Design Inspiration

Librarian's Library by Araceli Mendez Hintermeister

Embarking on a new design or renovation project at your library can be overwhelming. These works, ranging from books on user design to volumes on architectural planning, will help spark ideas.

100+ Ideas to Inspire Smart Spaces and Creative Places
By Elisabeth Doucett

Doucett invites librarians to find inspiration in the spaces around them to create a more engaging and inviting experience for patrons. Through short, standalone chapters, the author guides readers on the ways in which they can attract new patrons and welcome back regulars using design elements. Whether it’s a smaller idea (switching out bulbs for more natural lighting) or a more transformative change (making bathrooms a must-see attraction), the book’s recommendations are sure to help turn any library into the next community hot spot. ALA Editions, 2020. 112 p. $36. PBK. 978-0-8389-4718-0.

Creating Inclusive Libraries by Applying Universal Design
By Carli Spina
Through an introductory exploration of universal design and universal design for learning, Spina shows how to apply these principles to library infrastructures and services, regardless of library size, type, or budget. The first section of the book uses case studies and resources to explain how to integrate universal design into the physical library setting. The second section shows how these tenets can also be used for services and programming to create welcoming environments and increase engagement. Rowman and Littlefield, 2021. 204 p. $95. 978-1-5381-3977-6. (Also available as an ebook.)

Collaborative Library Design: From Planning to Impact
By Peter Gisolfi
Award-winning architect Gisolfi provides practical and instructive guidance on how to tackle real-world design projects with active participation and effective collaboration among stakeholders. With examples from public, academic, and school libraries, he presents a collection of library design projects alongside essays from those who worked on them, allowing readers to view each from conception to day-to-day operation. Readers will find new ideas and practical advice to help meet patron needs through library design. ALA Editions, 2018. 146 p. $75. PBK. 978-0-8389-1717-6.

Constructing Library Buildings That Work
By Fred Schlipf

Renowned library design expert Schlipf presents design as a team effort that involves cooperating owners and experts. The first few chapters cover the construction process, while the second half provides considerations for successful library buildings. With this in mind, the author structures the book in such a way that readers can easily find exactly what they need for their current projects or problems. Incredibly concise and packed with information. You may well read it in its entirety, even if you jump around in the process. ALA Editions, 2020. 200 p. $50. PBK. 978-0-8389-4758-6. (Also available as an ebook.)

The Practical Handbook of Library Architecture: Creating Building Spaces That Work
By Fred Schlipf and John A. Moorman

Schlipf and Moorman present a comprehensive library architecture handbook that helps support building projects of all sizes and scopes. Chapters provide resources relating to all stages of construction, including design and financing, and explore library-specific spaces, such as public service desks and staff workrooms. It also dives into technical issues such as lighting and HVAC systems. Filled with encyclopedic detail and delivered in an approachable style, this book is an essential how-to and how-not-to guide for readers building a new space. ALA Editions, 2018. 1,040 p. $150. PBK. 978-0-8389-1553-0.

What Can a Body Do?: How We Meet the Built World
By Sara Hendren

Hendren, an artist, design researcher, and professor at Olin College of Engineering in Needham, Massachusetts, explores how everyday objects and environments are built with hidden assumptions about the abilities and needs of users. Through a series of stories from people with disabilities whose experiences helped give rise to daily living aids such as cyborg arms, customizable cardboard chairs, and other innovations, Hendren invites readers to rethink the ecosystems in which they live to better understand how design can meet a range of needs and desires. Riverhead Books, 2020. 240 p. $27. 978-0-7352-2000-3.

Latest Library Links

6d

Nora Neus writes: “On a recent spring Saturday morning in Uvalde, Texas, young library patrons were learning how to set off a volcano. With help from Michelle Ramirez, outreach coordinator for the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas, kids carefully poured vinegar into a glass bottle with baking soda. Almost instantly, the concoction bubbled up and overflowed, to shrieks of joy and giggles. But the activity wasn’t just for fun. It was part of a grief counseling session for children following the massacre at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, that killed 19 students and two teachers.”

American Libraries feature, May 22
6d

Sheree Strange writes: “Nothing beats a good podcast while doing chores, taking a drive, working out, or even making dinner. And of course, we especially cannot resist podcasts about books. We want to hear about hot new releases, indie titles we missed, and creepy books to keep us awake all night long. Not to mention those coveted author interviews and spicy opinions. Find the best bookish podcasts—and we say “bookish” because not all are limited to solely book talk. A few will cover multiple topics.”

The Uncorked Librarian, May 20
1w

Chris Reber writes: “Ten students at Landisville (Pa.) Middle School staged a walkout and protest Tuesday morning in opposition to proposed school district policies that they call censorship. The Hempfield School District board of directors is considering a set of policies that would lay the groundwork for reviewing and potentially removing library books deemed sexually explicit or inappropriate for students. The students said the policies would hurt their education and infringe on their civil rights.”

LNP Lancaster Online, May 17
1w

Jason Scott writes: “While there are plenty of items at the Internet Archive that have no obvious home elsewhere online, there are also cases where we hold a copy of a frequently-available set of material, but we can provide it for much easier distribution and preview, including the ability to download the entire original set of files in one fell swoop. Such it is with the USC Sound Effects Library, a collection of .WAV files taken from rapidly crumbling magnetic tape and presented for reference, enjoyment and even projects.”

Internet Archive Blogs, May 20
1w

Tate Ryan-Mosley writes: “Robyn Caplan understands the fragility of digital memories intimately. After tragically losing both of her parents in recent years, Caplan treasures the digital possessions she inherited. She cherishes her mom’s iPad, access to their email inboxes, and message threads with both of them. It allows her to see the world through the eyes of her parents, she says. But on May 16, Google announced that starting in December 2023, it would delete personal accounts that haven’t been active in over two years. Photos, emails, and docs attached to inactive accounts will all be eradicated as part of the policy.”

MIT Technology Review, May 19
1w

David Nield writes: “Your laptop is going to pick up dust, grime, and fingerprints as you use it day to day—and not only does this make it less appealing to look at and work with but it also encourages bacteria to set up home on your portable computer and can reduce its lifespan. Like your bathroom or your car, it’s a good idea to regularly clean your laptop, and it’s not difficult to do. You may already have everything you need for the job, and if not, the necessary supplies can be sourced inexpensively.”

The Verge, May 16
1w

Andrew Albanese writes: “In response to a troubling wave of book bans, PEN America, Penguin Random House, a group of authors, and a group of parents have filed a federal lawsuit against a Florida school district over the ‘unconstitutional’ removal of books from school libraries. The suit, filed on May 16 in the Northern District of Florida in Pensacola, alleges that administrators and school board members in Florida’s Escambia County School District are violating the First Amendment as well as the 14th Amendment (the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution) because the books being singled out are ‘disproportionately books by non-white and/or LGBTQ+ authors.’”

Publishers Weekly, May 17