- Libraries in the 21st Century
- Sarah Godowski takes a look back at the evolution of library spaces and looks ahead to the future in a digital, post-pandemic world.
Reimagining the library
Original articles and features on library innovation, library design trends and library service design, written or commissioned by Designing Libraries.
3D printer at Dokk1, Aarhus
- Finland's first container library
- Pirkko Lindberg, Director of Library Services for the city of Tampere, describes the creation of Nekala Branch Library, Finland's first container library.
- Open all hours
- Controlled access to collections, computers & meeting spaces outside staffed hours provides libraries with the opportunity to extend their opening hours
- Designing an effective school library
- Alison Tarrant, Chief Executive of the School Library Association, examines the main considerations when planning and designing an effective school library
- Remodelling libraries (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.
- Remodelling libraries (part 2)
- In his second of two articles, Alan J Clark continues his exploration of trends in library design with examples from rich resources of Designing Libraries.
- Digital library spaces
- Designing library spaces for users today means embedding digital services in physical spaces and creating interactive, engaging library services.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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?
- Dokk1: Impressions of an Impressive library
- Denmark's Dokk1 is helping to redefine the concept of 'library' as an urban, cultural, creative, community space.
- Designing beautiful data
- As BDS celebrates 21 years originating and supplying library data, John Hudson looks back on how much has changed,
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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?
- 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.
- Merton's transformation journey
- The London Borough of Merton is transforming its library spaces through innovation, collaboration and consultation, increasing usage while reducing costs.