The Globus Design Associates Blog

Creative Library Interior Design Makes a Difference

There is an increase in media coverage about libraries recently with the advent of Architectural Record's spotlight on libraries and a public library winning one of Metropolis magazine's Smart Environments awards.  Using the stories to take a quick pulse on the state of notable library design shows the contribution good interior design can make.

Take, for example, the lobby of Minneapolis' Roseville Branch Library, a winner of the Metropolis contest compared to the lobby of Amsterdam Library, Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam. For context, the Roseville Branch Library is a renovation and addition unlike the Amsterdam Library which was a new construction. The Roseville Branch Library earned a LEED Gold rating.  Although Europe is decades ahead of the US in green building principles, it is unclear which were employed in designing the Amsterdam library.

Similarly, the two facilities contain dramatic two story spaces dedicated to materials display and browsing with clerestory windows, natural light, indirect lighting and white walls.  Given a similar "shell", compare the results of the interior design of each space.

 
Roseville Branch Library  Metropolismag.com Lara Swimmer
 
Openbare Bilbliotheek Amsterdam Photo:arkitip.com

Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam.  Photo: Shelley Berstein

The  interior design of the open, semi-circular materials displays for the Amsterdam library creates pockets of intrigue which invite exploration in the Amsterdam Library. The Roseville Branch Library display fixtures are visible at a glance.  Decorative pendant lighting and column mounted sconces  avoid washing the space with a uniform, flat light and mimic the highlights occuring in nature. The furnishings, floor plan and lighting in both spaces create a significant impact on the library user's experience. Which space would you prefer to use?

Closing Bookstores Suggest New Partners for Libraries

Borders announcement of the closing of 200 of their largest bookstores fuels speculation about the future of bookstores.  Before public librarians celebrate an expected resurgence in library use among those who prefer to browse for books they can touch, consider  The New York Times story, Publishers Look Beyond Bookstores, February 27 which reported that publishers are forming unusual partnerships to sell books.

Retailers such as Target, Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie are reporting an increases in book sales.  Higher end clothier Marc Jacobs has added books to his selling floors. 

Princeton Public Library retail style book displays.

Copying retail store book displays was the trend in library design and it is a good start.  Libraries can take another cue from the lifestyle marketing experts and create partnerships with their local retailers.  Imagine walking into a public library and seeing a garden book display accompanied by a display of pots, seeds and garden gloves for sale by the local nursery. 

Imagine the interest this Princeton Public Library book display might draw if the pamphlet stand were replaced with product for sale.

Display space could be rented to store owners in the community much like many libraries lease space for cafes in the library.

Galvanized steel and wood finishes anchor this Jackson                                                                       Library Cafe. Design by Globus  Design Associates.

No doubt this concept would take some tight management to make it work, but in this day of shrinking budgets and increased competition among information service providers, this type of partnership could create a much needed draw and opportunity to increase community awareness and user experience for public libraries.