View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DiscoverArchivePAG E 3 the library takes on a new look THE Published by UNIVERSITY The • Jean winter and 2001 Alexander Heard Library • VANDERBILT FROM THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN The Library Takes on a New Look pace concerns are a constant in the library library closed for the summer, the result will be a ren- New graphic image includes redesigned logo and Web page world, even the technology-driven world of ovated Music Library double its current size, a won- PEYTON HOGE today. The very process of building a library derful opportunity for the new Music Library direc- ith the beginning of the academic year in August, the ence,” says Suellen Stringer-Hye, systems librarian at the Heard Scollection—a core activity for librarians— tor, whom we hope to have in place by that time. Jean and Alexander Heard Library unveiled a new Library. “There were a number of important considerations. We want- results in the continuing consumption of space. Since At the Education Library, remodeling was driven look to students, faculty, staff, and those ed people to find information easily, because accessibility is very new library space never simply materializes, we must not by space concerns, but by fire safety issues. The Wbeyond the confines of campus; specifi- important, so we used the expertise of our librarians and bibli- anticipate our space needs so that there is always Library was found to be out of compliance with cur- cally, a new logo and a redesign of the library’s home- ographers in thinking about information architecture. space to shelve the next new book or journal. This rent fire codes; as a result, a summer-long project page that uses “information architecture”—the art We wanted information to load quickly, too. The col- summer saw remodeling and renova- began in May and and technique of designing and building Web pages lections represented in the IRIS and ATHENA catalogs tion of space in three Heard Library required closing the that intuitively lead the user to complex information. were becoming more important, and we wanted to divisions: the Alyne Queener Massey building for most of The development of the new logo was geared place them more advantageously and explain them Paul M. Gherman Law Library, the Anne Potter Wilson August. During that toward the new technological orientation in more clearly to users. DAVID CRENSHAW Music Library, and the Education time, ceilings were libraries. However, it was important to retain “In fact, explanations are built into the Library. replaced, fire alarms some connection to the past, inherent in the page,” continues Stringer-Hye. “There are The Law Library closed for the sum- and smoke detectors word “ACORN,” the name of the library’s catalog, quick links on the left side with more descriptive mer because the Law School expansion were installed, and an which is also emblematic of Vanderbilt in general. information on the right. If the user puts the mouse impacted library space. Law Library emergency exit stair- Donna Pritchett, art director in the Office of Design and over text, more explanatory information comes up. staff worked in temporary quarters, and well was created in the Publishing, was tapped to design the logo. There is also a ‘How do I’ box at the top that allows the many books, government documents, stack area. The emer- “The old ACORN logo had the elements of a V and acorn user to ask reference questions in a quick and easy way. and other materials were moved to the gency exit, unfortu- shape (from the Vanderbilt logo known as the ‘Helvetica Orn’) They’re both user aids, designed to make accessing the infor- Library Annex, the Heard Library’s off- nately, significantly re- inside the O”, says Pritchett. “Seeing that, I thought that I should con- mation easier.” campus storage facility. After a duced available book tinue to work with those elements in the new logo. The shape of the “Any successful organization today has a consistent graphic THE COVER Herculean effort, staff managed to storage space and con- acorn in the Vanderbilt image or presence to offer to the world,” says University Librarian The Jean and Alexander Heard logo reminded me of a Paul Gherman. “This is especially true on the Internet. The library is Library has a new logo designed reopen the library by the time classes sumed part of a class- computer mouse, and increasingly accessed remotely via the Web, so we want a strong by Donna Pritchett, art director began in the fall, cleaning many books room. On the bright NEIL BRAKE in the University’s Office of that, despite our best precautions, were side, removal of the at that point, the V image to present to our students and faculty when they visit us in Design and Publishing. The new took on the identity of cyberspace. We’re pleased that our new logo, featured prominently icon, which is related to the previ- covered with con- old acoustic ceiling ous acorn and “V” for Vanderbilt, struction dust. We tiles revealed the an open book in my on our web page, links the past and the future of the Heard Library.” is now symbolic of a mouse with hired a profes- much more attractive mind. The line that —BONNIE ARANT ERTELT a network line to an open book. sional service to original ceiling. Some connects the mouse to clean some mate- DAVID CRENSHAW areas were repaired the open book repre- THE ACORN CHRONICLE is rials. Conditions (above) David Rogerson and repainted, and sents the coming published semi-annually by working in the Education the Jean and Alexander Heard are still not back period lighting fix- together of the old and Library, Vanderbilt University. to normal, and Library. (left) David tures removed from the new.” Address inquiries to the Library, Library Director Rogerson, Devin Oglesby, the Wyatt Center dur- The new logo is 419 Twenty-first Avenue South, and Leslie Page work this Nashville, Tennessee 37240 Pauline Aranas ing its remodeling a very flexible. It works 615/322-7110 or by email to and her staff face summer on remodeling few years ago were well in one color or [email protected]. the prospect of a the Education Library to installed. These cos- two and can be repro- bring it into compliance duced just about any- THE ACORN CHRONICLE, replay next sum- metic changes greatly Winter 2001 © 2001 by mer, when the with current fire codes. enhance the entrance. where, from being Vanderbilt University. All Law Library itself actually will be remodeled. This The new ceiling creates a much more “live” acoustic embossed on folders or rights reserved. renovation will result in no additional book storage space without the sound-absorbing tile, and repeated to form pat- Friends of the Library President: space for the library; because many important law Education Library Director Mary Beth Blalock and terns on anything from Kathryn Smith materials are now available in electronic format, we her staff are adjusting to that change. I am convinced bookmarks to report University Librarian: plan to reallocate space to give priority to users and that a more thorough renovation would restore the covers. Paul M. Gherman The new logo even looks good on trucks. Here, clock- services. charm and utility of this building, and I hope that we The first official use Editor: Bonnie Arant Ertelt wise from right, library budget officer Norman Nash On the other end of campus, the Music Library may be able to identify funds to make possible such a of the logo was on the Designer: Keith Wood joins James McCullough, Dewey James, and Michael library’s newly re- Executive Director of Alumni coped with a construction project in its school, the restoration and modernization of the library at Chandler of the Heard Library Messenger Service in designed homepage, Communications and Publications: Blair School of Music. As at Law, this summer’s dis- Peabody. appreciating the new design. Anthony J. Spence ruption at Music was not caused by a renovation of These changes help us in our ongoing goal of pro- launched August 23. The new Web page was under design for many months, a collabora- Visit us on the Web at the library; it was simply a stage in the overall expan- viding improved and attractive study space in all the www.library.vanderbilt.edu/ or sion at Blair. In order to accommodate the construc- buildings that comprise the Heard Library. I am grate- tive effort between librarians and library technology staff, with some www.vanderbilt.edu/ tion, staff moved materials to the Annex, but the main ful for the dedication of our staff, who continue to do consulting on visual design by the University’s Creative Services alumni/pub.html strategy was to compress the already crowded library. their work under trying circumstances, and I appreci- Division. Usability studies were done prior to the redesign to aid in Vanderbilt University is committed to Next summer will bring relief, however. While many ate the support we receive from library donors and pinpointing the needs of those using the library homepage. principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. library materials will be temporarily removed and the Friends in our efforts. —PAUL M. GHERMAN “We looked at each user category in an effort to picture our audi- 2 3 Gallery talk Grantland Rice, A’01 and Fred Russell, A’27, L’27, two sons of the Vanderbilt tradition, have strong ties to each other, not only because of their and consumed sporting goods, ser- But now and even worse, look what’s happening to the high school vices, promotions, organizations, athletic experience.