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Academic Library Building Design: Resources for Planning: Home

ACRL and Core have joined forces to provide a basic framework for architects, planners, and librarians embarking on the planning and design of libraries for higher education.

Welcome

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 Delores Carlito or .Carlos Rodrigez

Introduction

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

Committee Co-Chair

Committee Co-Chair

Initial Considerations

To begin the work of designing new library space, there are several important documents and resources that planners may wish to review. These include:

  • Institution and Library vision, mission and/or goals statements
  • Institution and Library strategic plans
  • Campus master plans
  • Campus history, culture and demographics
  • Library needs assessment and environmental scan
  • Documents from other library projects
    • Concept documents
    • Building programs
    • Architectural plans
    • Construction budget
  • Standards
    • National, regional, and state standards and guidelines for library facilities
    • ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements http://www.ada.gov/
    • LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification http://www.usgbc.org/
  • Tours of other libraries in construction or recently completed
  • Library building consultants http://www.libraryconsultants.org