- Oldham Library
- Oldham Library, one of the UK’s busiest, serves a diverse community. Opened in 2006, its ground floor was refreshed to meet evolving needs.
Case Studies
Case studies from Designing Libraries' sponsors, showcasing some of the latest library building transformation projects.
- Kinmel Bay, Llanfairfechan and Uwchaled Libraries, Conwy, Wales
- Three small libraries in North Wales — big design challenges, passionate volunteers and proof that every decision matters when space is limited.
- Sale Library - Trafford
- From empty atrium to buzzing cultural hub – dramatic retail-style shelving, flexible event spaces and a vibrant children's library for Trafford Council
- A picture-perfect finish! The Revamp of Colchester Library is here
- Closing in September 2024, the long-awaited reopening of Colchester Library marks an exciting new chapter for the local community
- The Word South Shields Library
- Bruynzeel Storage Systems won the tender to supply all the shelving for the new library and local study centre in The Word
- Northmoor Library, Oldham
- Welcome to the future! Northmoor - a hub of opportunity
- Llanrwst Library, Wales
- A new community hub for rural Conwy when the building which had been the Glasdir Business and Conference Centre in Llanrwst became available.
- The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester
- Manchester’s renowned John Rylands Library celebrates its 125th anniversary with major refurb to display unseen treasures
- Danum Gallery Library Museum
- Opening the Book was excited to work with Doncaster MBC in creating the new Danum centre, bringing the Central Library, Museum & Art Gallery to one site.
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Library New Extension Floor
- Opened in 2022, the 6th floor extension of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Library includes distinct areas for both collaborative work and quiet study
- Henley Library, Henley-on-Thames
- Henley Library underwent a comprehensive refurbishment to transform it into a vibrant, accessible, and community-centred hub
- Gateshead Central Library MakerPlace
- At Gateshead Library, Opening the Book created a successful MakerPlace in their existing Sound Gallery.
- Holborn Library, Camden, London
- Where Retro Charm, Inclusive Design, And Cultural Legacy Come Together.
- Au Shue Hung Memorial Library, Hong Kong Baptist University
- Revitalising traditional stacks into inspiring study spaces
- 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
- Ramsgate Library, Kent
- From Catastrophic Fire to a Modern Marvel
- St Helier Children's Library, Jersey
- Updating a much-loved children's library
- 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
- Chellaston Academy Library, Derby
- A dynamic hub for collaboration, creativity, and independent study
- Thornhill Primary School Library, Islington, London, UK
- The new library makes use of a former undercroft to create a multifunctional space for browsing, readings, performance and role play.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- Elder Park Library and Community Hub, Glasgow
- Respect, Revitalize, Rejuvenate - We believe in respecting the story of the building, the history and the community!
- Southmead Public Library, Bristol
- The challenge was to design an ambitious community-run space as part of a larger, long-term regeneration plan for Southmead, Bristol.
- 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.
- The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) Library
- CERN one of the world's largest & most respected centres for scientific research chose FG Library to design, manufacture & install their library
- Darlington Public Library
- The Perfect Modern Classic
- Paisley Central Library
- Revitalizing Paisley: Award-Winning Library Project Breathes New Life Into Town Centre
- Birmingham City University
- Birmingham City University (BCU) makes the most of agile and flexible working with LapSafe's largest installation of their self-service laptop loan lockers
- Haltwhistle Primary School
- The school is located near the famous landmark Hadrian's Wall, which was chosen as the theme for this primary school library.
- Aquinas Sixth Form College
- Aquinas Sixth Form College underwent a complete rebuild programme to take a fresh look at shaping student learning and support outside the classroom.
- Hurstpierpoint College
- Furniture and shelving solution for a new academic and creative hub.
- Henrietta Barnett School
- The Henrietta Barnett School is a state grammar school for girls located in the Hampstead Garden Suburb Conservation Area of North London.
- Carlton Primary School
- A breath of fresh air for a tired library space that is now an inspiring reading place for pupils in this Wakefield village setting.
- Intake Primary School Doncaster
- Intake Primary strives to create a positive, stimulating environment, where there is a real sense of belonging.
- Newcastle Prep Primary School
- The school's aim was to bring their library to life with the use of bright, contemporary colours and introduce a woodland theme to the space.
- Halton Lodge Primary School Runcorn
- Halton Lodge Primary School craved a fresh and exciting design for the thoroughfare of their school.
- Cwm Glas Primary School Swansea
- Cwm Glas is a busy and exciting primary school in Swansea which seeks to encourage pupils to achieve personal excellence and their full potential.
- Morna International College Ibiza
- FG Library's experience was called upon to design a brand new library situated within a new extension at Morna International College, Ibiza.
- International School of Prague
- Despite the pandemic, the International School of Prague used the 2020 summer to make improvements to its campus, including the Learning Innovation Hub.
- Hillbourne Primary School New Library
- From render to reality...
- Idsall School Library Shropshire
- Made to empower young people to explore literature, expand their horizons and improve literacy.
