Week 6 - The Future

Where is library design headed? 

There are many different opinions on where libraries are headed in the future, but the key to all of them is that libraries have to change to remain relevant to their communities.  Central issues are how to make libraries sustainable, technologically relevant and places that the community can engage with. 

Hallsworth (in Miller 2008) states that the future of libraries lies in being community convergence points, places where people go to not just for information but to access services, the internet and further learning.  To further this libraries need to consider their location carefully and consider co-habitating with other community services.

Breeding (2010) predicts that libraries will continue to move towards offering more electronic content.  This raises the issue of what technical formats, media types and legal constraints may be placed on library resources in the future.  As this is an unknown, libraries must design for flexibility to avoid being locked into outdated systems and architecture.

Brown (2008) argues that an essential element of future proofing libraries is to make them lovable.  Well designed buildings that staff and patrons love are more likely to be used, loved, fought for and funded.  By being fun, distinctive, inspirational and beautiful, libraries can win their place in the heart of their communities and ensure their own longevity.

People Places (2005) brings forward the issue of the ageing Australian population as an issue for libraries to consider.  With an ageing population comes an increasing level of disability within the community.  Libraries must consider a range of accessibility features such as ramped access, easy to read signage and single level buildings where possible.  Such features benefit the whole community.

Sustainability is a huge trend in architecture, and libraries are embracing it enthusiastically.  Many libraries are integrating natural ventilation, storm water collection, solar panels and green roofs into their buildings to save money, energy and resources.  Libraries that are currently being planned and built are integrating whole building sustainability strategies and this is likely to continue in an increasingly resource hungry world.

How are new technologies affecting library design now and how will they affect libraries in the future? 

Technology is one of the biggest challenges for libraries now and looking to the future.  Many libraries are struggling to cope with where technology is now, frustrating their patrons with inadequate power sources for laptops and flaky or non-existent  WiFi.  In addition to the direct technical issues, new technologies have changed the way people work and collaborate, increasing the need for group work spaces.  Given the rapid pace of change the best approach is flexibility. 

Key design features recommended for new library buildings increase flexibility and enhance workspaces.  A raised floor system can allow for flexible power delivery to anywhere in the building.   A  column free interior to allows space to be reconfigured to user needs to meet demand for group work spaces or large meeting areas.  Interactive whiteboards may be provided in meeting rooms to enhance collaboration.  Uniform fluorescent strip lighting is falling out of favour as it can create problems with glare on computer screens.  Indirect natural light or reflected artificial light is recommended to reduce eye strain.

Medatheque in Sendai, Japan, designed by architect Toyo Ito, is a combined library and media center that puts technology at it’s heart.  Huge open plan spaces on each floor are pierced by tree like columns carrying utilities, power and network cables.  The glass curtain walls allow for natural light during the day and a sense of connectedness to the city outside.

Columns rising through scattered wells link the floors of the Sendai, Mediatheque visually and physically

Read more about the Sendai Mediatheque.

How are libraries around the world making themselves more sustainable?

New and ancient techniques are increasingly making their way into libraries to enhance sustainability.   A whole building approach should be taken to ensure that sustainability features work together to make the building better for the environment and more pleasant to work in or visit. 

Sustainable Library Design,  a document provided by the Libris Design Project for use in US libraries, suggests calculating a sites ‘wind, water and solar budget’ to determine how much light, water and energy is available then ensuring that the systems in the building fit within this budget.

People Places 2nd Edition, recommends that Australian library buildings work to a green office building code such as Green Star even though they are not legally required to do so.  The key issues are identified as natural ventilation, energy use, natural lighting, minimal use of resources, recycling and the holistic integration of all of these things.

The Surrey Hills Library and Community Centre in Sydney takes a whole building approach to sustainability.  Building materials have been either minimized or sourced sustainably to reduce the footprint of the build.  Design features work together in a complex system to reduce the use of energy and water, and maximize natural ventilation and light. 

The facade of the Surrey Hills Library and Community Centre.

Read more about the Surrey Hills Library and Community Center on the City of Sydney website

Sustainable features can be beautiful and fun as well as practical.  As well as a range of other sustainable design details, the Ballard Library in Seattle, Washington has a spectacular curved green roof, planted with  indigenous plants.  A periscope and observation deck invite patrons to engage with the green roof.

Indigenous grasses and sedums carpet the roof of the Ballard Library.

Read more about the award winning Ballard Library green roof.

References

Miller, Rebecca 2008, ‘Future-proof your library’, Library Journal, vol 133, issue 13, pp. 30-33, Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre, EBSCOhost, viewed October 8 2010.

Breeding, Marshall 2010, ‘Can we future-proof library automation?’, Computers in Libraries, vol. 30, issue 2, pp. 29-31, Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre, EBSCOhost, viewed October 8.

Brown, William M 2008, ‘Future-proof design’, Library Journal, Fall 2008, pp. 1-10, Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre, EBSCOhost, viewed October 8 2010.

Pollock, Naomi R 2001, ‘Toyo Ito imagines what the future of information and digital technologies might be, then builds…’, Architectural Record, vol. 189, issue 5, p. 191, Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre, EBSCOhost, viewed 8 October 2010.

Reflection

I found this final topic really fun to research and I would recommend that anyone interested in library design read a few articles about future-proofing.  With so much uncertainty and concern about the future there is a lot being written about it.  There are some interesting ideas floating around in the world of library architecture, particularly in the field of sustainability.  Australia is lagging behind other parts of the world in terms of sustainable architecture so it was difficult to find a local example of sustainable design other than my favourite library in Eltham which features sustainable materials.  The Surrey Hills Library and Community Center in Sydney is a great example of the type of buildings that are already commonplace in Europe and North America.