W. Dale Clark Library Place Game  

On June 19, 2004 Lively Omaha, and the Omaha Public Library joined forces to conduct A Place Game [Link to What is the Place game] workshop. The session was unique because teams looked at the entire library as a public space. Place Game locations included spaces inside the Main Library as well as outside. Participants examined layout traffic flow, signage and other aspects of the facility and compared the current configuration to examples from several libraries around the country.

Volunteer members of the American Institute of Architects also participated offering suggestions from their experience with library design. Rivkah Sass, Library Director was on hand to encourage new ideas from the more than 40 participants who made up five teams.

Several major themes emerged from the session. Those themes are presented in the link below followed by the observations and recommendations of each of the Place Game Teams.

Emerging Themes

Specific short-term and long-term improvement ideas were developed by each team for all the sites visited. Their concepts for the W. Dale Clark Library are presented here. Web site visitors are encouraged to make comments and suggestions on the Place Game ideas.

Group 1 – Main Floor

Group 2 – Exterior at Street Level

Group 3 – Lower Level

Group 4 – Upper Levels

Group 5 – Stairs, Corridors and Traffic Flow

In addition to improvement ideas, Place Game participants came up with organizations and groups that might be interested in becoming partners to help implement their place making suggestions.

Local Partners

For more information about Lively Omaha and the Place Game, email ellen@omahafoundation.org .