Sensory Library Design: Responding to a Pandemic's Impact on Built Environments

Implement Right Now
▪ Reduce number of occupants in all enclosed
spaces (e.g., study rooms, offices, and
workrooms) to ensure distancing is possible.
▪ Designate one-directional entry/exit pathways
(and ensure that they are accessible).
▪ Designate lanes and directions for moving
throughout the building (including staff and
public spaces).
▪ Use temporary, movable partitions to subdivide
larger spaces.
▪ Space furniture (or remove) to adhere to
guidelines for 6-foot (2-meter) spacing
between people.
▪ Provide mobile power devices to facilitate
distancing and provide more control and
choice in how to distance.
▪ Designate elevators (lifts) as single occupancy
(or single household) per trip.
▪ Implement queuing protocols and visual cues.
If space is at a premium, consider using an app
such as QueuePad.
▪ Establish building capacity limits to ensure
distancing is possible.
▪ Make masks the norm by requiring them for
entry to be worn throughout the building.
▪ Require appointments for consultation to
eliminate potential bottlenecks.
▪ Consider requiring appointments to use study
and lounge seating.
▪ Continue drive-up, pick-up, and curbside
service.
▪ Continue offering online and outdoor
programming.
▪ Designate public toilets as single occupancy.
Implement Over Time
▪ Replace furniture with lightweight, easily
movable products to allow expansion/
contraction of physical distancing.
▪ Consider gender inclusive toilet rooms, which
reduce the likelihood of long lines during highuse
times.
▪ Provide a weather covering to protect people
while queuing outdoors.
▪ Continue a mix of online and in-person
programming (consider that online
programming may be more inclusive in the long
term).
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