Websites

Websites

Centre for Accessible Environments
An information provider and a forum for collaborative dialogue between providers and users on how the built environment can best be made or modified to achieve inclusion by design.
Design Council
Demonstrates and promotes the vital role of design in a modern economy – with case studies and practical help in choosing and briefing a designer.
Emotionally Intelligent Signage
Video. Signs for rules of behaviour in public spaces - as well as directional guiding - can benefit from thinking about how to make the right emotional connection with the user. All those library notices that shout 'Don't!' to the library visitor need a new approach... You can learn how.
Library Signs
This image gallery presents a collection of photos of library signs submitted by the readers of Smashing Magazine.
Makerspace Resources
Links, resources, directories, sites, products, discussions, compiled by John Burke.
Public Art Online
A public art information site providing guidance and examples of public art practice from around the UK and internationally.
Sign Design Society
The Society's purpose is to inform its members, provide platforms for dialogue, promote better understanding of the importance of signing and wayfinding and to encourage greater focus in the design disciplines, in industry and in education.
UXLIBS
Annual conferences on user experience research in both academic and public libraries, blog posts, year book anthologies.
Wild in Art
Dedicated to the promotion of art through the creation of mass participation public art events which bring art onto the streets for the enjoyment of all. Wild in Art specialises in working in partnership with cities, towns and villages in the creation, promotion and management of popular art events.

Articles, reports, toolkits

Articles, reports, toolkits

Accessibility and Universal Design
Accessibility and UD are two separate, but related, concepts meant to consider the needs of different types of people and users. Accessibility puts an emphasis on supporting users with disabilities, whereas UD is broader, taking into account differences such as users’ gender, age, native language, and learning preferences. ACRL, 2017.
Checklist for new library buildings
A Checklist from the State Library of Queensland, Australia to help with the planning of new library building and to help during the project until opening day. Specific to the State of Queensland but of general interest too.
Future libraries
A report by Arup, September 2015, brings to light significant trends that will influence the future of public, academic and corporate libraries and outlines the implications on their design, operation and user experience.
How to Become an Interior Designer!
The University of the Arts spoke to 11 interior design experts from a range of backgrounds to bring you specialist advice and insights that will help kickstart your career in interior design!
ISO/TR 11219:2012
ISO/TR 11219:2012 specifies data for the planning of library buildings. It also provides guidance on the selection of technical building equipment for the different functional areas of libraries.
Inclusive design toolkit
A website developed by the University of Cambridge, Engineering Design Centre, and sponsored by BT. The toolkit is also available as a 350 page illustrated book.
Key issues in building design
Link to a free download on the IFLA website, a summary of key design issues and essential facts based on the book, ‘IFLA library building guidelines’ (see below).
Library by design
The section on Architecture, Buildings and Facilities on the website of the US Library Journal.com provides profiles of new libraries, academic and public.
Make the right move
The art of packing and moving libraries - a North American perspective from Library Journal.
Mindspot: make it your library
Report of an inspiring Danish project to turn the library into a relevant and interesting partner in the lives of young people.
New aspects of library design
Article in Liber Quarterly, 2006. ‘New planning principles are required to meet the changing needs of the users of the library of the future. The digital revolution has changed the appearance of today’s libraries entirely. The majority of today’s information resources are of a non-physical nature and accessing information is more varied and complex.’
Post-occupancy library building evaluation
A universally applicable questionnaire produced by IFLA to enable library managers and the design team to identify good practice and learn lessons from the experience of other design teams.
Six space challenges
This feature in Library Journal describes how some 90 librarians, architects and vendors gathered to brainstorm solutions to a handful of design challenges. Provides some useful inspiration for collaborative and creative ways of designing for flexibility.
To Flex or Not to Flex? And How to Flex?
Creating flexible spaces in library buildings, what the options are, choice of partitions and mobile walls, solving acoustical problems. A survey by Denelle Wrightson, April, 2017.
Toolkit for Creating Smart Spaces
WebJunction offers this toolkit to help you re-envision your library’s place as a center of community learning. Get ideas to reconfigure your physical space and reimagine your services to promote active and participatory learning. Jan 2021.

