Best of Core Forum: Trends in Library Design

Curious about what’s new in library design? In this session, we will cover an overview of current trends in library design with examples of these trends in action in libraries built within the last five years.

This webinar was previously presented in-person as a session at the 2022 Core Forum. We are hosting this webinar, with the session adapted and presented live as a virtual event, to extend its reach.

Learning Outcomes: 

At the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

Who Should Attend: Library directors, library facilities professionals, branch managers, and anyone working in library leadership.

Presenters:

Throughout the past two decades, Wendy Tressler, M.Ed., MLIS has worked in a variety of leadership roles at Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML). Currently serving as the Director of Capital Planning & Project Management, she leads construction, facilities, technology, and lean/operational excellence projects for the library’s 24-building system. In her role, Tressler leads the library’s nearly $275M aspirational building program that includes the replacement or significant renovation of 18 buildings to date.

Ms. Tressler is one of only a few women in Ohio leading construction management, and is recognized as an expert in library facilities building planning and project management. Because of her project management knowledge, Wendy was provided a growth opportunity as a member of the 2020 Vision building facilities plan core team in 2012. In 2013, she joined the 2020 Vision Plan department full time. In this role she led the library’s aspirational multi-million dollar building program (Phase I and II) that includes the renovation of six libraries (including Main) and 12 new buildings. As of March 2022, 12 of 18 buildings have been completed and are open to the public, two are under construction, and four are in design phase. Her expertise and consultation has been shared widely; presenting and serving on numerous local, state, regional and national panels for the library, architecture and construction industries. Tressler’s leadership experience includes the Ohio Library Council and American Library Association (ALA). She has also guest lectured at Kent State University- Columbus Campus Master of Library Information Sciences (MLIS) program and Syracuse University Online MLIS program on project management in libraries. Tressler has been a member of ALA’s Core Library Interiors & Furnishings and Equipment committee from 2014-2022 and was appointed Chair of the Building and Operations Section Leadership Team. In this role, Ms. Tressler helped create and implement a national workshop entitled Library Building Projects 101. Ms. Tressler was published in 2020 in the peer reviewed Journal of Library Administration on project management in academic and public libraries after serving on an ALA Project Management Committee. In 2018, Tressler authored a feature story for Library Journal Leading Inside & Out which she later incorporated into a Keynote presentation. She is currently serving on the ALA Publishing Committee, 2021 Carnegie Whitney Grant Selection Team Member, Core Forum (national conference) Co-Chair 2021, and Core Forum Chair 2022. Ms. Tressler is serving as Core President Elect for 2022-2023 and will serve as President from 2023-2024.

Kelly Brubaker is a principal at Shepley Bulfinch, and a leader in the firm’s library design practice. She is a true collaborator, driven by creating deep partnerships on higher education and civic projects. Kelly has a unique ability to synthesize and test transformative strategies to reimagine library spaces, all while aligning them with institutional values and priorities. She guides clients to think beyond their everyday and to imagine what could be.

MSR Design is at the forefront of library design having completed over 200 libraries which includes 63 awards for our library work. Jeff Davis with MSR Design has been building communities through library work for over two decades. Jeff’s body of professional and volunteer work include efforts of inclusion, equity and diversity within cultural and socio-economic diverse communities. Jeff practices a human-centered approach to community engagement that builds community ownership in the library by the public and keeps libraries at the forefront of the intersection between community needs and library trends.

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