April 2013
1 post
2 tags
Support New Entrance
I support the proposal to build a new entrance on the first floor and provide easier/better access from the parking area. The current entrance is not built for Alaska’s winter conditions - when my children were young we would often go to the library in the winter and climbing the icy stairs and crossing the elevated, windswept plaza was downright unpleasant.
March 2013
1 post
3 tags
Heated Sidewalks
I think we should consider heated sidewalks that melt snow and ice. There was an article in the ADN:
http://www.adn.com/2013/01/06/2743400/hometown-u-cheap-carbon-fibers.html
November 2012
1 post
Community Dialogue Space
On behalf of all citizens who seek more opportunities for reasonable public dialogue and discourse, please consider the following renovation:
Make that section of the library that houses the Alaska Collection into a multi-use area capable of hosting community dialogues.
The inner circular area in the lower level of this section is well-suited to dialogues.
The upper level circular area could...
August 2012
2 posts
4 tags
Alaska Collection
canvas bag - promotions
I work for the library, and I know we once sold canvas bags w/ logo through the Friends of the Library gift shop (which is now closed). I think we could sell them again - through the circulation department. My initial idea looks something like this: you can charge 2-300% of cost and make a decent profit on them (they can be plain or fancy, simple or fancy with little zip pockets etc). Patrons...
July 2012
6 posts
4 tags
+Group study rooms
I think some group study rooms would benefit the patrons of the library by providing separate sound proof rooms for small groups to meet in. This would provide an area where groups can meet to discuss whatever project they are working on and also give other users of the library the quiet they desire. One area of the library can have a bank of rooms which are reserved similar to the public use...
Idea Box/Fostering innovatoin
Very cool concept from the fabulous Library As Incubator Project, a blog of cutting edge library ideas. Let’s have an idea box at Loussac!
http://www.libraryasincubatorproject.org/?p=5025
Outside building artwork (w/ picture!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathan_moreau/418008212/in/photostream/#f
Outside building artwork
This would be a fun idea for the outside of the building.
Mountaineering / Wilderness Travel Section
I use the Alaska Section more than any other part of the library. It is full of stuff about where we live and the little animals that inhabit the rest of the library don’t go there much so you can hear yourself think there unlike the rest of the library which has become a preschool or playground. I have noted a complete set of the Scree (Mountaineering Club of Alaska Publication) dating...
Alaska Wing/Children's Area
Movethe children’s area to the Alaska Collection. It would give the children a special kids place that they could associate with. Kids are the future of our library and we should give them a place that they can remember and alway think about coming back to.
June 2012
21 posts
4 tags
Insane libraries, schools, playgrounds of the...
http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679909/8-insane-schools-playgrounds-and-libraries-of-the-future#1
5 tags
Book drop and windows
First the book drop is difficult to use if your vehicle isn’t a compatible size. I usually have to get out of my SUV to return books. The location seems unwieldy as well.
Second, I agree that the entire bldg is not inviting and doesn’t flow well. I grew up in Fbks and the library on Cowles was a favorite spot. The views outside and the flow thru the library was fabulous. The other...
3 tags
Book Swap
I hope the informal “free books” area can be improved incorporated into the plan. When my son was a kid, he pounced on a huge stack of National Geographic magazines someone had brought. He was absolutely thrilled that these could be his very own and he pored over them for months. With that remembered delight in mind, I continue to bring old issues of science magazines and books we no...
2 tags
Mountainering Section in Library--AK Section
Mountaineering Corner
As a former MCA President, climber, and local resident, I agree with the above post that the library could use an area devoted to Alaska climbing, hiking, and mountaineering. The MCA club has over 600 books that could be made available to the library for this area and these books do not have a current home. Anchorage is surrounded by mountains unlike no other American...
Co-working Spaces
My sister attended a tour of co-working spaces that exist in Milwaukee. This is a rental partnership that provides office space for people in traveling jobs. I thought of this as a potential opportunity in the Loussac re-design. For example, building in offices adjoined in some way to the library that is available and rentable by people visiting Alaska for business. I’m not sure of the...
Mountaineering Corner, Searchable Scree
I support the idea of a mountaineering corner to house a collection of valuable books owned by the Mountaineering Club of Alaska. I would also like to be able to search the MCA newsletter, the Scree for information on mountain climbing routes and adventures in Alaska. This section would also be a resource for our international visitors who come to Alaska each spring to climb our mountains.
Mountaineering Section
The Mountaineering Club of Alaska has assembled a great collection of books, maps, guides, and other mountaineering aides since the club began back in 1958. This collection should be made available to Alaskans and visitors who are climbers, want to be climbers, or want a mountain experience through reading glasses. This valuable collection should have a place in the Loussac Library.
2 tags
Mountaineering Section
I agree that an enhanced section devoted to mountaineering would make a fine addition to the Z.J. Loussac holdings. The history and breadth of information encompassed by the Mountaineering Club of Alaska’s archives would make an excellent cornerstone for such a section. I would encourage your acceptance of such as a means to make this valuable information accessible to visiting and resident...
4 tags
Little Libraries
2 tags
Alaska Mountaineering Section>Mountaineering...
3 tags
Parking
My understanding is that the original entrance was supposed to link to a parking garage so you entered from the 2nd floor of the garage. This would be covered and accessible. Clearly this garage is not needed now (at least from what I’ve seen), but perhaps that is still the most efficient way to solve the entrance issue? Some day in the future we might be happy we have the extra parking.
Alaska Mountaineering section.
2 tags
Alaska Wing / Mountains and Mountaineering
The Alaska specific mountaineering, hiking, river travel, maps and other backcountry material could be located in one area with chairs and tables. Something like the Ann Stevens room would be good. The Mountaineering Club of Alaska has a library that has been in transit for a couple of years. This material has not been easily accessible and I know it is available. This state has a large outdoor...
