Planning Optimal Library Spaces: Principles, Process, and Practices demystifies library space planning, inspires creative thinking, and offers immediate how-to steps to rectify seemingly hopeless situations. It describes an approach to library space planning that introduces and combines a phased implementation strategy with traditional space planning to allow library transformations and renovations to be done as a single project or a series of smaller, separate, and more manageable phased interventions. It allows libraries to meet current needs sooner, as smaller funding opportunities arise, instead of waiting on completely funded projects to develop. Chapters cover the approach, the importance of community engagement meetings, collection storage strategies, the anatomy of a library project budget, recommendations for getting started, and case studies of both public and academic library planning projects with detailed phasing strategies. Printed in full color with 148 images, this is a must-have book for librarians, architects, government/education administrators, and anyone involved with, or even thinking about a library planning or renovation project.

The interior design language of the 21st century is the language of retail, and libraries must be fluent to be successful. Most patrons are unaware of the variety of services and offerings that their local library can provide. Rightly or wrongly, library patrons expect robust merchandising, easily accessible spaces and self-directed way finding. Library Space Planning: A PLA Guide is a brief and to-the-point guide that will help you to understand these ideals and recreate them in your library. In addition, you will learn how to improve the functionality of your space in the short, medium and long-term, and discover how libraries can use the ideas herein to aid patrons in discovery, discernment and delivery.

As in the second edition of Building Blocks for Planning Functional Library Space, this volume outlines the measures of space needed for the use of equipment and furniture within a library setting. It provides drawings of typical library furniture and equipment along with diagrams of the space required for their use. In addition, this volume also contains a brief text that provides an overview of the planning process, as well as details on several aspects of design and planning. With this expanded and revised edition, planners of new, renovated, or existing space will be better able to effectively utilize the space they have and to resist the temptation to overload a given space with too many functions. This third edition significantly expands the number of illustrations found in the previous edition, adding information on newer library technology and amenities. Photographs of furniture and equipment in library settings further enhance the user's understanding of applicable square footage needs. Designed to be consulted after the decision to build has been made, this volume answers the critical question, "How much space do we need?".

Focusing on the practical issues which need to be addressed by anyone involved in library design, here Ken Worpole offers his renowned expertise to architects, planners, library professionals, students, local government officers and members interested in creating and sustaining successful library buildings and services. Contemporary Library Architecture: A Planning and Design Guide features: a brief history of library architecture an account of some of the most distinctive new library designs of the 20th & 21st centuries an outline of the process for developing a successful brief and establishing a project management team a delineation of the commissioning process practical advice on how to deal with vital elements such as public accessibility, stock-holding, ICT, back office functions, children’s services, co-location with other services such as learning centres and tourist & information services an sustainability in depth case studies from around the world, including public and academic libraries from the UK, Europe and the US full colour illustrations throughout, showing technical details and photographs. This book is the ultimate guide for anyone approaching library design.

Few librarians build more than one library in their careers and renovating or building a whole new library is a very expensive investment. Thus, new or refurbished structures need to be fresh and up to date. While some librarians have the means to visit exemplary buildings as they develop their own library’s master plan, most library leaders and stakeholders won’t actually see the full range of potential projects. Hence, this unique book is both a resource and a brainstorm prompt. It helps library leaders and key stakeholders surface the ideal programmatic aspects that drive exciting design, and offer recent design solutions that have been effectively implemented. Better Library Design: Ideas from Library Journalidentifies and celebrates the top trends in library design, capturing current state and provides an authoritative overview for those planning their own projects. This is a colorful, high content survey of dynamic library building projects completed in the last five years, in both public and academic settings. Anchored by Library Journal’s New Landmark Libraries competition, here is the nation’s best examples of innovative, functional, appealing design --- all in glorious full-color so you’ll be both inspired and informed as you make important design choices.

Libraries today are faced with rapidly shifting populations of users with differing needs, who require a range of new communications links that are transforming our concept of the library space. This developing role has created a set of new and complex challenges for those delivering library services. There is no such thing as the 'perfect' library building. However, a well designed building will enable a project both to gain local acceptance more easily and to ease the process of securing planning permission. It also needs to be cost effective to run, support the organization's objectives well, offer an improved service to the user and make an impact on the community. This much-needed book takes as its starting point the fact that few architects know very much about libraries, and fewer librarians know about architectural planning and designing. It steers a clear path for library managers through the language and processes that they need to understand as members of a team overseeing the planning of a new library building project, major refurbishment or remodelling of an existing library. 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 occupancy and post-occupancy evaluation building libraries for the future. Appendices offer top tips and checklists, together with a glossary of common terms used within the construction environment to help further de-mystify the design process for librarians. Readership: This practical and accessible book is an invaluable guide not only for new entrants to the library profession, but also for experienced practitioners who are approaching for the first time the important task of creating a new library or major refurbishment of existing facilities. It will also be of great relevance to architects unfamiliar with library building requirements.