Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 400)
Washington, DC 20420
February 2007
1
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines Space Planning Criteria for Chapter 400: Library Service. It
applies to all medical facilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The
Library Service includes total space for Health Science and Patient Education
Resource Center (PERC) / Patients' Libraries.
B. The Library Service includes total space for Health Science and Patient Libraries.
1. The Health Science Library is used primarily by physicians, dentists, dietitians,
nurses, residents, interns, and clinical support staff, students, trainees and
administrative support staff.
2. The Patient Library facilities are provided as a service to patients and may also be
used by facility staff.
3. The Media Conference Room is provided primarily for staff and student training
and continuing education programs.
2
DEFINITIONS
A. Affiliated: An arrangement whereby a school of medicine agrees to staff a VA facility
with faculty physicians, residents and interns / externs. In return, the VA provides the
medical school with a venue to train new physicians. In this arrangement, the VA
retains responsibility for the care of its patients while the school of medicine retains
responsibility for all graduate level education and training.
B. Concept of Operations: A user-developed guide to the functional operation of the VA
healthcare facility. It defines the function of the facility and the scope of medical or
optometric services to be provided in the new or remodeled space.
C. Departmental Net to Gross (DNTG) Conversion Factor: A parameter, determined by
the VA for each space planning criteria chapter, used to convert the programmed Net
Square Foot (NSF) area to the Department Gross Square Foot (DGSF) area. The
DNTG Departmental Conversion Factor for Library Service is 1.20.
D. Full-Time Equivalent (FTE): A staffing parameter equal to the amount of time
assigned to one full time employee. It may be composed of several part-time
employees whose total time commitment equals that of a full-time employee. One
FTE equals a 40 hours per week.
E. Health Care Delivery / Support (HCD/S) Staff: Total number of FTE positions
authorized for the facility in the following categories:
1
Number of FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) Title 38 Employees.
2
Number of House Staff Based on MTOT (Maximum number of house staff
typically on duty at any one time.) includes all residents, interns and fellows.
Library Service (Chapter 400): Page 2 of 13
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