Re: Counter Designdo you have managers in your libraries?
Frances Hendrix
Martin House Farm, Hilltop Lane, Whittle le Woods, Chorley, Lancs PR6 7QR, UK
tel: 01257 274 833. fax: 01257 266 488
email: [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: Hunt, Alan
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 12:02 PM
Subject: Re: Counter Design
But what happens if the staff are all engaged with other customers? (a common occurrence in our main libraries). With a well placed reception counter customers can see that staff are busy and will know here to go and wait their turn. Does one staff member act as a type of Maitre D' ? to direct customers?
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From: Library design [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hunt, Alan
Sent: 27 August 2008 11:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Counter Design
Good point!
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From: Library design [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joanne Harvey
Sent: 27 August 2008 12:07
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Counter Design
Well trained floorwalking staff - it works really well.
Joanne Harvey
Reading & Leisure Manager
Jubilee Library
Jubilee Street
Brighton
BN1 1GE
2008 is the National Year of Reading -
I am currently reading Stars Are Stars by Kevin Sampson, set during the Toxteth riots in 1980's Liverpool
What are you reading?
(01273) 294073
"Hunt, Alan" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by:
Library design <[log in to unmask]>
27/08/2008 11:50
Please respond to Library design <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]@SMTP@Exchange
cc: (bcc: Joanne Harvey/CR/HTH/BHC)
Subject: Re: Counter Design
Old hat maybe but if you are entering a new environment for the first time and there is no focal point of reception where do you go for assistance? who do you ask? You would feel very uncomfortable. Would you have to ask everybody there if they could help you? could you offend somebody by presuming they were staff? Could you annoy someone because they were dealing with another customer? Old hat maybe but very useful........
From: Library design [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Frances Hendrix
Sent: 27 August 2008 11:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Counter Design
I was going to make just the same point
a counter is so old hat, even banks have dispensed with them (some time ago), they are barriers, and not user friendly!, and the design of the library can be much more open and free., even hospitals are doing this!
f
Frances Hendrix
Martin House Farm, Hilltop Lane, Whittle le Woods, Chorley, Lancs PR6 7QR, UK
tel: 01257 274 833. fax: 01257 266 488
email: [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: Joanne Harvey
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:45 AM
Subject: Re: Counter Design
How about not having a counter at all, but having seperate staff service points in different parts of the library - then different ones can be different heights. It can be better for integration of staff with stock and users, so has many benefits.
Joanne Harvey
Reading & Leisure Manager
Jubilee Library
Jubilee Street
Brighton
BN1 1GE
2008 is the National Year of Reading -
I am currently reading Stars Are Stars by Kevin Sampson, set during the Toxteth riots in 1980's Liverpool
What are you reading?
(01273) 294073
Alan Hunt <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by:
Library design <[log in to unmask]>
27/08/2008 10:27
Please respond to Library design <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]@SMTP@Exchange
cc: (bcc: Joanne Harvey/CR/HTH/BHC)
Subject: Counter Design
Hi All.....
our library service wants to install a new reception counter as part of a library
upgrade but insists that the whole counter will be 760mm high as per Part M
for wheelchairt users. They will not provide a higher/raised section or even a
section at the usual 900mm because "it doesn't look nice". My assertion that
they are not catering for all their clients is falling on deaf ears.
Part M of Building Regs is not clear in this respect and our building control
section will pass the counter as proposed (ie at one level 760mm high). The
library service will not consider the guidance of BS8300 because it is advisory.
Does anyone know of any statutory requirement to provide a counter which is
universal? I have also scoured the "CyMal Museums Archives and Libraries
Wales Disability Portfolio - Wales Addition" but to no avail.
any advice gratefully received.
ps
i have already drawn the library services attention to the following........
Some disabled people are unable to bend or stoop and are potentially being
discriminated against if a counter at two heights as per the best practices of
inclusive design is not provided. There are likely to be more people who are tall
or can't bend or stoop than wheelchair users who will want to visit the
library/TIC and so this counter design is really strange.
The DDA duties for service providers are quite clear and those duties are
anticipatory. Local authorities also have a duty under the Disability Equality
Scheme to make sure that they don't discriminate against disabled people and
to impact assess all their actions to make sure that discrimination doesn't
occur. The duties under the DDA go beyond Building Regulations and British
Standards but the intro to Section 4 of Part M of the Building Regs
states: "4.1 The aim is for all people to have access and use of all the
facilities provided within buildings." Section 3.6e states that the requirements
of Part M will be satisfied if "any reception desk or counter is designed to
accommodate both standing and seated visitors......."
BS8300 is quite definite that counters should be at 2 heights and Part M
recommends that designers refer to the BS for guidance. Part M also directs
people to use BS8300 as guidance more than 20 times.
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