Building Libraries for tomorrow

INELI Cohort 1 Collaborative Project

Patti Manolis, Chief Executive Officer, Geelong Regional Library Corporation,

Australia

Jakob Laerkes, Director, Gladsaxe Libraries, Denmark

Knud Schultz, Director, Aarhus Main Library,

Denmark Mentor

Public libraries around the world are undergoing

significant transition…

Why do we need to rethink our buildings?

Hjørring Bibliotek Denmark

Building Public Libraries A report by Patti Manolis and Jakob Laerkes

Research on existing body of

literature, guidelines, knowledge

Mentors from INELI were asked to recommend

libraries

Interaction with library managers and practitioners representing 17

new libraries from 12 countries

Workshop at Next Library

Århus

Result: Report with

distilled criteria for building

public libraries

Geelong Regional Library Australia (under construction)

A new library should have ‘oomph’ or ‘wow’ factor.

IFLA Library Building Guidelines: Developments and Reflections

(2007)

Service and buildings need to fit into the bigger picture, e.g.

different service delivery models, community hubs, joint use and

partnership opportunities.

People Places: a Guide for Public Library Buildings in New South Wales (2012)

Libraries today are less about where to put stuff

and more about providing access to tools and

ressources people need.

DC Public Library Services and Facilities: A Framework for

continuing success. DC Office of

Planning (2010)

In urban planning the library functions as icon, placemaker and contributor to community

vitality

The role of public libraries in urban development and culture led

regeneration (2010)

A public library should encompass four spaces:

The inspiration space The learning space The meeting space

The performative space

A new model for the public library in the knowledge and experience society

(2012)

D.Skot-Hansen C.H. Rasmussen H. Jochumsen

Inn

ova

tio

n

Reckognition/Experience

Emp

ow

ermen

t

Involvement/Engagement

Biblioteca Viva Biobio Chile

Biblioteca Viva Sur Chile

Library@Cinatown Singapore

Stadtbibliotek Stuttgart Germany

Public libraries come in all shapes and sizes. There is no “one size fits

all” template.

ROLE OF THE LIBRARY MOST PREFERRED RESPONSES

Community library 88 %

Lifelong learning centre

88 %

Community living room

88 %

Biblioteca Viva Biobio Chile

ROLE OF THE LIBRARY UPCOMING CHOICES

Leisure centre 53 %

Cultural centre 82 %

Information technology

hub 65 %

Civic landmark 53 %

Biblioteca Viva Biobio Chile

IMPACTING TRENDS MOST PREFERRED RESPONSES

New

information and

communication

technologies

76 %

Community living

room or libraries

as third place

after home and

work

88 %

Stadtbibliotek Stuttgart Germany

Public libraries as places of social

capital for connecting

communities and facilitating community

cohesion 88%

Cultural development and revitalisation 71 %

Programs and partnerships,

71 %

Collaborative learning

environments and learning commons

71 %

IMPACTING TRENDS UPCOMING CHOICES

Stadtbibliotek Stuttgart Germany

SPACES IN THE LIBRARIES

MOST PREFERRED RESPONSES

Wireless access spaces 94 %

Children’s area, Newspaper/ Media area

94 %

Technology spaces 94 %

Print collection and multimedia

collection spaces 100 % Exhibition

spaces 94%

De Niuewe Bibliotheek Almere The Netherlands

SPACES IN THE LIBRARIES

UPCOMING CHOICES

De Niuewe Bibliotheek Almere The Netherlands

Staff space 88 %

Group learning Space 82 %

Cultural activity space 82 %

“The new library building is a part of a big strategic

development project with the ambition to strengthen

the role of culture as a driving force for sustainable city development.”

Library planning is being undertaken in synch with priorities

of the local area

Umea City Library Sweden

Major cities are

increasingly constructing new

libraries to provide town centre, iconic

architecture, placemaker function and civic identity and

space.

Deichmanske Bibliotek

Norway (forthcoming)

New libraries include community hubs,

learning centres, civic and cultural

precincts, recreation and commercial hubs

Vision and Strategic

Intent: “To build a very attractive library in the internet age; a library like a shop, with many places for study and a

lively program”

De Niuewe Bibliotheek Almere The Netherlands

.

“Three must haves included: Studio space for digital

content creation; flexible open space

for programs; creative community space.”

More libraries provide content creation

spaces such as maker spaces, workshops and

other flexible programming spaces

Anythink Wright Farms USA

More libraries are targeted, specialised and have a specific community focus

“The thematic focus on Chinese arts and culture

has proven to be successful as it provides a one stop shop for all

things Chinese arts and culture for all ages in all

languages.”

Library@Cinatown

Singapore

“The tree house provided a different learning experience

for children.”

Young people and their reading literacy and learning needs are a high priority

My Tree House Singapore

Hjørring Bibliotek Denmark

“Our headline was “people meet people” and therefore it was important for us to create and informal

and welcoming atmosphere in a

smashing design.”

A shift of focus is needed from collections to

people.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Libraries must be flexible in design

responding to new trends and needs

Southbank Library @ Boyd Australia

Must haves: “The library

as physical space; The library as "expanded

library" and promoter of digital literacy; The

intercultural and all-age library and center of innovative learning.”

Libraries must incorporate space for the multiplicity

of current and future technologies

Stadtbibliotek Stuttgart

Germany

“Offer a cultural public space in high demand

areas such as shopping centers. Provide meeting place, encourage people to read and participate in

all kinds of cultural activities.”

Biblioteca Viva Biobio Chile

Architectural design

is essential. But it must be combined

with and never take precedence over

community needs and functionality.

We must welcome

mistakes and make room

for innovation

Ørestad Library Denmark

Integrated public library and

school library

Unmanned opening hours

Shared facilities

Integrated technology and

service

De Niuewe Bibliotheek Almere Holland

The library is designed like a shop

Users are treated as customers

with 5 different ‘shopping’

profiles

Books are presented in

different zones, e.g.

“retreat” or “high tension”

Garaget Sweden

A library driven by

user needs and wishes

Want to host an activity? Here are the keys to

the library!

A library like a living room

Developing future libraries

The digital age is changing our

ways of finding information

Therefore we must build and

design differently

The role of public libraries is

changing as well

…and change our service concepts to meet the new

needs

Remember…

People Vision

Community

Technology

Flexibility

Engagement

Thank you