Libraries: A Design Manual

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...