Books

Books

Better by design
Ayub Khan’s introduction to planning and designing a new library building. The key topics include: twenty-first century libraries; developing a business case; project management; the design/project team; selecting an architect; partnership and community engagement; the design brief; design quality; space planning and access; and, occupancy and post-occupancy evaluation.
Better library and learning spaces
Facet, October, 2013. An innovative and practical toolkit introducing concepts, drawing together opinions and encouraging new ways of thinking about library learning spaces for the future. Each chapter captures the insights and practical ideas of leading international librarians, educators and designers to offer a ‘creative resource bank’ that will help to transform library and learning spaces in both academic and public libraries.
Better library design: ideas from Library Journal
Published Feb 2016, this collection from Library Journal identifies and celebrates the top trends in library design, capturing current state and provides an authoritative overview for those planning their own projects.
Checklist of library building design considerations
ALA Editions, 5th edition 2009. William Sannwald guides librarians and other members of a building design team through the stages of the design process. Updated materials include a new chapter on sustainable design, new sections on wireless networking, information commons and media production, updated treatment of special collections, materials handling systems and disaster planning.
Collaborative library design
ALA Editions, 2018. Detailed case studies of ten design projects from public, academic and school libraries that identify paths to success as well as hazards to avoid. Inside, library planners, designers, and administrators will find practical guidance directly applicable to their own undertakings, regardless of size or complexity.
Contemporary library architecture: a planning and design guide
Ken Worpole. Routledge, 2013. Focusing on the practical issues of library design, Ken Worpole offers his renowned expertise to architects, planners, library professionals, students, local government officers and others interested in creating and sustaining successful library buildings and services.
Countdown to a new library: managing the building project
ALA Editions, 2nd edition 2010. Librarian Jeannette Woodward draws upon her many years of experience and expertise, continues to be an indispensable instructional guide for anyone charged with the responsibility of building, remodelling or expanding a library to meet the growing demands of the community.
Designing circulation areas
This volume published by Detail, Munich, shows the entire spectrum of interesting options for infrastructure provision, starting with school construction and including a library example.
High quality design on a low budget: new library buildings
This publication brings together a range of building projects from National, Academic and Public Libraries from different countries of the world showing how these libraries are able to continue to provide high quality library space that is affordable in times of difficult economic circumstances. We will hear about the building processes, co-operation with architects and engineers and how librarians and users have reacted to these new buildings. An IFLA publication, March 2016.
IFLA library building guidelines
Information and guidelines for the building planning process, whether you are planning a new public or academic library building. The library building process is seen from both the library manager's perspective as well as that of the architect and designer. Issues covered include what to consider when investigating the need for space, library design from a marketing viewpoint, green management and sustainability and a layman's guide to reading plans.
Improbable libraries
Thames & Hudson, 2015. From the rise of the egalitarian Little Free Library movement to the growth in luxury hotel libraries, Alex Johnson whose parents were both librarians maps out the history and future of the 21st-century library revolution in seven thematic chapters, each consisting of a brief essay followed by illustrated project profiles. Whether by bike in Chicago or by donkey in Colombia, librarians all over the world are coming up with astonishingly ingenious ways of ensuring their books reach the people who need them.
Joint libraries: models that work
A new book (2012) from the ALA, giving a US perspective on planning for the joint use of resources between college and public libraries.
Libraries
Design Media Publishing, 2012. How architects and designers address such issues as access, storage, atmosphere, temperature and sound as well as local integration of the library building are among the topics considered in this interesting and practical reference work.
Libraries
Published March 2014 by Roads Reflections. An illustrated exploration of some of the world's most innovative and interesting libraries.
Libraries: a design manual
Birkhauser Verlag AG, 2014. A handbook on the design and the planning of libraries. Comprehensive contributions by experts from architecture and library science analyse specific aspects of the building type; a typology of some 40 exemplary international projects provides inspiration and a range of options.
Libraries and learning resource centres
