Grand Tour of Wellington Medical Library - 15 April 2008

Thanks to the Wellington Medical Library manager, Rachel Esson, and her staff, for opening the doors to their refurbished building to Wellington colleagues on 15 April.

Over drinks and nibbles, around 25 of us heard Rachel’s stories of the ups and downs of planning and implementing a library move.



Rachel Esson, Wellington Medical Librarian shares her experience with the group.








Rachel’s talk was very wide-ranging, covering topics like planning, establishing a project team, and weeding collections. Design and interiors issues like signage (the positives of adopting bilingual signage, and the negatives of trying to design signage if you are spatially challenged!), shelving, furniture, and ergonomic service desk design were also discussed.





Staff and students alike love the beautifully designed shelves at the Medical Library.









Following Rachel’s talk, we were split into groups led by some of Rachel’s staff members, Joy Wearne, Susan Hope and Kareen Carter.





The open, inviting entrance to the library.













The grid panel on the staircase was designed by artist Simon Morris.










The tours covered all the public areas and behind the scenes; an unexpected highlight was the library’s public artworks. Rachel’s belief that “artwork in a library is important to give a point of difference and to help create an atmosphere” has been translated into a stunning new art collection, which includes works from well-known and upcoming contemporary artists, including Gina Matchitt. The centrepiece of the collection is Gina’s tukutuku panels, which are constructed of recycled computer keys. These are not only beautiful, but fit with the library’s mission of supporting staff and students: the panels in the library collection are a poutama design that represents the “stairway to knowledge”.






A quiet area for browsing journals with Dean Bradley's "Venice After the Rain" in the background.










Workstations accompanied by some artworks by Taranaki artist Yvonne Coleman.






These panels provide visual interest on the lower level of the Library.











The tour group checks out the Issues Desk.
Rachel recommends getting your architects to work behind a work desk before they design them!





Thanks again to Rachel and her staff for a fascinating evening at the new Wellington Medical Library!

Rachel's presentation notes are available to download(29.5 Kb Word Doc).