Libraries as a building type have been subjected to substantial changes in particular in the past ten years. Milestones such as Rem Koolhaas' Seattle Central Library from 2004 reinvented the typology completely and reflected a development from elitist temple of learning to a public living room. Hybrids between library and department store or theater were conceived. Today, the ubiquity of electronic devices and media needs to be taken into account by the designer: every new library has areas without any books now. This work of reference explains systematically all technological and planning requirements of library design. Special features such as RFID, signage, acoustics or specific structural load issues are explained in texts by experts from the fields of architecture and library science. Finally, approximately 40 best-practice case studies of contemporary library design are documented extensively. They are organized in four categories - national libraries, large public libraries, small public libraries, university libraries - and comprise high-profile examples such as Jo Coenen's Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam, Alvaro Siza's Public Library Viana do Castelo in Portugal or Mecanoo's Library of Birmingham from 2013.

Bricks, mortar, memories, and magic! Create children's and YA spaces that work and welcome youth into the world of knowledge. Get the "inside story" on creating those special spaces in your library that promote and encourage children's and young adult's curiosity, learning, and reading - and support their lifelong love of books and information.Nolan Lushington - expert library design consultant - covers the complete planning process from concept to "grand opening." He takes you from the technical aspects of design and construction, to the finer points of lighting, acoustics, furnishings, equipment, and multimedia areas, storywells, YA spaces, and more. Whether you're a children's or YA librarian, library director, school facilities planner or architect, you'll discover valuable, practical tips and insights to help you create that inviting environment called the library.

The key ingredients for using a library effectively are outlined in this easy-to-use guide. Middle and high school students are provided with the basics on how a library is organized, how to find materials, and how to perform research to complete their homework assignments. Common core library reference sources are annotated to aid the user in finding the most useful resource, and a keyword index helps students connect homework and term paper subjects with the reference works most likely to supply the needed information. Librarians will find that his volume not only aids their student users in achieving more productive research results, but it is also a useful tool for developing their collections to fulfill their students' needs. Information on using the Internet and other electronic sources is also provided.

A handbook on the design and the planning of libraries - a particularly prestigious design task that underwent significant changes in recent years. Comprehensive contributions by experts from architecture and library science analyze specific aspects of the building type; a typology of some 40 exemplary international projects provides inspiration and a range of options.