Academic Library Building Design: Resources for Planning: Home

Welcome

Welcome to Academic Library Building Design: Resources for Planning. In response to frequent inquiries for information about planning academic library buildings and space, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures have joined forces to provide a basic framework for architects, planners, and librarians embarking on the planning and design of libraries for higher education. This Guide will provide information for thinking about the design of new and renovated library space and point toward additional resources that can support, inform and enhance the academic library design process.

We hope you find this Guide useful. Please direct your comments and suggestions to Anne Marie Casey or Eric A. Kidwell.

Introduction

College and research libraries present increasingly complex challenges based on:

• Providing and storing information in a multitude of formats and venues
• Storing information in a variety of ways
  • Open versus closed stacks
  • Remote storage
  • Automatic retrieval systems
  • Environmental concerns
• Complex building use patterns – sometimes 24/7 access
• Provision of traditional services and expanded services such as media production and presentation facilities
• Students and faculty working in diverse collaborative ways
• Partnerships with other campus services such as information technology or centers for teaching excellence
• Student and faculty expectations for reliable, pervasive technology
• Shared space for seminars, lectures, art exhibits, concerts, and other campus functions