My approach is practical, collaborative, and grounded in how libraries work.
Every project begins with listening—understanding your community, staff workflows, collections, and constraints. From there, we translate goals into clear planning decisions: adjacencies, zoning, circulation, and flexibility that support effective services and efficient operations.
My history
I earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1982 and became a registered architect in 1988, mostly working in unconventional settings including the Bronx Zoo, Walt Disney Imagineering, and the Bishop Natural History Museum in Honolulu. I began working in libraries as a front desk clerk in 1991, and earned a Master of Arts in Library Science in 1996. I have been a reference librarian, an IT specialist, a cataloger, and a library director in various libraries in Hawai’i, Colorado, Washington State, and British Columbia.
While a library director, I managed a major renovation project in 2003 and the building of a new library that opened in 2008. These experiences showed me that I could combine my two previous careers into one, and I then became a Library Building Specialist with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Between 2013 and 2023 I assisted scores of libraries across the Commonwealth in improving or replacing their facilities. I am also a university instructor, and have taught courses to library science students in Bulgaria, British Columbia, Alberta, and Wisconsin. My book on library planning was published by Bloomsbury in 2025. Click here for more information or to order a copy (or get it through ILL).
I now consult, teach, write, and speak on all aspects of library space design. I work with libraries of all types to improve their physical spaces through assessment, planning, and working with building professionals.
My strength is in understanding the planning process from both the library and architect’s point of view. The result is a plan you can use to guide renovation or new build decisions, communicate priorities, and support funding conversations.
Let’s plan a library space that supports your community
Tell me about your goals, timeline, and constraints. I will work with you to recommend a path to move your project forward.