FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY THE VISION FOR THE J. ERIK JONSSON CENTRAL LIBRARY IV - 203 THE VISION FOR THE J. ERIK JONSSON CENTRAL LIBRARY The J. Erik Jonsson Library will become a world-class facility that is both a vital downtown branch and a highly respected research library. It will be a reinvigorated cultural center and a major "Destination Experience" for the City of Dallas, that is: • A stronger focal point and gateway to the Civic Center District, linked to other downtown districts with an effective way-finding signage system and safer, better defined pedestrian ways. • Both an exciting communal experience and a quiet personal retreat. • A busy meeting and events center that features greater numbers of programs, and access to more meeting space. • The flagship and management center of the Library system providing increased support to the branches. • A more secure and environmentally protective center for special collections and exhibitions. • A high-tech information center and training facility. LOCATION AND URBAN CONTEXT The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library is the flagship facility of the Dallas Public Library System. It occupies a prestigious location within the Civic Center District on the corner of Young Street and Ervay Street directly across from City Hall Plaza, an attractive park, and Dallas City Hall. This provides the Central Library with tremendous exposure and broad vistas that gives its site a feeling of spaciousness. However, a number of conditions should be addressed to achieve the important planning goal of significantly increased patron use. Finding the Central Library For the uninitiated visitor, the Central Library can be very difficult to find because of the disori- enting traffic patterns leading to it through Downtown Dallas, and the lack of adequate signage. Though the Central Library is an impressive structure it is hard to distinguish it from surrounding office buildings and is not easily recognized as a library. FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IV - 204 A LIBRARY WAYFINDING SYSTEM Young Street is a wide boulevard that connects the Civic Center District directly to major highways such as the Stemmons Freeway and the Central Expressway. It also connects with many through- streets running north and south such as Griffin Street and Ervay Street, which in turn lead to the Woodall Rogers Freeway and the R.L. Thornton Freeway. Consequently it experiences very heavy traffic throughout the day. There is no formal pull-off lane on Young Street, making it very diffi- cult to drop off or pickup patrons. Anything that decreases convenience today decreases patron use. RECOMMENDATIONS A LIBRARY WAYFINDING SYSTEM The Library should deploy a carefully planned way-finding system of street signs, street maps and banners at key intersections, along convenient routes of the Library site and building to guide both drivers and pedestrians. Signage system could be quite effective in promoting pedestrian traffic to the Library from other relatively close downtown areas such as the Financial and Farmer's Market Districts. It is equally important to celebrate arrival. Museums, concert halls and science centers use kiosks and posters, lighted outdoor signage and banners to announce their presence and to showcase the programs, exhibits and special events to be found inside. This way-finding signage installation has been budgeted as part of a system-wide library capital project. It may be possible to link this library signage project with a more comprehensive downtown signage project current- ly under consideration by the City. A DESTINATION EXPERIENCE Getting more people to come to the Central Library Unlike many central libraries the J. Erik Jonsson Library is not surrounded by important cultural institutions, retail establishments or other attractions that draw public interest. Dallas has many special districts including the Financial Center, Arts, West End, Reunion and Farmers Market A strong “branded” media campaign, that displays a uni- Districts that are relatively close to the Civic Center District. However, the Civic Center District, fied image from the banners in front of the library to the especially the area surrounding the Central Library, appears somewhat barren and disconnected wayfinding graphics at the street, can create a greater from these other districts. awareness of the Central Library’s impressive resources. FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY A DESTINATION EXPERIENCE IV - 205 The adjacent properties to the east and west of the Central Library are currently occupied by open surface parking lots. There is a warehouse-like building across Wood Street to the north, addition- al surface parking lots and a garage. The terminus of the Dallas Underground is a couple of blocks away to the east, and the balance of the trip from there to the Library is not very attractive. The other buildings near the library are either office towers or very large structures like the Dallas Convention Center. One way to draw more visitors is to make the Library site a more attractive destination. Attractive landscaping elements, additional trees, low hedges, walls and planting beds will help to define small gathering places with benches and tables set under shade trees, umbrellas or pergolas, to entice Civic Center employees and library patrons to spend more time here. Such improvements will also help buffer the entry to the Library from heavy vehicular traffic. Similar outdoor seating areas have recently been very effectively used at restaurants in the McKinney Avenue District. Even though landscaping did not rate high in importance in the library's community survey there are many recent commercial and residential developments all over Dallas that include great numbers of trees and intensive landscaping, which suggests that there is a very strong market for it. The Central Library is bounded by major roadways that Outdoor lighting around the building and at the entries is currently at low levels. Improved site experience heavy traffic - making the library both easier lighting helps discourage harassing or illegal activities and helps create the feeling of security nec- to find and more convenient to access is important essary to draw patrons to the site in the evening. Properly designed lighting can dramatically improve the appearance and visibility of the Library from a distance, while creating a sense of inti- macy for the small scale gathering places needed to humanize the site. Site improvements that draw additional pedestrian traffic Similar planning and landscape strategies were very effective at the New York Public Library in and public use of outdoor space create an environment transforming Bryant Park from a unkempt public nuisance frequented by drug dealers that the pub- where everyone tends to blend into a larger population, lic avoided to one of the most popular outdoor meeting places in the city. The Dallas Public Library and the increased activity level enhances security. must make the Central Library site a more attractive place for everyone. Make it easier to get people to the Central Library A formal drop-off and pick-up lane can be developed on Young Street. Better yet, locating ample car and bus-loading slots on Wood Street will greatly improve convenience and safety as this street has more space and much less traffic. FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IV - 206 A DESTINATION EXPERIENCE Connect the Library with other important places in Dallas via an Urban Greenway The proposed improvements to the Central Library site will link it visually to the tree-filled City Hall Plaza across Young Street. The City is currently developing a street improvement project on Ervay Street across from the Library. It would be wonderful if the Ervay Street work could be used to extend this effect, creating an Urban Greenway that would connect from City Hall Plaza to Thanksgiving Square. The City should identify other local streets for potential improvement. Similar efforts creating tree-lined walks flanked by outdoor seating, flower beds and water features have had dramatic results in widely distributed locations as Chicago, San Antonio and Charlotte. Coordinate Master Plan improvements with the library's public information efforts and develop additional special exhibits and programs to make the Library a "Destination Experience" In concert with the physical improvements to the Central Library and its immediate surroundings the Library can create greater awareness of the Central Library with a more aggressive public information program. A coordinated campaign using print and media advertising, external bill- boards, signage systems, and internal displays, as well as mass mailings and computer based notices would draw attention to the Library's services, collections, and treasures. Similar strategies have been successfully used at major urban libraries throughout the country, to draw public attention to stunning architectural spaces, signature collections, special programs and annual events. The goal is to attract large numbers of local visitors and tourists, and build a stronger downtown constituency for the Central Library. Some examples of these special features include: • San Francisco's vast central atrium • Los Angeles's historic restoration and the cascading escalators in its new addition • Chicago's street level department store style window displays and its remarkable rooftop winter garden and restaurant • New York's newly restored Rose Reading Room and the lovely and popular restaurant facing out on Bryant Park