NewWorkPlaces: The Tully Community Library

If you haven’t poked your head into a public library recently, you are in for a big surprise. These are not your ‘Marian the Librarian’ libraries of old with row upon row of book stacks and users sitting at long wood tables in high-backed, uncomfortable wood chairs, while shushed by matron-esque librarians. Today’s libraries are hustling, bustling places of reading, writing, computing, group study, collaboration and net surfing.

Is this just a fantasy of mine? No Way! Case in point, while out for a drive on a recent Sunday I passed a building that caught my interest. The architecture was new and different, reminiscent of the 60’s modernism with some late 80’s deconstructivism thrown in. A mix of corrugated siding, colorful stucco, high windows and a soaring buttressed fascia where I expected to see the word DINER floating above. But instead of a sign denoting an eating establishment, there was the word LIBRARY flying across the entrance.

Picture courtesy of Tully Library Archives 

I did a U-ie, turned into the parking lot and made three circles around as I and others were looking for an open spot in the full lot. Excited to find this much activity, I couldn’t wait to see what was inside. I wasn’t disappointed.

The Tully Community Library

Entering, you are greeted by a hubbub of activity and space designed to invite, excite and enhance your library experience. Huge clear story windows, exposed structure and mobile art pieces float in the upper spaces, carry on the external theme and add light and energy to the entire facility.

Picture courtesy of Tully Library Archives

But the real energy was generated by the space and people below. This is a new age happening – Guttenberg reborn for the second millennium – present in:

• A plethora of computer stations, used by all ages, seemingly sprinkled about at every opportunity.
• A separate “Tech Room” with computers set up classroom style, a ‘quiet’ space with a posted sign of  “drinks must have lids”
• Plenty of tables with electric outlets for plugging in laptops
• Reservable “Group Study” rooms; this day one was filled with teens and pizza boxes; another with tots on a blanket on the floor playing games
• An “Internet Café”, tables and flooring material designating a more obvious eating and reading area
• “Teen” rooms and kid areas
• Window benches! My favorite reading space, where I jotted down notes for this article.
• Electronic, self-serve check-out stations
• Lots of comfy or sturdy chairs for reading, whichever is your preference
• Plenty of cheerful help from the staff, each went beyond my question with information and resources

I even spotted one table with a school arts and crafts assignment in progress. Not your “typical” library activity of the past, but seemingly right in place in this more-than-a-library, community setting.

Photo courtesy of Catherine Adams Lee 

The space has a wonderful airy feeling created by plenty of windows providing natural light. The high ceilings do dual duty of attitudinal buoyancy and sound dissipation allowing for hushed and semi-hushed areas. Just about every seating setting imaginable is liberally distributed amongst the shelves of books for reading, learning, studying, collaborating, working and community – a new [work] place at its best.

 Best of all as on that day, for every one of the 70 full parking spaces, there can be two to three times as many people using and enjoying the space. Proof that places designed beyond the old ‘box’ of one defined purpose or people succeed, hugely. Come and enjoy the rebirth. It’s open to everyone. It’s today’s public library.

 Post Scripts:

1. For more on the Tully Community Branch Library, San Jose, California
   http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/locations/tully/index.htm
2. More pictures of the Tully Community Library   
   http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanjoselibrary/sets/72157604815848114/ .
3. This library is not just a random occurrence. In 2000 the people of the City of San Jose, California approved The Branch Library Bond Measure, providing $212 million over ten years, dedicated to the construction of six new and fourteen expanded branch libraries in San José.For more on the San Jose Public Library System
   http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/sjpl/index.htm