SPACE NEEDS WORKSHEET 
                           
INSTRUCTIONS: Fill in or check off all shaded worksheet cells. 
                           
DESIGN POPULATION 
                           
  Projected resident population. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .251  
                           
  Nonresident service population. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .254  
                           
  Design population. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .505  
                           
                           
COLLECTION SPACE 
                           
 Books: The space needed for the library’s book collection is determined by the size of the collection and the  
  parameters of the shelving environment. Depending on factors such as the width of the aisles and the  
  height of the shelving, book collections can be housed at 10, 13 or 15 volumes per square foot. As the  
  volumes housed per square foot increases, the average aisle width will decrease, the height of the  
  shelving will grow, and there will be fewer opportunities for marketing display.  
   * How many volumes will be in the library’s print collection?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,817  
                           
   * What is the library’s preferred collection density? (choose one). . . . . . . . .x
10 volumes per sq.ft.
     
                           
         
13 volumes per sq.ft.
     
                           
                     
15 volumes per sq.ft.
     
                           
 Magazine / newspapers: The Americans with Disabilities Act specifies that current issue display shelving for  
  magazines is subject to height limitations, which conditions how much space magazines will need.  
   * How many titles will the library receive?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25  
                           
 Magazine backfile: Shelving for any back issues retained by the library is NOT subject to reach limitations  
  but many libraries choose to treat these holdings in the same manner.  
   * How many of those titles will the library retain in backfiles?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0  
   * What will be the average backrun for a typical title (in years)?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0  
                           
 Nonprint: This collection will often be housed on lower shelving with more marketing display, but because  
  these items are typically smaller than books, the collection density corresponds to that for books.  
  The space need varies depending on aisle widths, marketing display, and so on.  
   * How many nonnprint items will the library house?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .961  
                           
   * What is the library’s preferred collection density? (choose one). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x
10 items per sq.ft.
     
                           
         
13 items per sq.ft.
     
                           
                     
15 items per sq.ft.
     
                           
 Public access computers: Many libraries today experience increasing demands for access to digital  
  information resources, which affects the number of stations needed for the public. Wireless access  
  can also affect the inventory needed. The space need per station will be affected by the number of  
  stations provided: a small inventory will usually require more space per station while a larger  
  inventory will benefit from economies of scale and less space per station.  
   * How many public access computers to provide?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4  
                           
   * What is the preferred space allocation for each? (choose one). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x
35 sq.ft. per station
     
                           
         
45 sq.ft. per station
     
                           
                     
50 sq.ft. per station
     
                           
READER SEATING SPACE 
  
 The number of reader seats a library needs is determined in large measure by the number of people the 
 library serves, although other factors may also affect this inventory. Typically allow 30 square feet per seat. 
   * How many reader seats should the library provide?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10  
                           
STAFF WORK SPACE 
                           
 The inventory of staff work stations is based on the specific operations and work routines of the library, 
 the number of public service desks, and so on. The space needed for each station, on average, will be 
 affected by the number of work stations a library needs: a small inventory will require more space per 
 station while a larger inventory will need less space per station. 
   * How many staff work stations are needed?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1  
                           
   * What is the preferred space allocation for each? (choose one). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x
125 sq.ft. per station
     
                           
         
140 sq.ft. per station
     
                           
                     
150 sq.ft. per station
     
                           
MEETING ROOM SPACE 
                           
 Multi-purpose:How many seats to accommodate in a multi-purpose room? 50  
                           
 Conference:How many seats to accommodate at a conference table? 12  
                           
     How many seats in a gallery? 12  
                           
 Storytime:What is the maximum audience for a typical storytime? 25  
                           
     Do your storytimes include a craft of activity? (choose one) xYes  No  
                           
 Computer training lab:How many trainees should be accommodated? 1  
                           
SPECIAL USE SPACE 
                           
 Special use space reserves space for features such as small group study rooms, a copy center, a public 
 café or refreshment area, a used book sale area, a staff break room, and so on. A larger proportionate 
 allocation here reserves the option to incorporate a wider array of special use functions as a specific 
 architectural plan is developed. 
   * Choose the library’s preferred allocation for special use space. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x
12% of gross area
     
