MBLC Construction Team staff are available to provide high-level space planning advice to any Massachusetts public library, regardless of participation in the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program.
We can:
- Visit your library to walk through your space with you and help brainstorm general ways to improve its functionality
- Provide high-level guidance for space planning, layout, considerations in selecting furniture, etc.
- Review and comment on architectural and other plans for renovated, re-envisioned, or newly constructed spaces and buildings
- Share lists of professionals and firms that we know to have worked on library building projects (lists are for informational purposes only and do not constitute recommendations; libraries should do due diligence before retaining any professional assistance)
To request help, please fill out the Space Planning Help Request Form.
Space Planning Resources
- Library Space: A Planning Resource for Librarians is a guide to a formal set of best practices for designing library space, developed through a partnership between MBLC staff and the design firm Sasaki.
- Making the Most of the Space You Have
- Elements of UX: A Librarian's Guide to User Experience Design
- Print resources on library design and construction in the MBLC professional collection
This list may not be comprehensive; you can search the entire MBLC professional collection by using the NOBLE Network catalog and changing the location of the search from “NOBLE (All Libraries)” to “MBLC Library”. - Field Trip List of recently completed MPLCP libraries. Touring other libraries is a great way to get ideas!
Considering a Grant?
If you are thinking about applying for a future MPLCP grant, view our pre-planning resources and learn about the upcoming grant round.