Two weeks ago, I attended an outstanding Canadian Library Association Conference. The theme was "Retain, Recruit, Restructure: Regenerating the Library Community". One of the sessions focused on the regeneration of a very drab, shabby, outdated public library. The session was called “Mildly Delirious Libraries: Recreating Your Library From Top to Bottom”, and was presented by the West Palm Beach Library staff and their interior designer, Peter Robinson. It was about the radical transformation of the West Palm Beach Library and how staff used the G.A.S.P. approach to revitalize it. G.A.S.P. stands for “Graphics”, “Ambiance”, “Style” and “Presentation”. Concentrating on these four attributes, the West Palm Beach P.L. staff were able to create a look that was cohesive, incredibly creative, and relatively inexpensive. The outcomes from this makeover were truly astounding. In an 8 year time frame (the period during which all these changes were taking place), circulation went up almost 300%, visits rose by 228%, the number of cardholders jumped 500% and because of all this increased usage and appreciation, their budget went up 250%! If you want more details on this exciting project, check out the West Palm Beach P.L. web site at: www.wpbpl.com. Click on “Mildly Delirious Libraries”.

What West Palm Beach Public Library has experienced is common to many public libraries who invest in upgrades. People are enticed by beautiful spaces, and want to stay when they discover that these spaces can also support a wide range of user needs from research and quiet reading to serendipitous discovery and conversation.