presenting the aga khan academy library in mombasa, …€¦ · •a presentation was put forth to...
TRANSCRIPT
PRESENTING THE AGA KHAN
ACADEMY LIBRARY IN
MOMBASA, KENYA
By: Shanoor Gulamali April 2006
Senior School Library Objectives:
• To create a more user friendly environment
• To develop a comprehensive collection of resources
• To identify and accommodate student and staff needs and suggestions
• To create a positive atmosphere conducive to using all library facilities by students, staff, administration and members of the community
Proposal for changes
(April 2006)
• A presentation was
put forth to the
administration with
suggestions to make
structural changes in
the library to create a
more user friendly
environment
ENTRANCE
• Entrance needs to be streamlined and narrowed and then have an open vestibule lobby area.
• This can be achieved by two 6 by 4 stub walls.
• These stub walls should be designed to accommodate the RFID security system to be installed.
MEZZANINE FLOOR
• Currently is uninviting and environmentally unfriendly and cannot be adequately supervised.
• It can be converted into a quiet study/reflective area by the introduction of a wooden staircase and a railing instead of the existing wall. This will open up the mezzanine floor and make it easier to supervise
MEZZANINE FLOOR-cont.
• The staircase needs
to be designed to
access the
mezzanine floor
directly from the main
floor as opposed to
currently through the
main staircase.
MEZZANINE FLOOR-cont.
• Access to the
mezzanine from the
existing main
staircases should be
closed off.
MEZZANINE FLOOR-cont • The mezzanine wall
needs to be reworked using a wooden railing so as to: a) create an open airy feeling b) allow the librarian to supervise this area through the main floor.
• In order to achieve this an engineer needs to review the structural drawings and to confirm whether the mezzanine’s front wall is entirely or partially load bearing.
MEZZANINE FLOOR-cont
• The portion of the wall that is not load
bearing can be removed and replaced with
the wooden railing.
• The wooden staircase and railings can be
designed in such a way that they
incorporate the architectural features
currently existing in the library.
MAIN FLOOR
• Currently there are 4
main areas on the ground
floor that are unused:
1) Study desk area at the
right hand side of the
library entrance.
Proposal: is to either
create book shelves or to
create small discussion
groups by placing tables
and chairs.
MAIN FLOOR-cont.
2) Study desk area to
the right or the glass
side door.
Proposal: is to
remove the desks and
to reconfigure space
with shelves. Doing
so will create one
contiguous area for
the library books.
MAIN FLOOR-cont.
3) Side glass door (currently chained and not used)
Proposal: to remove bottom half of the door and replace it with a 5-6 foot wall. This will still provide the library with enough light and will also create a shelving area for past periodicals and magazines.
MAIN FLOOR-cont.
4) Centre space surrounded by columns where concrete benches are located.
Since the benches have been cushioned it becomes an area conducive to reading a magazine or a newspaper.
Proposal: create 4 wooden sandwich shelves to display daily newspapers, current magazines and periodicals.
SECOND FLOOR
• The second floor
should be configured
and a new layout
created in order to
convert this space
into a reference
library. The windows
can be secured so
that no books can be
taken out of this floor.
SECOND FLOOR-cont.
• Doing this will enhance the school’s ability to function as a residential school.
• An option to be considered as an integral part of the reference library is an audiovisual media resource and viewing centre.
SECOND FLOOR-cont.
• This floor can also be
used to accommodate
a language lab and a
teacher’s resource
centre.
• As the library
collection grows an
archive section can
be added in this area. (Structural changes proposed with
input from Ismail Gulamali)
Coordinating the first outreach
program
• Librarians from the Coast
Province were invited to our
library
• One of the pressing issues
was the isolation each
librarian felt, we discussed
ways in which we could
come together as a
professional body and
extend a helping hand to
each other
Our guests were given a tour of the library, had access to
searching on the net, enjoyed some snacks and were able
to take some books for their libraries
Meeting at the Mombasa
Politechnic Library
• Our second meeting
was held at the only
college library in
Mombasa
• Lack of resources and
means to attend the
meetings were among
some of the issues
discussed
An Outreach Program: inviting students and staff
of Mwokoeni, an underpriviledged school, to use
our library facilities
Celebrating the World Book Day
with a book fair
A vendor from Nairobi, Savanis,
was invited to the Academy
Celebrating Swahili Day with
displays and a visiting poet
Celebrating La Francophonie with the visit
from the French ambassador, signing the
visitors book
A Special Library Display
Library Updates and Student Art
Exhibition
Celebrating World Food Day
Visiting Author, Cynthia Salvadori
The Library Club, visiting the
paediatric ward at the Aga Khan
Hospital
Our favourite place to relax with a
comic book
Thank you for visiting the AKAM
Senior School Library “A good library is a place, a palace
where the lofty spirits of all nations and
generations meet”
Samuel Niger (1883-1956)