American Libraries is now accepting submissions for our annual Library Design Showcase. This is a showcase of new and newly renovated or expanded libraries of all types.
Like last year, the showcase will be primarily published online, with excerpts published in the April 2011 issue and in American Libraries' Spring Digital Supplement. To have your project considered, send the completed submission form ([PDF] or [Word] format), along with color photos or high-resolution digital images, to: American Libraries, Attn: Architecture Showcase, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. The deadline is February 1, 2011, and to be eligible, projects must have been completed after October 1, 2009.
Online Submissions
You can also submit online via YouSendIt. First, I recommend you use WinZip or a similar compression application to compress your files into a single file. YouSendIt only allows one file of up to 100 MB to be sent at a time on a free account, so you may need to make a couple different files if they are very large. Second, you will need to sign up for a free YouSendIt account to use the system. To do so, go to www.yousendit.com, click the “Sign Up” button, and sign up for the free “Lite” account. The system will ask you fairly standard account-creation questions (username, password, real name, and the like) and send you a conformation e-mail with the activation link. Once you’ve activated your account, log in and click the “Send” button. In the “To:” field, enter my address, glandgraf@ala.org. Input a subject and message if you wish, and click the “Browse” button to find and attach your file. Then click “Send It” and your files will be on their way. (You’ll be given premium, and paid, delivery options; they are not required to send the files and I suggest you ignore them.)
What We're Looking For
We’re looking for visual appeal, interesting stories, and variety in the libraries we include. In other words, the quality of photos and the project description are the most important parts of the submission form. Digital images should have a resolution of 300 dpi and should be large in size (at least 4 inches wide). All pictures should be clear, in focus, and free of date stamps.
A good rule of thumb for the project descriptions is that they should include anything you're telling a friend or colleague when you're bragging about your new library. Interesting construction details, favorite features, or intriguing snippets about how the space gets used are all wonderful inclusions.
Like last year, we plan on organizing the showcase into a number of categories, so that readers can find a number of examples of a given design trend or a variety of solutions to a common problem in one place. These categories have not been decided upon and will be determined based on the submissions we receive. In other words, last year's categories can be used as a guideline, but they shouldn't be taken as gospel.
If you have a new or renovated facility, I hope you’ll consider submitting it for the 2011 Library Design Showcase. If you have any questions, or if you have a facility that’s still in progress and you want to receive an e-mail notification when we’ve opened submissions for 2012, please leave a comment or drop me an e-mail.