Architectural Press, 2nd edition 2009. A comprehensive reference text examining the changing role and design of library buildings. Critical evaluations of international case studies demonstrate the principles of library design. Available for the first time in full colour, the second edition of the work focuses particularly on the important question of access and design in public libraries.
Libraries designed for users: a 21st century guide
Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2002. How library facilities can be successfully planned, designed, or remodelled with multi-lingual services, coffee house areas, late night services, multimedia programmes, outdoor facilities, day care programmes, electronic classrooms, art galleries, teen centres and more.
The library: a world history
James W. P. Campbell. Thames & Hudson, 2013. This spectacular book is the first single volume to tell the story of the library as a distinct building type, all around the world.
Library architecture + design
Braun, 2010. This volume from the Masterpieces series presents outstanding examples of revolutions in library design and renovation, an 'architectural challenge to strike the finest balance between functionality and aesthetics.'
Library architecture: recommendations for a comprehensive research project
Rev. edn. 2008. 'In essence, Library Architecture is a compilation of all kinds of data about libraries in one single book. Not just information for those architects wanting to build libraries, but for all those professionals – particularly library workers – clients and users who wish to know everything about libraries. For this reason it would not be inappropriate to describe this book as unique, in terms of features.' The book is available as a free (but very large) PDF download from this link.
The library book
Thomas R Schiff. Aperture, 2017. A panoramic view of the American library, its history and style.
Library design for the 21st century
Library design in the 21st century has one common theme: collaboration is at the heart of innovation. Designing modern libraries is a complex process involving many stakeholders and participants. A collection of papers published by IFLA, 2019.
The library marketing toolkit
Facet (July 2012). A practical guide covering every element of library marketing and branding for all sectors including archives and academic, public and special libraries, providing innovative and easy-to-implement techniques and ideas. Includes a section on marketing and the library building.
The makerspace librarian's sourcebook
ALA Editions, 2017. Library makerspaces continue to thrive, drawing new patrons in and engaging them as never before. This hands-on sourcebook edited by technology expert Ellyssa Kroski includes everything libraries need to know about the major topics, tools, and technologies.
Museums and art galleries: making existing buildings accessible
The book confronts the dilemmas faced in making historic buildings more inclusive in response to contemporary access standards and regulations. With illustrations, case studies and research it generates a set of guidelines specific to museums and art galleries. RIBA Publishing
Physical space in the library
For many decades space was a solely architectural and practical issue, but now library space can be more than just functional. This Free Book provides library practitioners and students with an exploration of library space as multifaceted, with different social, cultural, and objective meanings.
Post-occupancy evaluation of library buildings
Architectural realisation of a building and its opening to the public with a range of services are central components of the building and design process of libraries. Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is the final step in this process. It provides a opportunity to assess whether the construction and design of the building has indeed met the library's and users' requirements and how effectively the building functions. An IFLA Publication, 2015.
The reader-friendly library service
Published by the Society of Chief Librarians and distributed by Opening the Book, this is an important book on designing public libraries from a reader’s perspective.
Renewing our libraries: case studies in re-planning and refurbishment
Michael Dewe. Ashgate, 2008. The aim of this case-study publication is to provide librarians, architects and others with examples of what has been achieved in library building redesign, extension and refurbishment, and to highlight the policies, processes and design issues leading to successful library projects.
Useful, usable, desirable: applying user experience design to your library
ALA, 2014. Every decision you make affects how people experience your library. In this useful primer, user experience (UX) librarians Schmidt and Etches identify 19 crucial touchpoints such as the library website, email, furniture, parking lot, events, and newsletters. They explain why each is important to your library's members and offer guidance on how to make improvements.
Special collections
The definitive guide to buildings for special collections, published by Wright & Wright Architects. Intended as a typological and historical survey that goes beyond the minutiae of technical requirements to illuminate the many facets of a complex and highly specialised building type. Illustrated by historical material,contributions from respected individuals and current case studies.