Library designs shape people’s expectations and experiences of what libraries can be. Their physical spaces house collections, provide safe spaces for people to meet and engage, and enable access to services and activities designed to meet community needs. Libraries’ digital spaces extend these services and supports beyond the physical walls, enabling after-hours access to the world’s knowledge. When library buildings are designed well, they serve as beacons in their communities. Their interiors inspire people to learn, to create, to think, and to engage with digital and physical platforms to satisfy information needs.
Since 2017, the biennial Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Australian Library Design Awards have showcased the best in innovative, creative, and forward-thinking library design projects from across the country.2 By drawing on the resources of the Awards’ archives, alongside in-depth interviews with award judges, architects, and library managers, this report provides a detailed overview of trends in new and refurbished library designs, including benefits to their communities. The content may serve as an inspirational resource for library managers, architects, and funders looking to achieve maximum benefit from their investment in library buildings.
Designing for the Future in Australia: A Retrospective on the ALIA Library Design Awards
ALIA Library
Creator
Prof Lisa Given, Dr Kirsten Day, Dr Katherine Howard, Prof Helen Partridge
Description
Publisher
Deakin, ACT: Australian Library and Information Association
Date
2023
Type
Format
Identifier
Language
en