Lisa Peet, Library Journal; Hunters Point Library Confronts Accessibility Issues
"QPL is assessing the situation with the Department of Design and
Construction and Steven Holl Architects, de Bourbon said. (As of press
time, Steven Holl Architects had not responded to LJ’s request
for comment.) “As we move forward with new projects,” she said, “we will
be even more proactive in addressing the needs and circumstances of
every single customer.”
“I hope that libraries who are working on inclusiveness can see this
as a cautionary tale,” said Machones. “There clearly needs to be more
oversight in all stages of planning to ensure nothing like this happens
again. There needs to be opportunities for staff and the community to
analyze and respond to plans at every stage. If there are members of
your community that are not able to participate in input sessions, then
go to them and ask them for their input. Your library will better serve
the community if your plans reflect everyone in it.”
Such inclusive input might be positioned as a mandate in all aspects
of service for the library, Machones suggested. “I would have regular
community conversations to learn about what ways the library could
improve. I also would recommend the library undergo an inclusive
services assessment,” such as the Inclusive Services Assessment and Guide developed for Wisconsin Public Libraries."
Showing posts with label Hunters Point library. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hunters Point library. Show all posts
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Monday, January 31, 2011
Civic Engagement Trumps ‘Shhh!’; New York Times, 1/31/11
Nicolai Ouroussoff, New York Times; Civic Engagement Trumps ‘Shhh!’ :
"So when the Queens Library Board of Trustees approved the design of the new Hunters Point community library this month, it was a well-deserved and long overdue breakthrough. The project, done in collaboration with Mr. Holl’s partner Chris McVoy and scheduled to begin construction early next year, will stand on a prominent waterfront site just across the East River from the United Nations. It is a striking expression of the continuing effort to shake the dust off of the city’s aging libraries and recast them as lively communal hubs, and should go far in bolstering the civic image of Queens...
The strength of this layout is that it allows Mr. Holl to balance the reader’s need for solitude with a strong sense of community...
Mr. Holl is not interested in creating a monastic sanctuary; he wants to build a monument to civic engagement. The views aren’t just pretty; they remind us that the intellectual exchange of a library is part of a bigger collective enterprise."
"So when the Queens Library Board of Trustees approved the design of the new Hunters Point community library this month, it was a well-deserved and long overdue breakthrough. The project, done in collaboration with Mr. Holl’s partner Chris McVoy and scheduled to begin construction early next year, will stand on a prominent waterfront site just across the East River from the United Nations. It is a striking expression of the continuing effort to shake the dust off of the city’s aging libraries and recast them as lively communal hubs, and should go far in bolstering the civic image of Queens...
The strength of this layout is that it allows Mr. Holl to balance the reader’s need for solitude with a strong sense of community...
Mr. Holl is not interested in creating a monastic sanctuary; he wants to build a monument to civic engagement. The views aren’t just pretty; they remind us that the intellectual exchange of a library is part of a bigger collective enterprise."
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