                           
         
15% of gross area
     
                           
                     
17% of gross area
     
                           
NONASSIGNABLE SPACE 
 Nonassignable space reserves space for such necessary features as mechanical rooms, restrooms, 
 stairwells and elevators. Typically a smaller building will need to reserve a larger share of its gross area 
 for nonassignable purposes, while a larger building will require a smaller proportion for nonassignable. 
 New construction will likely need a smaller proportion than an addition or renovation. 
   * Choose the library’s preferred allocation for nonassignable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x
25% of gross area
     
                           
         
27% of gross area
     
                           
                     
30% of gross area
     
                           
ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCES 
 As an option, this worksheet can accommodate additional special allowances for features that may or may 
 now be adequately accommodated in the preceding calculations. These may include space for an automated 
 materials handling system, or a garage (if the library owns and operates vehicles). List any such special 
 features here, along with a suitable square foot allowance 
                    Allowance   
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sq.ft. 
                   
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
       
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sq.ft. 
                   
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
       
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sq.ft. 
                           
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sq.ft. 
                           
                           
                           
                           
SPACE NEEDS SUMMARY 
                           
COLLECTION SPACE
                          
 4,817
volumes to house at
      10
vol/sq.ft.
     482
sq.ft.
  
 25
magazine display at
      1
sq.ft./title
     25
sq.ft.
  
 0
magazine backfile at
      0.5
sq.ft./title/yr held
     0
sq.ft.
  
 961
nonprint items to house at
      10
items/sq.ft.
     96
sq.ft.
  
 4
public access computers at
      35
sq.ft. per station
     140
sq.ft.
  
                           
READER SEATING SPACE 
 10
reader seats at
      30
sq.ft. per seat
     300
sq.ft.
  
                           
STAFF WORK SPACE 
 1
staff work stations at
      125
sq.ft. per station
     125
sq.ft.
  
                           
MEETING ROOM SPACE
     
(See notes 1 through 4)
                    
 50
multi-purpose seats
      10
sq.ft. per seat
     600
sq.ft.
  
 12
conference room seats
      30
sq.ft. per seat
     480
sq.ft.
  
 25
storytime seats
      15
sq.ft. per seat
     425
sq.ft.
  
 1
computer training lab seats
      50
sq.ft. per seat
     130
sq.ft.
  
                           
SPECIAL USE SPACE 
 
calculated at
  12%
of gross building area
             534
sq.ft.
  
                           
NONASSIGNABLE SPACE 
 
calculated at
  25%
of gross building area
             1,112
sq.ft.
  
                           
SPECIAL ALLOWANCES 
     
sq.ft.
  
     
sq.ft.
  
     
sq.ft.
  
     
sq.ft.
  
                           
GROSS AREA NEEDED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                   4,449
sq.ft.
  
                           
                           
 
NOTES
 
1. Multi-purpose room area includes a modest allocation for a speaker’s podium.
2. Conference room area includes allocation for gallery / audience seating, if so designated.
3. Storytime area includes a modest allocation for storytime presenter.
4. Computer training lab area includes a modest allocation for trainer’s station.
  
     
 1. For collections of more than 100,000 volumes, 10% is assumed in circulation at any given time.
2. Multi-purpose room area includes a modest allocation for a speaker’s podium.
3. Conference room area includes allocation for gallery / audience seating, if so designated.
4. Storytime area includes a modest allocation for storytime presenter.
5. Computer training lab area includes a modest allocation for trainer’s station.		   
 1. Multi-purpose room area includes a modest allocation for a speaker’s podium.
2. Conference room area includes allocation for gallery / audience seating, if so designated.
3. Storytime area includes a modest allocation for storytime presenter.
4. Computer training lab area includes a modest allocation for trainer’s station.