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Reframing Library Architecture

  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
  • How can the architecture of the public library serve and reflect the ethos of the institution? What does the built library communicate to its users, and how does that communication work? And how can its spaces adjust to—and thrive in—a digitally augmented 21st century? Reframing Library Architecture will explore these questions, developing a spatial philosophy for the institution that can guide the design of new public libraries and the renovation of existing ones. It will take a critical look at library architecture, situating it historically, analyzing how it functions as a communications medium, and proposing future trajectories.

    The talk will begin by situating the built public library as a communications medium, and highlighting a few of its core values (and their spatial implications). It will then look at how the design of the building frames visitors’ perceptions of the institution and collection. What spaces belong in the library, new and old, and how should they be designed and arranged will then be explored. The talk will conclude by presenting a prototypical branch library, designed using the principles that have been outlined. Extensive illustrations will be used throughout. The goal of this presentation is to give librarians some tools to critique their buildings beyond mere functionality.

  • Date created
    2017-02-03
  • Subjects / Keywords
  • Type of Item
    Conference/Workshop Presentation
  • DOI
    https://doi.org/10.7939/R35M62K1T
  • License
    Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International