Anderson questioned whether the floor plate could be larger or smaller given an appropriate architectural design. Becker noted that the University of Minnesota Wilson and Walter Libraries are large and make it difficult to find materials. Becker said she would be interested in information on vertical movement. Large open atriums are not comfortable, such as the Science Museum entry. Webster noted the Phoenix Public Library has a large reading room that may have a handful of people occupying the space.
People prefer smaller reading rooms.
That may be a design rather than floor plate issue. How to design the traffic flow to make it friendly could be the difference. Vancouver Public Library has small reading areas by the windows that appeared full when she visited there. Becker said the library couldn t be rows of bookshelves and that is a design challenge. Retail designers might help but there have been retail planning as well, such as with the former Conservatory.