Open up your library to the great outdoors!
In the wake of COVID-19, more libraries are taking their activities outdoors. Outdoor spaces such as gardens, patios, and courtyards have become valuable resources for library programmers.
Gardens offer several benefits to libraries:
Health benefits to patrons and staff: Access to nature and plant life has proven mental and emotional health benefits.
Outreach to new potential patrons: Gardens with community activities are an opportunity to bring in members of the community who normally wouldn’t visit a library, and serve as a starting point to connect them to other library programs.
Curbside appeal: Attractive outdoor spaces, especially ones designed for children, entice passerbys and draw them in to explore the library.
Diverse program opportunities, especially in STEAM learning.
Activate underutilized space: Many libraries struggle with limited space for classrooms and activities. A well-designed outdoor area can be a budget conscious way of creating more space for community and educational activities.
Improve the site environment: Carefully selected plants can make facility maintenance easier and less expensive by controlling storm water run-off, improving air quality, and reducing the heat island effect of pavement.
Promoting sustainability: green spaces with native plants benefit local pollinators and birds, improve soil health, and check the impact of global warming.
Floor plan and rendering of outdoor spaces for new Maryville Community Library (Maryville, IL).
Creating an outdoor space for your library isn’t as simple as scattering some seeds on the ground — it requires careful planning, or it can have unpredicted downsides. Depending on the complexity of the project, it may be best to hire a professional to guide you through the code requirements, accessibility issues, safety and security, and selecting materials for durability and sustainability.
Our whitepaper Integrating Outdoor Spaces Into Library Design goes into more detail about considerations to look into before starting a library garden, different types of gardens for your library to explore, and step-by-step processes for establishing a successful library garden. Click here to download the full whitepaper.