3 tags
More Community Reach
Although I am pleased that there will be a big Loussac remodel, I find myself torn: I think focusing so much energy and money on the “central library” is sort of missing the point. A city the size of Anchorage should have many library branches, so that the library can truly be part of the community—or really the communities—here. There should be a branch in the southern...
Mountaineering Corner
I agree with the above post that the library could use an area devoted to Alaska climbing, hiking, and mountaineering. Anchorage is surrounded by mountains unlike no other American metropolis. It’s something that makes Anchorage unique and as a city we should highlight this special aspect of our community. Each year thousands of mountaineers - some local, some from far away - grace our...
2 tags
Library Mobile Phone/Device AP
Whimsical and Engaging Exterior
3 tags
Mountaineering Corner
In this city surrounded by mountains we need a corner in the library which focuses on mountains and mountaineering. A place for people to browse books, plan trips, dream of new routes. These can be as simple as deciding to go to the overlook at Glenn Alps, or as ambitious as a new and difficult route in the Alaska Range. It should be welcoming to all who are interested in learning, reading...
4 tags
Tunnel of Art to Bus Stop
Mainly, I am in favor of planning to improve the library for our winter season which takes up a majority of our time here. What about creating an awesome tunnel that connects the bus stop with the library. The tunnel could be above ground and covered with windows/walls that are either readable or feature an art installation. The security would be an issue, but if it’s used as one of the main...
2 tags
Please do not let the planning committee neglect to consider the needs of people on canes and crutches as well as those in wheelchairs. Too often “physical handicap” simply means wheelchairs. Wheelchair people need not be concerned with slipping on icy sidewalks or tile floors which have gathered water from others’ boots. For those of us on crutches, parking areas need to be...
Services for Immigrants
From a perspective of someone who works with immigrants: they need books in their native languages. They likely do not have Nooks or Kindles. They need staff or volunteers who can talk to them about the Library and the services, space and technology available to them. They need to feel welcome and safe, so that if they patronize the library individually or use it for meetings, they will not...
May 2012
30 posts
3 tags
more & earlier
3 tags
Entrance and restrooms - movies
2 tags
Homeschool classes
4 tags
Design for a pedestrian culture
The building should present a friendlier face to 36th Ave so that the front seems more like a town square than a sulking giant with its back to the city. There should be a bus pullout, bike racks, a large patio with benches or a low wall surrounding it, and a few broad steps to an obvious and inviting entrance. Walkers, people taking the bus, and bicyclists should be given the privilege of not...
Fountain
Will it ever work again?
Potential Library Entry Improvement.
In the late 70’s and early 80’s I worked for the architecture firm that was the Municipality’s consultant during the design competition that resulted in the Loussac Library design. Our firm’s principal, was the Municipality’s Contact Person who had many interfaces with MOA reps, as well as many of those who championed the new library and who were the moving force...
music, or rather lack thereof
It’s been a disappointment. The library has virtually now material with regard to songbooks and diy music learning materials. These materials have become rare with recent closures in the retail sector.
3 tags
Little Libraries
4 tags
Community Space that Reflects the Community
There isn’t anything about the exterior of the Loussac that lures people in from the street and give the impression that it is a welcoming place where the community can come, share ideas and information, think deep thoughts, read a book to their kids, and make thier life better. I am jealous of the new libraries around the state that fit into the landscape and the community and seem inviting...
7 tags
Web Videos for Inspiration
Library of the Future in Plain English - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLelhZHb3G8
Joe & Rika Mansueto Library - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESCxYchCaWI&feature=youtu.be
Digital Public Library of America - http://dp.la/
Libraries of the future documentary - http://www.jisc.ac.uk/librariesofthefuture
Public library of the future spec scenarios - http://vimeo.com/41660831
What is...
2 tags
Bathrooms
You might consider putting in a unisex bathroom so that parents with children of the opposite gender can go into the same restroom with them.
2 tags
Finding books...
I think it’s very important that the tags and shelves are properly labeled for visitors. Loussac, the building, is one of the nicest libraries you can go to but it is one of the most difficult when it comes to the organizations and labeling of books. Every shelf and row needs to be able to tell the visitor in detail what she or he can find in what spot/area. At the same time, a lot of books...
2 tags
Theatrical performances
Create a way for people to book the Wilda Marston to perform their own plays. I have plays that I would like to produce myself but don’t have a venue. I’m sure lots of other people would like to do this too.
3 tags
Loussac future
Dear Sir:
My suggestion would be to make the library more accessible. I find the long flight of stairs intimidating especially in winter. The alternative is crossing a street and dealing with a slow elevator. All of these reduce my use of the library! The library entrance as is is nether attractive or inviting. I have no idea where the book drop off is even tho I have asked librarians...
Quiet Places
I have been a patron of the Z J Loussac library since I was in high school at West AHS, class of ‘61. Over the years, I have been an avid library user. In 2008, I began to be a very regular user of the computers because I didn’t have one at home. Because of the occurrences I am getting ready to discuss, I bought my own computer for home use, but sometimes I come to the library to...
Entrance
I live near the library and love to use it. The fact that the public either has to take an elevator or walk up a long flight of outside stairs makes the library less ” user friendly”. Is it possible to move the meeting room to the 3rd floor and use the main floor for the library? There is no need to knock out walls to do this. The meeting rooms could become specialized book or...
Accessibility
I think I have a perspective that needs to be heard. I walk on crutches, and the design committee needs to hear from handicapped people other than those in wheelchairs. Our needs are sometimes quite different.
