REGENERATION OF LIBRARY AS A

PLACE OF SOCIAL INTERACTION

A DISSERTATION REPORT

Submitted by

ADITI MANOJ.S
HZASEBC004

In partial fulfilment for the award of the degree

Of

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE
IN

NEHRU COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, PALAKKAD

UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT

JANUARY 2023
 NEHRU COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
Lakkidi, Ottapalam - Kerala

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this Dissertation Report “REGENERATION OF LIBRARY AS

A PLACE OF SOCIAL INTERACTION” is the bonafide work of “ADITI
MANOJ.S” who carried out the work in this college during the period July 2022
- January 2022 in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the
degree of BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE of the UNIVERSITY OF
CALICUT.

Prof. Ar. THIRUMENI MADAVAN Ar. Sandhya S Kumar

PRINCIPAL DESIGNATION
Nehru College of Architecture GUIDE
Lakkidi, Palakkad - 679301 Nehru College of Architecture
Lakkidi, Palakkad - 679301

INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

 DECLARATION

I, ADITI MANOJ.S (Reg. No. HZASEBC004) a bonafide student of the

Department of Architecture, Nehru College of Architecture, Palakkad, hereby
declare that this Dissertation report entitled “REGENERATION OF LIBRARY
AS A PLACE OF SOCIAL INTERACTION” for the award of the degree,
Bachelor of Architecture, is my original work and has not formed the basis or
submitted to any other universities or institution.

DATE:

PLACE: Lakkidi, Kootupadha Aditi Manoj. S

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I sincerely acknowledge all the resources who helped me in completing my

dissertation project report.
I wish to express my thanks to Prof. Ar. Sandhya S Kumar (guide) who provided
her insights that greatly assist this research and helped me in evolution of the
project. As well as our principal, Ar. Madhavan Tirumeni for providing with all
the necessary facilities for the research.
Also, I would like to thank all the professors in the formulation and enunciation of
this project throughout the period.

Aditi Manoj. S
 ABSTRACT

A library is a room or building containing balanced collection of data and

information in the form of books, journals, archives, periodicals and even
recorded audios or visual materials for use or borrowing by pubic for certain
period of time.

In today’s time with the emergence of the internet and digitalization of the books
and information, this has enormously influenced the manner in which we
consume information. With the developments of new methods and types of
media, the traditional role of a public library is to question. The significance of
the physical collection within a certain environment versus a quick internet
search at any given point of time within any environment, questions the
sustainability of a public library and the resources it offers.

Nowadays, a library should have multiple range of functions running parallel

with it. A few advanced level academic exercises like workshops, refresher
courses, seminars and guest lectures become necessary for making the library
socially active. Henceforth, a public library is just not a space to access physical
and digital data but also create an environment to initiate interaction between
people, exchange of ideas amongst people of diverse backgrounds and age
groups visiting the library and play a very important role in progress of
knowledge.

This report attempts to examine various aspect of libraries such as the nature and
intellectual design of library, in an age of increasing digital dominance over
subjective knowledge. Thereby the thesis will try to re-imagine and re-invent the
character and need of the library in the rapidly changing urban context by
understanding the necessities of various grades of the society.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
.................................................................................................................... 1
1 SYNOPSIS ...................................................................................... 8

1.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................... 8

1.2 AIM OF THE STUDY ............................................................... 8
1.3 OBJECTIVE .............................................................................. 9
1.4 SCOPE AND LIMITATION ..................................................... 9

2 RESEARCH QUESTION ............................................................... 10

3 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................... 10

4 LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................. 12

4.1 CHARACTERISTICS .............................................................. 14

4.1.2 PROJECT MANAGEMENT......................................................... 16
4.1.3 LIBRARY FUNCTIONS .............................................................. 18
4.1.4 CHANGING NATURE OF LIBRARY ........................................ 19

4.1.5 DIGITAL LIBRARY AND INFORMATION CENTRE.............. 20

4.1.6 LIBRARY AND ITS CHANGING RHYTHMS ............................ 22

4.1.7 LIGHTING INFLUENCE ON LIBRARIES .................................. 26

4.1.8 BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF LIBRARY BUILDING................. 29

4.2 USER RELATIONS ................................................................. 31

4.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY.............................................................. 33

