Architects Limited and Susan Downs, Chief Librarian/CEO, Innisfil Public Library. 

D)  Teen Territories: creating their special spaces  What do teens really need from a library space? Teens are a juxtaposition needing to express independence, but also highly social. For today’s teens technology is seamlessly interwoven into all aspects of their lives, for communicating, socializing, researching, collaborating for learning, playing and creating. So how does that reality drive how we design library spaces that are not only enticing but useful for how teens really live their lives? In this session we explored ideas for designing dynamic teen spaces that work in our digital age.
Presenters: Anita Brooks Kirkland, Consultant, ITS, K-12 Libraries, Waterloo Region DSB and Carol Koechlin, Educator and School Library Consultant. Sofia Di Sabatino, Architectural Coordinator, Toronto District School Board.


6:00 OLA New Building Awards Reception and Presentation

Architects, designers, and library staff who are this years recipients of the OLA New Building Awards . gathered for hors d’oeuvre’s and drinks, followed by the formal award presentation.



WEDNESDAY JULY 10:
8:45 – 10:00: Concurrent Sessions (2)

E)  Considerations and Challenges of Renovations.  * A Planning Essentials session * Note: this was a two-part session; delegates could choose both or either. Toronto Reference Library revitalization: Lessons Learned
In 2003, Toronto Public Library embarked on a major capital project to implement a master plan that would achieve a complete re-envisioning and re-programming of the Toronto Reference Library to meet user needs for library service in the 21st century.   The Design and Building Team spoke about the challenges and opportunities of expanding and renovating a large public library in many phases over many years. 
Speakers: Ajon Moriyama, Partner, Moriyama & Teshima Architects; Linda Mackenzie, Director, Research & Reference Libraries and Reference Library Managers Catherine AuYeung, Mary Rae Shantz and Paul Trumphour.

F)  Green Technology: Opportunities and Ideas for Libraries.
 What makes a library building a “green” building? Two case studies were be presented:  Acton Branch Library and Centennial College Library and Academic Facility.

Presenters:  Acton Branch Library: Geoff Cannon, Deputy Director of the Halton Hills Public Library and Kyle Nichols and Stephen Blood of Chamberlain Architect Services Limited.
For Centennial College Library: Branka Gazibara of Diamond Schmitt Architects and Gladys Watson, Director of Centennial College Libraries. 

10:00 – 10:15: break

10:15 – 11:30: Concurrent Sessions (2)

G)  Toronto Reference Library Tour (Part 2: Considerations and Challenges of Renovations)
See firsthand how the project goals of creating exciting physical destination spaces for collaboration, exhibition and public exchange of ideas, creativity, connectivity and transparency have been realized when you tour the nearly finished project with key team members.
Speakers: Ajon Moriyama, Partner, Moriyama & Teshima Architects; Linda Mackenzie, Director, Research & Reference Libraries and Reference Library Managers Catherine AuYeung, Mary Rae Shantz and Paul Trumphour.

H)  Bootcamp Basics: Flexible space and furniture design considerations. Discover and learn about the latest trends in furniture and furniture design.  Explore how appropriate furniture selection can provide for flexible spaces that are transformed into fun and welcoming environments.  Become inspired by the new products available and understand how furniture can contribute to the creation of new community spaces as well as the reinvention of existing spaces.
Presenters:  Alison Jessamine, Agent for Nienkamper; Jessica Allen, Market Manager for Teknion; Tammy Decaire, Sales Representative for Keilhauer.

11:30 – 1: Lunch

1:00 – 2:15 Concurrent Sessions (2)

I)   If Not for the Library – Makerspaces in Libraries:  Creating Access to transformative technologies and opportunities  Margaret Portier and Stephanie C. Prato of  Fayetteville Free Library (FFL) in upstate NY shared the FFL experience developing and evolving their Digital Creation Lab , FabLab  and  details of their unique making and creating programming.  Sue will share how the FFL has challenged assumptions, identified barriers and engaged the community.
Presenters: Margaret Portier, Director of Innovative Family Services, Fayetteville Free Library, New York and Stephanie C. Prato, Promotions Assistant, Creation Lab Intern, Fayetteville Free Library, New York.  

J)  The Service Desk in the Digital Age. 
“The Service Desk in the Digital Age” explores new approaches to service point design and configuration, particularly how new technologies and evolving conceptions of what “service” is in the digital age are changing how public and academic libraries approach the “in person” service experience. Rebecca Raven of the Hamilton Public Library will explore how the HPL’s recent branch renovation projects have used RFID to transform how staff members connect with users; Julie Mitchell of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at the University of British Columbia will explore how the library launched a single-service desk within a technology-rich space.
Presenters: Rebecca Raven, Chief Executive Officer, Brampton Public Library
 and Julie Mitchell, Managing Librarian, Chapman Learning Commons, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia 

2:15 – 2:30: Break

2:30 – 3:30  Trend Spotting
The 3rd Annual Institute closes with a moderated panel that will respond to what future trends in space planning may look like based on future trends in libaries and in the broader environment.  The presentation will include visual examples of current and near future trends.
Facilitated by Mary Ann Mavrinac, Vice-Provost and Neilly Dean of River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.
Speakers:  Gerry Shoalts, Partner, Shoalts and Zaback Architects; and Tina Ranieri-d’Ovidio, Principal, mc architects.

Sponsored by Carr McLean.