Evaluating library renovation at the University of Rochester Medical Center

In 1987, the Edward G. Miner Library of the University of Rochester Medical Center completed the second major renovation in its 62-year history. The goal of the renovation was to provide additional space for the library's 3 main constituencies: its readers, its collections, and its staff. A case study of the renovation is presented, outlining processes and issues that shaped the final outcome. The success of the renovation is assessed in terms of project goals, design, and functionality. Changes made since 1987 to accommodate automation are also summarized. The conclusion suggests that library renovation be viewed as a continuing process, and proposes that principles of interface design are appropriate guidelines for evaluating library design across time.