Four Bookshelves and a Microphone

Maximizing Collections in a Minimal Space

Abstract

OSU-Cascades opened a two-building campus in 2016, following several years of co-housing programs and student services (including library services) at Central Oregon Community College. Tykeson Hall was designed to be the first strictly academic building on the new site, with lab space, classrooms, and—tucked away at the end of the second-floor hallway— the library. With the main library area—containing stacks, seating, and computers—only measuring 830 square feet, it’s easy to understand why students are often surprised when first walking into the snack-sized space. With a 20-year background in public libraries, I have experience with both collection development and space management, skills which serve me well as I work on the puzzle of maximizing our limited resources.