I must start by stating that I love library architecture and have visited libraries around the world over the years to satisfy my interest in the construction, design, and layout of various types of libraries. My husband, Joe, studied architecture at QIT (now QUT); I have shared this book with him and he has subsequently co-authored the review.
Both the authors of this book have vast experience and knowledge in the field, and their passions and attention to detail are impressive. This book, physically, is massive! It was described to me as a ‘brick’ and that is the approximate size of it. Though soft covered, it is a heavy resource, not something you would read or study whilst commuting to work. Its contents pages are nearly 30 pages in length and are so detailed that they almost require their own index. The Contents are divided into ‘Parts’ then ‘Chapters’ then Roman numeral headings which are divided again into alphabetical headings. The index, on the other hand, being some 40 pages (double columned) is incredibly useful and, to me, a more logically way of navigating this immense work.
My experience, despite having completed library design subjects in my master’s degree, is that getting input at all is a challenge for most of us. I feel that this book is aimed at much bigger projects and, the reality is, that much of this book is beyond the realm of input most library professionals hope for. I do not know any situation where a library manager would be wanting, provided with, or expected to provide input into plumbing issues yet this book devotes a whole chapter to it?
This is probably an excellent resource for both library managers and designers in the US but may be too detailed and US focused for worldwide audiences. There are many technicalities, legalities and standards that are not relevant to situations outside of the US. The topics may have been better served in a small series with titles related to the individual sections of the book, such as construction, library spaces, and design.
Also of concern for audiences beyond the US, is encouragement for librarians to use ‘independent library building consultants’ who the book describes as ‘librarians with a great deal of experience in working with library buildings’. This book goes on to suggest that there are problems with using architects to prepare building programs and that they should not be included in the process unless they possess a ‘masters’ degree in librarianship’ and have worked for ‘many years’ as librarians and have ‘designed a number of successful library buildings’. Processes and procedures outside of America are quite different than presented in this text, as are the roles of professionals within them. Architectural studies and registration in countries such as Australia necessitate that these professionals possess the knowledge and understanding of legislation and standards that come with several relevant years at university and subsequent industrial experience. In Australia, the use and preference for collegiality between professionals vary markedly from what is described in this book in that, as part of the architect’s design process, the architect will engage with the client to discuss and record the design brief. This may involve formal meetings with the client’s ‘User Groups’, consisting of members of mid to high-level employees experienced in the library functions and knowledgeable in their specific requirements for the project. The architect may also engage external expert consultants with experience in library design and function – which does support some of the pretext of the book.
It is with this in mind that this book might be desirable in Australia, as a building block for the reader to help them be more confident in their participation in briefings related to design, planning, remodelling and expanding. It may even be of interest to librarians interested in moving into library design consultancy or architects with a specific interest in specialising in library design. The beauty of this book is, however, that, if, in a situation where a library professional is included in conversations, at any level, related to library spaces, it does provide background information and rationales that may prove conducive to the provision of valued contributions.