- Open all hours
- Controlled access to library collections, computers and meeting spaces outside normal staffed hours provides libraries with the opportunity to extend their opening hours to more visitors.
- 09/01/2020
3D printer at Dokk1, Aarhus
- Making space for makerspaces
- Warwickshire's Let’s Make Spaces allow people of all ages and digital skill levels to get hands-on with the latest technology. Ayub Khan explains.
- 14/10/2019
- Designing an effective school library – art or science?
- Alison Tarrant, Chief Executive of the School Library Association, examines the main considerations when planning and designing an effective school library.
- 09/05/2019
- Remodelling libraries: trends and opportunities (part 1)
- In this first of two articles, Alan J Clark looks at the big picture of the ways in which libraries are being designed for a new era in service provision.
- 25/06/2018
- Remodelling libraries: trends and opportunities (part 2)
- In his second of two articles, Alan J Clark continues his exploration of trends in library design with examples from the rich resources of Designing Libraries.
- 25/06/2018
- Digital library spaces
- Designing library spaces for users today means embedding digital services in physical spaces and creating interactive, engaging library services.
- 28/03/2018
- Dementia friendly public spaces
- Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub, Warrington, is believed to be the first fully integrated, dementia friendly wellbeing building and public library in the UK.
- 26/03/2018
- A starter guide to library makerspaces
- In all its many guises, a makerspace is essentially a place for collaborative and creative learning. Kate Lomax of Artefacto guides you through the maze.
- 18/12/2017
- Merton’s transformation journey
- The London Borough of Merton is transforming its library spaces through innovation, collaboration and consultation – increasing usage while reducing costs.
- 14/12/2017
- Design innovation in school libraries
- How do you design a school library that will be more than a ‘book corner’? Designing Libraries takes a look at some innovative design solutions.
- 24/07/2017
- Library design awards
- How are library design awards administered and judged? What purposes do they serve and what contribution can they make to standards of library design?
- 13/04/2017
- Dokk1: Impressions of an impressive library
- Denmark’s Dokk1 is helping to redefine the concept of ‘library’ as an urban, cultural, creative, community space.
- 20/07/2016
- Designing beautiful data
- As BDS celebrates 21 years originating and supplying library data, John Hudson looks back on how much has changed, and how the design and presentation of data is now an integral part of the user journey of discovery.
- 25/07/2016
- Designing college libraries for Generation Z
- Generation Z students are ‘the first tribe of true digital natives’ or ‘screengagers’, demanding more from the library space than their predecessors.
- 09/02/2015
- A social hub of information, technology and services
- A profile of the new learning centre at the University of Leuven illustrates how architectural spaces are being repurposed for effective learning.
- 22/01/2014
- The Library of Birmingham: engaging the community
- The new Library of Birmingham will have a huge impact on the people of Birmingham and the region. It was important to engage the community at every stage.
- 28/01/2013
- Rethinking libraries in Surrey
- Two new library refurbishment projects in Surrey have allowed the library service to introduce new ideas and new ways of working, writes Katie Kinnear.
- 03/08/2012
- Idea Stores: the next generation
- The Idea Store concept pioneered in Tower Hamlets is now ten years old. What lessons have been learned - and what still remains to be learned?
- 25/06/2012