New book provides a one-stop resource for librarians seeking to foster a lifelong love of books

New York, NY (August 22, 2008)—Years ago, we thought of children’s libraries as merely scaled down adult spaces. Today, we know that library spaces specifically designed for children foster learning, encourage creativity, and promote a lifelong love of books and information. Nolan Lushington’s Libraries Designed for Kids shows how to optimize children’s and young adult areas in public libraries and school libraries by using imaginative architectural design elements to create spaces that will captivate children and young adults.

Libraries Designed for Kids, to be published by Neal-Schuman Publishers on October 10, 2008, will meet three critical needs in the profession. First, it will serve as a guide for the library design process; second, it will be a frequently consulted manual for library staff during the planning stage, and third it will be a reference book for details and specifications like shelf heights and chair widths. Through this comprehensive facilities planning guide, readers can find extraordinary examples of real libraries that have achieved amazing results by catering to children through design.

Through his long and prestigious career, Nolan Lushington has guided hundreds of libraries through the design phase. Now, in Libraries Designed for Kids, his expertise, experience, and guidance will be available to librarians throughout the world. When Neal-Schuman published his previous book, Libraries Designed for Users: A 21st Century Guide, in 2002 reviewers took note. Booklist noted that Lushington’s “experience shines through” and Public Libraries said, “If I had to choose just one resource to consult, Lushington would get my vote.”

This book covers important issues like the entrance design, book displays, graphics, lighting, YA programs and library service staff and work areas. This book also goes over the different design considerations for children, older children and young adults.

Libraries Designed for Kids
ISBN 978-1-85604-631-9.
2008. 8.5 x 11. 150 pp. $85.00.

About the Author
During the past 30 years Nolan Lushington has worked with over 190 public libraries as a library consultant. He has been chairman of the American Library Association Buildings and Equipment section and a juror on the joint ALA/American Institute of Architects Building Awards Program. Mr. Lushington was a Council on Library Resources Fellow and, with Anthony Tappe, he has taught the summer workshop in Public Library Design at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design for the past 12 years. For over two decades Mr. Lushington was the Director of the Greenwich Public Library in Connecticut, and for 11 years was an Associate Professor at the library school at Southern Connecticut State University. He is married to Librarian of the Year Louise Blalock, Chief Librarian of the Hartford Public Library in Connecticut.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers
Neal-Schuman Publishers is a leading publisher of professional books for librarians and teachers including storytime guides, information literacy titles, and the highly acclaimed teens@thelibrary series. Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City, with offices in London, UK.

For more information, contact Sarah Eisenberg at sarah-eisenberg@neal-schuman.com