Buildings for books : contemporary library architecture

Libraries are sites of learning, research and discovery, but also for interaction and exchange. The institution as such is in the midst of a remarkable image shift from an introverted knowledge repository to a globally networked information provider and communication mediator. The demands on this cornerstone of modern civilization have changed enormously, as libraries now have to meet the latest digital demands involving new forms of media and the methods in which they are consumed.

The architectural expression of this expanded and constantly evolving profile of requirements makes library construction very multi-layered and complex. Yet, this is also precisely a source of enormous potential for bold designs and ingenious aesthetic concepts. Whether it is a new building, a conversion, or an extension, this volume shows the diversity of the building task with its interplay of state-of-the-art technology and the cultural demands of our age.