PS1/Bergen School Library

Narratives

Architect Narrative

A major programmatic challenge in designing this library has been to utilize a relatively small amount of space (1,840 square feet) to comfortably accommodate as many as 74 students, their teachers, and other adults, and house collections of 10,000 books and areas for whole class, individual and group study, spaces for presentation and performance, computer workstations, and spaces and equipment necessary for library operations.

A second major challenge has been how to leverage the contribution of this one new element to become an agent of transformation for the culture and environment of a school with few resources, located in an underserved part of the city.

A set of strategies are deployed to address simultaneously the issues outlined above, through the representation of the library to the rest of the school, at different scales, in such a way that it becomes a new ‘center,’ reorganizing the geography of the existing school around it. (This could be understood as the ‘Bilbao’ effect, operating at the scale of a building rather than a territory. )

The project expands the perception of the library’s limited space, beginning at the dark existing stairwell, and extending outward towards a planned future roof Reading Garden overlooking the open courtyard. A perforated metal ceiling extends into the stairwell from the hallway like a canopy, and from there into the library through a fire-safety glass opening above an oversized bench/platform, suggesting continuity with the interior stage/presentation area. Lighting fixtures mounted on the ceiling slab shine through translucent colored acrylic panels. The steel mesh screen outside of the library’s windows turns and extends as railing and fence of the Reading Garden.

Three elements at the entry boldly announce the library: the L!BRARY BENCH, the ENTRY DOOR, and the DISPLAY VITRINES, to convey the image of new and exciting opportunities to learn. The L!BRARY BENCH is the landmark element of the project (see photo). The ENTRY DOOR is inscribed with the word for library in sixteen languages. The idea came from the fact that PS 1/Bergen is a dual language school, in a neighborhood, Sunset Park, which is home to people from many different countries. The words are laser cut (into a wood panel fused to the fireproof door), providing a tactile and engaging surface, reminiscent of wood burning, a popular children’s activity. The DISPLAY VITRINES provide easily changeable space for displays and exhibitions related to library activities, student work and projects that result from these activities. A fourth, planned, element announces the library to the courtyard.

One way we have addressed the challenge of fitting the program into a small space is to emphasize flexibility and multifunctionality, while striving to create a calm and open environment. A major part of this initiative is the eight mobile worktables in the instructional area, the library’s largest space. Anchoring the tables together in a larger zigzag ‘figure’ gives them a strong and simple presence that does not overwhelm the spaces as a sea of tables would.

Educator Narrative

The school is an Elementary school of 1,100 students located in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. The school’s new library is the outcome of a partnership between The Robin Hood Foundation and the New York City Department of Education. Key elements in current learning and information theory support the concept that developing an expertise in accessing, evaluating and using information is vital to authentic learning, and is a cornerstone of lifelong learning. Central to this thinking is the idea of a “learning community”, linked by interest and need with access to print resources and telecommunications technology.

Robin Hood’s design directive called for a library that was a bright and exciting place, that would be sought out by students as a place to read and learn. Components to be included were shelving for 10,000 books, a “Reader’s Theater, tables where a class of students could work collaboratively, quiet reading areas, and a work- station for computers. A circulation desk that could monitor these activities was also needed.

In addition to the Robin Hood directives, the school’s Library Advisory Team had strong ideas about how the library should look and function. We wanted the space to be “child- friendly” serving not only as a learning center, but as a place where student work could be showcased. We were anxious to minimize the boundary of the library and draw our students into the space. Since the new library would occupy a space equivalent to that of three classrooms it was vital to us that the layout works to accommodate several learning activities simultaneously.

The decision to raise the theater area separates that space and allows us to hold a class there while accomplishing routine circulation. The children experience the simulated grass cloth on this surface as a carpet, but the pitfalls of staining and dust mites is eliminated. Another successful component is the adjustable natural wood shelving units that define spaces. Underfoot, the cork flooring creates a warmth and softness which contrasts with the hard surfaces elsewhere in the building. The individual workstations are ideal for small group work and I have discovered that when necessary I can undock the tables and link them to create a conference like set up. To accommodate our request for areas in which to highlight student work and display books, the architect designed functional display cases, for the outside wall. The bench /gathering area outside the library extends into the space as a stage for the reader’s theater while the window over the bench allows passers by to glimpse activity inside the library. The interior window frieze featuring our students’ drawings of fictional book characters, has allowed the students to feel that they contributed to the space.

I believe this facility could serve as a prototype for future school library design. In that scenario, I could envisage keeping the components and design motifs but I would re-consider elements in the layout to maximize flexibility.

Librarian