- The Listening Desk by Emily Peasgood Studio
- It's a functional and interactive sound sculpture, inviting people to access and create soundscapes with sound archives, in a fun and playful way.
- 09 May 2025
Latest News
- Martyn’s Law
- The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law, received Royal Assent on Thursday 3rd April 2025.
- 17 Apr 2025
- Read Designing Libraries Newsletters
- You Can Read All the Designing Libraries International Newsletters here
Designing Libraries
The centre for library design and innovation: a resource for planning and design, a database of libraries and a marketplace for services
Featured Case Studies
- Chorlton Library, Manchester
- Chorlton Library, a historic Grade II-listed landmark in Manchester has been meticulously refurbished to blend heritage with innovation.
- Bradfield College
- A distinguished independent boarding school near Reading, set out to transform a Grade II* listed church into an innovative Study Centre.
- The Amelia Scott Cultural and Learning Hub in Tunbridge Wells
- Transforming old buildings into a new cultural centre in Kent
- Darlington Public Library
- The Perfect Modern Classic
- St Helier Children's Library, Jersey
- Updating a much-loved children's library
- Chellaston Academy Library, Derby
- A dynamic hub for collaboration, creativity, and independent study
- Mapplewell and Staincross Library, Barnsley
- The expansion and redesign of the facility bring new opportunities for learning, engagement, and relaxation to the heart of the community
- Ramsgate Library, Kent
- From Catastrophic Fire to a Modern Marvel
- Fore Street Library, Enfield, London, UK
- Fore Street Living Room Library, a flexible retro-fit is opening up new possibilities for a much-loved library to support local culture & community events.
- Ballymoney Library
- We're thrilled to showcase Ballymoney’s transformed spaces! Now a vibrant hub where stories come to life and creativity thrives!
- Macmillan Hub Library - North Edinburgh Arts
- Creative, Connected, Inspired! The new library and space for North Edinburgh Arts ensures a future for a creative, connected and inspired community.
- The International School of Port of Spain, Trindad and Tobago
- The International School of Port of Spain (ISPS) sought to create a modern and versatile library space catering to the diverse needs of its student body.
- Everyspace, Cambridgeshire, UK
- Everyspace is a council initiative working with local people to transform existing libraries into versatile spaces that expand the library’s functionality
- The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) Library
- CERN one of the world's largest & most respected centres for scientific research chose FG Library & Learning to design, manufacture & install their library
Resources
- Opening the Book Blog - Bringing Your Books Alive
- Designing Libraries sponsors Opening the Book specialise in international reader-centred library design along with training courses for all grades of staff
- Peters' Blog: How To Use Colour Psychology In Your Library
- Peters’ interior designers use colour psychology to inform work they do in schools, seeking to align emotions and behaviours with the purpose of the space.
- Resources for library design
- A reference library of websites, online resources, articles and books related to all aspects of library planning and design.
- Insights in library design
- Creative spaces for kids, learning spaces, revitalised public libraries, sustainable buildings, the future library - insights from our news stories.
Featured Libraries
- De Valera Library and Súil Art Gallery Ennis, Co Clare, Ireland
- Designed by multi-ward winning Keith Williams Architects, the new De Valera Library & Súil Art Gallery, Ennis, Ireland was opened on 15th November 2024
- Whittington Barracks Burnett Library, Staffordshire
- Designing Libraries Director Ayub Khan asks Claire Butterfield, Senior Librarian at the library about worldwide provision for the Defence Medical Services.
- Town House Library, Kingston University
- Town House is Kingston University's landmark building on the Penrhyn Road campus
- Lambeth Palace Library
- Building on 800 years of history - the new Lambeth Palace Library
- Nottingham New Central Library
- A Hub of Regeneration and Community Engagement
- Dunfermline Library
- This library holds a special place in library history as it is the first of 2,509 Carnegie libraries Andrew Carnegie endowed throughout the world!