Library Design

This month's Architectural Record focuses on library design. There are, of course, breathtakingly visual examples of design. They are all, however, rooted in the challenge of what a library space is supposed to be, supposed to become.

As I manipulate some of our own physical space here at ACS to accommodate a broader concept of providing "resources," I am inspired to be sharing a similar vision with these professionals.

Here are some quotes from the cover article:

"The modern library has always been something of a community center — a place where people gather to learn, whether in a story hour or a craft workshop, in the presence of others. Many observers contend that this role, often referred to as an “information commons,” must now take center stage."

"The contemporary librarian, as Linda Braun, a lecturer at Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science, points out, is part reference specialist, part social worker, and part community organizer. Accordingly, cutting-edge libraries are providing users with the tools to create their own stories — content creation in the form of videos, theater, and self-published books."


"The noise level in libraries has only increased since Poole’s day, but this observation underscores a point vital to the institution’s survival. Libraries must satisfy as many different user needs as possible with a range of flexible spaces: some quiet, some active. In the past, a central aisle offered the only way to navigate through these buildings. In the future, users must be allowed to make their own paths."