5 CASE STUDIES ............................................................................. 34

 5.1 CASE STUDY 1 .................................................................... 35
5.1.1 ANALYSIS.................................................................................. 36

5.1.2 CONCLUSION ........................................................................... 38

5.2 CASE STUDY 2 .................................................................... 39
5.2.1 ANALYSIS.................................................................................. 41

5.1 CASE STUDY 3 .................................................................... 43

6 INFERENCE ............................................................................. 43

3 CONCLUSION ........................................................................... 44

4 BIBLOGRAPHY ........................................................................ 44

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1 SYNOPSIS

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The rise of the internet and digitalized content makes the policy makers
librarians and public believe that the public library is losing its relevance. The
evolution of the role of library in society over the centuries from private
resource to civic monuments to a functional building to living room of the city
is today in flux.

The project focuses changing typical library spacing yet not losing the concept
of the relevance of learning, reading, also helping these values to enhance with
proper space planning. Project becomes more human centred which is a way of
getting everyone involved. So that the space becomes a place to read, learn and
meet.

Public libraries are evolving to become places for ‘connection not the
collection’. They are being reimagined as places where people can be together,
a natural point in the city to gather, and exchange information.

1.2 AIM OF THE STUDY

“To understand allied functions of public library as a cultural hub.”

To understand the role of a public library not only as a storage of books for
individual development but also in terms of digital and community growth.

To study the changing trends of mediums of information and knowledge

resources in terms of suiting the user requirement.

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1.3 OBJECTIVE

• Report provides an overview of how design is being used as a tool to

enhance the experience of customers and change the behaviour of staff in
public libraries.
• To study the activity chart of a conventional library and design it into a
multifunctional space.
• To achieve individual as well as community learning and also meet the
educational needs children and young people.
• To provide materials and resources that entertain and inspire as well as
services offering space for people and information to come together, as
well as programs that would create library awareness and consciousness.
• To create a research organization by providing public access to the
internet as well as information to traditional formats.
• To support formal and informal education system, access to
knowledge must be provided in printed and other formats.
• To bridge the gap amongst different strata of the society by creating a
non-judgemental space for people to explore their own interests.

1.4 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

SCOPE

 The topic delivers, how library professionals, designers and architects

work together to gain a better understanding of how buildings shape
people.
 There will be new way of usage of space and daylight.
 Connecting different age groups with allied spaces.
 To build a collection of functions which will lend to be more reliable and
of higher quality information.

9|Page
 LIMITATIONS

 The simplest designs are not always the easiest to achieve, since open
plan floors are often noisy, and flexibility involves careful planning.
 It is not always easy to accommodate a wide range of interests in a small
branch library.
 The layout of the furniture is not static, but it is constantly being moved
around the public library.
 There are no well-known criteria/standard for evaluating the public
libraries at national level.

2 RESEARCH QUESTION
How can tradition and technology be interviewed within the design of
the public libraries to provide legibility and relevance to historic
cultures in the evolving information driven cities?

3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• Understanding the context

• Research on content
Information
collection • User study

• Information hierarchy
Exploration
• Visual language of space

• Quantitative and qualitative analysis

• Case studies
Analysis • Current scenerio

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 • To answer research questions
• To evaluate outcomes
Data
collection • Accurate data from different sources

• Known facts
Inference
• Evidence

• Judgement
Conclusion • Decision reached by reasoning

3.1 ANALYTICAL SURVEY

The approach was predominantly qualitative in nature. And a variety of

sources provided data for the study. A literature review examined the
existing views inside the library profession as well as current thinking about
architecture and social policy. Understanding the method to research what
communities actually do, to contrast expectations or norms with actual
practices so that a rich analytical context is provided.

