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6: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

There's nothing terribly complex about the basics of lighting. If you understand them, you'll be much less likely to get into trouble while working with building designers.

When your library is being designed, be extremely alert for violations of good library lighting principles.

Remember that lighting design is part of library building design, not an afterthought. Certain essential features, such as ceiling heights, cannot be retrofitted. If your building has low ceilings, you'll be stuck with second-rate lighting until you knock it down.

Always ask direct questions when you are shown drawings. (For example, always ask how lamps will be changed, and don't settle for a vague answer.)

Make sure you have a lighting engineer on your planning team, and talk with him directly.

If you really want to learn a lot about lighting technology, we recommend the remarkably informative and modestly-priced seminars taught by General Electric at its research facility in Cleveland. See www.gelighting.com/na/institute/index.html, or contact:

GE Lighting Institute
Nela Park
1975 Noble Road
Cleveland OH 44112-6300

1-800-255-1200

Finally, here's an easy formula for straightforward library lighting.

70 to 100% uplight reflected off white ceilings (100% is best)
4-foot T-8 or T-5 fluorescent lamps
Electronic ballasts, sound rated A
85+ Color Rendering Index
About 60 footcandles at tabletop
A minimum ceiling height of 10 feet
Light fixtures spaced to avoid dark perimeters
Light fixtures perpendicular to stack aisles
Absolutely no can lights or task lighting
No white or black working surfaces, and no shiny work surfaces
Specific prior information on how lamps will be changed
No uncontrolled direct natural light, except for north light

Remember that your total aim is to provide uniform, flexible, high-quality light while avoiding glare. Stand your ground.