Parnassus Library:

Space Review
Presentation to: Academic Planning
and Budget Committee
Karen Butter, University Librarian
Library Space Utilization/Review

 Component to Implement UCSF Long Range

Development Plan
 Process to Engage Campus in Discussion/Data
Collection/Analysis
 AdvisoryCommittee on Library Space Utilization
 Parnassus Planning Group
 Academic Senate Committees
Parnassus Space Constraints
 Campus Space Ceiling
 Construction of New Hospital
 Proposed Stem Cell Building
 Elimination of Plans for New Toland Hall
Advisory Committee on Library
Space Planning:
 Appointed by EVC Washington
 Suggest Methodologies to Gather Data
 Discuss Current and Future Trends in Education
& Its Impact on Library Space Design
 Engage Consultants with Recent Library
Renovation Experience
 Develop Recommendations within next few
months
UCSF Library: Space Review
 ‘New’ Library Opened in August 1990 – now 15 years
old.
 ~ 90,000 ASF for Library: replaced ~60,000 ASF
Library in Medical Sciences
 30% - Seating, Group Study, Faculty Carrels, Lange
Room
 ~700 seats
 44% - Library Stacks
 550,000 entrances/year
Trends:
 Shift in access from paper to digital
 Paper still valuable and only format for some
materials
 Publisher may not have rights to publish images in
digital format (i.e Lancet)
 Books not digital
 Library space has strong social function
 Students still use libraries
Questions:
 What are changes in teaching, learning that should
drive design of library/instructional space today?
 How do faculty and students envision using libraries
in 5-10 years?
 What new technologies should we consider?
 Are faculty carrels, groups study rooms still
essential?
 What essential print materials should be housed on
Parnassus? What can move off-site?
 What are campus partnership opportunities?
Comments from Consultants
 What are the strengths of today’s library that can
be used to build the Library of the Future?
 What functions should the library serve?
Typically, building design follows the function.
 How much ‘Common Good’ space is desirable?
 How important is the library print collection?
Considerations for Library Space

 New functions should serve broad campus

community
 Library is an important place for students and
faculty – study, social, contemplation
 Library provides central space and support
services for a very distributed campus community
 Library serves as the intellectual center of the
campus
Summary
 Campuwide process to review library space is underway
 Advisory Committee and Library staff are developing
instruments and methodologies to collect data about
present and future functions of a library
 Library staff are undertaking a careful analysis of the use
and onsite value of library print collections

Leading to long-range vision of the future of the UCSF

Library