- St Stephen's Primary Church School Library Bath
- A fresh, welcoming library space where children can relax and engage in reading for pleasure
- The Ruth Gorse Academy Library Leeds
- A space that promotes inclusiveness and wellbeing for students in order to promote peaceful study, reading for pleasure and careers support
- Dorking Library
- A popular public library moves into new premises.
- Idea Store Watney Market
- Bisset Adams was architect and lead consultant on an ambitious, Big Lottery funded Idea Store on the Commercial Road at Watney Market.
- Canada Water Library
- The Canada Water landmark aluminium clad public library, shaped like an inverted pyramid, was designed to house 40,000 books and 2,500 DVDs.
- Woking Library
- Woking's flagship library is Surrey's largest and busiest library with a clear vision for the facilities, aesthetics and visitor experience.
- Wakefield One
- The new library in the Wakefield One city centre service hub.
- Bridgeton Library, Glasgow
- The iconic Olympia cinema site in Bridgeton has been restored to its former glory with the new library as the focal point of this regeneration initiative.
- Bracknell Library
- Working closely with the library's dedicated and passionate team thedesignconcept created an inviting space that encourages users to relax and linger.
- Craigmillar Library Edinburgh
- The Craigmillar Library in Edinburgh has brought new hope and spirit to an area seeing renewed investment, with many services brought under one roof.
- Derbyshire Record Office
- Situated in a Victorian building spread over three floors, the new-look Record Office brings Derbyshire's past to life for residents, visitors and students
- Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill Library
- An exemplification of future trends in libraries that featured as a case study at the 2013 Edge Conference in Edinburgh.
- Palmers Green Library Enfield
- After a year-long closure, the library opened its doors to a multitude of new features installed over the library's two floors.
- Johnstone Public Library
- Within days of the handover to Renfrew Council Johnstone Town Hall was awarded 'Development of the Year (Public Buildings)' at the Scottish Property Awards
- Greenwich Centre Library
- Thedesignconcept introduced stimulating and inspirational furniture, gadget bars and digital technology to this exciting library space.
- Plymouth Central Library
- Plymouth City Council's decision to relocate the library to the heart of the city was a strong influence on the design idea for the space.
- National Railway Museum Archives
- Behind the scenes at the NRM lies a vast railway archive and library, holding a unique accumulation of knowledge about the history of the railway.
- Gwent Archives
- Harrow Green planned and carried out the sequential move of 7km of archival material to a new home for Gwent Archives.
- Blyth Family History Library
- A project to refurbish the existing family history area to house both lending and research materials at Blyth Library in Northumberland.
- Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre
- Merthyr created a recreational reading offer to enhance the services at the Leisure Centre, a short walk from the town and its busy Central Library.
- Denny Library Falkirk
- A bright, welcoming, modern library for the people of Falkirk.
- Wick Library, Highland
- A challenging and innovative design solution to deliver a flexible space which works for a wide range of customers.
- Grantown Library Highland
- Grantown Library is situated in Grantown-on-Spey, a small, popular holiday town in the Highlands, with a population of around two and a half thousand.
- Edmonton Green Library Enfield
- The Edmonton Centre brings together a completely refurbished library set over two floors and the council's Customer Access facilities.
- The Dales Centre Nottinghamshire
- The Dales Centre was built as a hub to amalgamate Sneinton and Bakersfield districts of Nottingham.
- Moulton Library Northamptonshire
- Moulton Library is a bright, colourful and vibrant space catering to the requirements of children under 5 to the elderly and dementia sufferers.
- Sutton Central Library
- A building with generous space that was previously underutilised, has been transformed by producing exciting designs and concepts for the space
- Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub Warrington
- Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub, Warrington, is seeking accreditation as the UK's first fully integrated dementia-friendly library and leisure building.
- Woodseats Library Sheffield
- Woodseats library forms part of a new community hub, offering a contemporary and inviting space for everyone.
- Chelmsford Library
- Chelmsford Library's new children's space and families hub is it at the heart of the city's family support services.
- Huddersfield Central Library
- Transforming the Lending Library into a flexible space within the constraints of its listed building status: a case study.
- Lichfield Library at St Mary's Centre
- The challenge was to create a contemporary library space in a historic church setting, a challenge admirably met by Opening the Book.
- The Riverside Haverfordwest Wales
- Glan-yr-Afon (The Riverside) is an innovative new cultural centre in the heart of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
- Rugby Library and Makerspace
- As part of the Warwickshire Framework agreement Thedesignconcept fitted out Rugby Library and introduced a Makerspace
- Edwinstowe Library Nottinghamshire
- Designing a library for greater usage and better stock performance, and open up space for community use
- Library @ the Lightbox Barnsley
- Open to the public on 13th July 2019, Library @ theLightbox, Barnsley has become the cornerstone of the town
- New library for Cornwall
- A derelict brewery in Redruth Cornwall has been transformed into a modern archive and library space, with £11.7m funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
- Newport Pagnell Library
- Newport Pagnell Library, Milton Keynes, opened to the public in December 2019 following refurbishment by thedesignconcept
- Carmarthen Library Wales
- Carmarthen Library re-opened with state-of-the-art technology, more study space and improved stockholding, following a £2.6 million investment.
