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Useful references

  • Library building resources
  • Academic libraries
  • Accessibility
  • Architecture databases
  • Awards
  • Carnegie libraries
  • Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government
  • Heritage buildings
  • International perspective
  • International perspective:  images
  • Sustainable development

Library Building Resources

Architecture & libraries: a database of Spanish Public Library Buildings
Borrowed time: how do you build a public library in the age of Google?
Building libraries and library additions: a selected annotated bibliography (ALA library fact sheet; 11)
Checklist for new library buildings: State Library of Queensland
Designing a government library (Valerie Ingram; OPW) in GLINT 16, 2004, p.712
Designing libraries: the gateway to better library design
European library buildings (NAPLE)
Good Library Guide & Blog
Green Library Blog
IFLA Section on Library Buildings & Equipment
IFLA Section on Library Buildings and Equipment News
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions - Library Building and Equipment Section
Keynote Guide to Managing a Successful Library Design Project
Libraries change lives: designing the third space - a slideshare presentation from thedesignconcept:

The Library as Place: space, service and technology / Cohen Associates (CILIP Executive briefing: 2009)
Library Journal Archives
Library Journal: Building Facilities
Library Journal:  Library of the Year, 2008: The Impact Library, Laramie County
Library Journal: Power Users - Library Buildings 2005
Libris Design planning documentation - includes:

  • Acoustics for Libraries [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Collection Preservation in Library Building Design [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Cost Estimating Simplified [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Daylighting Design in Libraries [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Furniture and Shelving: Specification and Bidding [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Furniture for Libraries [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Library Collection Storage [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Library Interior Finish Materials [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Library Security [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Library Stacks and Shelving [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Lighting for Libraries [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Renovation or a New Library: A Planning Process [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Site Selection [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Sustainable Library Design [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Technology Infrastructure Design for Libraries [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Universal Access in Libraries [DOC] - [PDF]
  • Wayfinding and Signage in Library Design [DOC] - [PDF]

OWLSweb Library building link
People places: a guide for public library buildings in NSW
Planning and building libraries - a Canadian resource
Public library: Whole Building Design Guide
Public library building planning resource materials (Stanford University / California State Library, 2000)
Redesigning the interior of an existing public library to inspire use
Relocation of the Judges' Library: design of the new space and facilities (Joseph Donnelly) in GLINT 16 2004, p.20-41
State Library of Ohio facilities, design and construction toolkit

Academic Libraries

Cork School of Music
Trinity College Library Dublin
Queen's University, McClay Library:
  • View a 4 minute video about the library or
  • visit QUB's Flickr gallery of the new McClay Library.

Accessibility

Ireland
Cavan County Council's Disability Strategy, 2009-2013
Library Access
Local Authority Accessibility
Making Access Happen
National Disability Authority
Promoting safe egress and evacuation for people with disabilities
Sectoral Plan Under the Disability Act 2005:
South Dublin County Libraries access video guide

Other
Canadian Human Rights Commission International Best Practices in Universal Design: A Global Review
Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency
Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies & Environments
UN Convention on rights with persons with disabilities - article 9

Architecture Databases

Archiseek - online architecture resources
Library buildings (NAPLE)
PADDI - Planning Architecture Design Database Ireland
RIAI Irish Architecture Gallery - Libraries
World Buildings Directory Online database

Awards

CILIP Public Library Buildings Awards
CILIP Public Library Building Awards 2005 - Interior Design Awards
Landmark Libraries
World Buildings Directory Online database

Carnegie Libraries

Carnegie libraries of California
Carnegie libraries of Ireland: a short video interview with Catherine MacMullen of An Taisce.
Carnegie libraries of Scotland
Diverse designs: the Carnegie Libraries of Scotland

Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government

Policy documents and circulars:
National Parks & Wildlife Service


Heritage Buildings

Construct Ireland: 'Fire Safety and Heritage Buildings'
Construct Ireland: 'New build Vs Old Build
Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government - Heritage & Planning Publications List
The Heritage Council
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Open Directory - Library History/Carnegie Libraries

International Perspective

General
Architecture Building Types - 1675 of the best sites selected by humans
Cultivate Interactive Issue 5 - The Search for the Most Fascinating Library Building in the World
European library buildings (NAPLE)
IFLA Section on Library Buildings & Equipment
Library architecture
Libraries - Great Buildings Online
National Libraries of Europe
Open Directory - Arts/Architecture/History - building type - libraries
Planning and Building Libraries - Notable Library Buildings


Denmark
Hillerod Library, Denmark
Time-lapse made during the moving of Hjoerring Public Library which opened April 12 2008.
Germany
Dortmund Municipal Library
Goethe-Institut German Libraries:  A Portrait
Netherlands
Amsterdam Public Library
Norway
Ullensaker Public Library, Norway
Tonsberg and Notteroy Public Library, Norway
Drammen Joint Library, Norway


Spain
Architecture & libraries: a database of Spanish Public Library Buildings
Sweden
New Oslo Public Library


UK
Colin St John Wilson and Partners British Library
David Adjaye Idea Store - New Libraries for Tower Hamlets, London. Chrisp street market branch
Designing Libraries: the gateaway to better library design
Peckham Library
The physical library and regeneration: the Newcastle upon Tyne perspective - a slidshare presentation by Tony Durcan
Renewal: new libraries for Manchester - a slideshare presentation by Nicky Parker
USA
Connecticut Excellence in Public Library Architecture Awards
Los Angeles Public Library: Art & Architecture in the Central Library
Libraries that matter (USA)
Seattle Central Library: civic architecture in the age of media
Libris Design - Information on planning and a database of recently constructed Californian public libraries


International Perspective: Images

Amsterdam Public Library
Bishan Community Library, Singapore
Bridge arts Centre & Library, Glasgow
Edinburgh City's refurbsihment of Portobello Library
Ingleside Branch Library, San Francisco
Kansas City Public Library and parking garage
Design for LODZ Public Library, Poland.
Norwich Library - photo 1
Norwich Library - photo 2
Salt Lake City Library
San Antonio Public Library
Seattle Public Library
Villanueva Public Library, Colombia 

Sustainable Development

Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government - Sustainable Development: A Strategy for Ireland
Design for eco-friendly public library in Oslo
ENFO leaflet on sustainable building
ENFO leaflet on Sustainability and Urban Landscapes
Green buildings: the Cambridge [Mass.] public library
Green Library blog
Greenburgh Public Library, NY
Let "Green" Creep: Ten steps to sustainable library operations / By Louise L. Schaper -- Library Journal, 05/15/2010
Rainwater harvesting central to sustainability of new library at Queen's University
Stoke-on-Trent Library

Sustainable library design
Wall of Knowledge concept for Stockholm Public Library

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