- Ingersoll Public Library Canada
- Ingersoll Public Library is one of two large branches in the Oxford County Library system, Southwestern Ontario. It's now a much brighter & livelier space.
- Norbury Library, Croydon
- The newly refurbished library has re-opened in its carefully restored 1930s building.
- Milton Public Library Sherwood Branch
- The Milton Public Library located in Milton, Ontario has been an integral part of the community since 1855.
- Southend University and Public Library
- The Forum, a four storey, multi-million-pound integrated public and academic library serves the community in Southend, Essex
- The Storyhouse Chester
- Cinema, theatre, and library space
- Mountain Ash Library Wales
- The Mountain Ash library space in Rhondda Cyon Taf is in the heart of the town and benefits from a central location next door to the Community Hub
- Pontypridd Library Wales
- The award-winning £38 million community flagship development in Pontypridd
- Treorchy Library Wales
- A new welcoming public library and community space to accomodate all ages
- The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Dubai
- Cultural landmark to home over a million titles!
- Eltham Public Library Greenwich London
- Upcycled and new colourful features
- Worthing Library
- How Worthing Library was refurbished and transformed into a community hub, bringing various services under one roof
- Greenhill Library Harrow
- How Greenhill Library was transformed into a multi-purpose community, cultural and learning facility
- Our Lady’s R.C. High School Manchester
- Designing a modern, dynamic library and learning centre for a brand-new secondary school in Manchester
- Malton Library North Yorkshire
- Transformation of Malton's 1960s library, which sees 1,000 visitors a week, and is integral to the local community.
- Neath Library Wales
- The main part of the project was the children's library which now incorporates a space themed area, and sensory Story Wall!
- Raimbeaucourt Library France
- A welcoming community space for the city of Raimbeaucourt
- Welwyn Garden City Library Hertfordshire
- From author talks to baby rhyme times, there are events for everyone at this library.
- St Paul's Cray Library Bromley
- Library Refurbishment in Bromley Delights the Community!
- Skiptvet Public Library Norway
- Central Library In Skiptvet Municipality
- Taastrup Public Library Denmark
- All round library for everyone!
- Halsnaes Public Library Denmark
- The library brings nature inside
- Sint Pieters Leeuw Public Library Belgium
- Comfortable library with character
- Niort Public Library France
- Beautiful new space
- Little Lever Health Centre and Library Bolton
- A modern library at the heart of the community
- Peckham Library London
- A welcoming community space in the heart of Peckham…
- City of Bristol College
- A college library modernisation and transformation project with access to IT provision throughout and clearly identifiable study zones.
- Alan Gilbert Learning Commons
- The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons is a 21st century learning environment at the University of Manchester.
- Royal College of Nursing London
- The £4m refurbishment and re-plan of the Royal College of Nursing, led by Bisset Adams.
- St Patrick's College Dublin
- Sole supply commission for 1400 pieces of furniture for a leading teacher education college.
- Bournemouth and Poole College
- A project by FG Library for two campus sites at Bournemouth & Poole College shows how modern design can create flexible learning spaces.
- St Mary's University Naylor Library
- The Naylor Library is a newly refurbished building with over 250 extra study places to suit different working styles, alongside an on-site cafe.
- University of Bedfordshire
- The University of Bedfordshire recently invested £46m in a new state-of-the-art library at its Luton campus.
- Lancaster University
- A logistical project to relocate over 12,000 linear metres of books and stock, as well as a number of staff, while the University underwent renovations
- Writtle University College, Chelmsford
- Formerly an office block, the internal spaces were opened out to create four sociable study rooms available to students day and night.
- Access control at IALS
- A new Access Control System is introduced to IALS, along with a user room booking system and a major RFID stock conversion programme.
- Royal College of Surgeons Ireland Library: Revisit
- The Library of the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) opened to much acclaim in 2017 and won the 2019 SCONUL Design Award - Small Library category.
- Woodlock Hall Library Dublin City University
- DCU Library service opened its third library building in January 2022 on the All Hallows Campus in Drumcondra on the Northside of Dublin City.
- Bromsgrove Library
- Working with a limited furniture budget FG Library achieved excellent value for money without compromising the overall vision for the library.
- Kendal Library
- A public library design project to incorporate existing shelving and introduce modern technology solutions.
- Bullwell and Riverside
- A public library was relocated as part of a £23 million project to provide a new joint service centre.
- Shirley Library Solihull
- A design and bespoke furnishing project for Solihull Council that brought the street - and its streetwise readers - into the library.
- Claude Ramsey Library Greenwich
- GLL and thedesignconcept worked together to fulfil a vision to break down boundaries between the co-located library and leisure centre.
- Barrow Central Library
- The total renovation of Barrow Central Library, Cumbria, was set in a Grade II listed Beaux-Arts style building.
- City Library Bradford
- When asbestos was discovered in Bradford Central Library in 2012, the Council decided to move to a new smaller site in Centenary Square.
- Billingham Library and Customer Service Centre
- A £2.7 million Library and Customer Service Centre in Stockton on Tees, has opened on the site of the town's former Art Gallery and Council offices.
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