Data from the case studies were studied and then there were amplified by the
comparative analysis between them. A brief study brought to the conclusion
of observing an aesthetic and functional analysis of the building. It was
analysed that with provision of democratic spaces, the place is to be enjoyed
for culture, leisure, information or learning purposes and also assume that
the provision of reading resources is to be collectively enjoyed by
communities. This also brings social diversity in the library, taking into
account gender, age, occupation, ethnic origin, visual and motion disabilities
and power relations.

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4 LITERATURE REVIEW
Public libraries have always been the door to learning for great majority of
the population that they serve. This chapter majorly focuses on all
characteristics a public library should have, for it to benefit its users
completely. It contains various terminologies, articles, research reports and
publications addressing the analysis put forth.

4.1 LIBRARY: AN OVERVIEW

Our society is multi-cultural and of multi-lingual nature. In such type of

society, a sense of respect and regard for each other’s linguistic and cultural
groups is essential to strengthen the cultural unity. Hence, a Public library
needs to be re-design itself by organizing functions and get together meetings
of different cultural groups to give vent to the aspirations and contributions
of different cultural groups to give vent to the aspirations and contributions
of different cultures.

Many people believe libraries to be a thing of the past due to digital

revolution and the rise of a gadget fascinated society. Therefore, the role of
libraries as community centres should be valued for knowledge and
prosperity of the country. However, the increase of technologically mediated
life is perhaps the reason why public libraries are important institutions for
bringing together communities and providing a safe place in which
individuals can gather to INTERACT, LEARN and EXPLORE. Another
notable role of a public library plays in this sphere is the work relating to the
preservation of local cultural materials. In order to identify and procure such
materials, a public library requests the assistance of historians,
archaeologists, literary persons and leaders of the area. Thus, the library now
serves as a link between the past and future.

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A public library, majorly delivers six programs to add value to the community,
and helps progress it and creates an impact on the society, which are as follows:

 Homework assistance programs- to support academic success and

helps meet student’s lifelong educational goals and connect with vital
resources.
 Incentive based reading programs- to reinforce the importance of
literacy and encourage students to continue to read for pleasure during
out-of-school time.
 Youth advisory groups- to involve youth in decision making and
initiative planning activities.
 Volunteer opportunities- to provide valuable life and job skills to meet
local community service requirement and to empower youth to seek
library work ad career.
 Literacy-related programmes- to connect literature to real life with
hands on experiences and activities like book groups and author visits.
 Recreational programs and classes to support the recreational interests
of youth and provide opportunities for lifelong learning with
participatory workshops based on youth’s interests.

Free, universal access to books,

value technology, information & services
provided by skilled friendly people.

Libraries stimulate aspiration, build

Impa
Libraries ct
understanding & grow strong
communities.
deliver

Progr Libraries help people, communities &

ess the nation progress through vital
resources we can all share.

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4.1.1 CHARACTERISTICS

 COLLABORATIVE Collaborative
These are spaces designed for users to work together
and use technologies to access information and share
Inter-
ideas, brainstorm, innovate, and even practice
disciplinary
presentations and work together on projects.
Collaborative learning spaces are often manifested in
configurable furnishings, small group meeting rooms Flexibile

and/or active learning classrooms.

Functional
 INTER-DISCIPLINARY
The spaces, equipment, and services supporting a
range of interdisciplinary learning needs across a Active
learning
given campus from arts and humanities to science,
technology, engineering, which makes the space is
active.

 FLEXIBLE
Flexibility can have multiple meanings. Spaces can be configurable and
have movable furnishings to support changing needs of users as they may
define them at a moment's notice. Spaces can be prescient, so the evolving
needs of users, and the IT they depend on, can be anticipated and considered
for spaces 10 or 20 years into the future. A related concept is "versatility,"
which one architect defined as a space that motivates users and "inspires
different uses," e.g., the computer lab that also serves as a makerspace.

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 FUNCTIONAL
Functional design can be a process and an outcome. As
a process, functionality refers to a set of practices Welcoming
guided by principle that produce positive outcomes; as
an outcome it describes designs that work well and help
users perform their assigned tasks. This is done by Openess

adding allied activities to it like workshops, kids toy

room, leisure areas, digital labs, Cafeterias etc.
Social

 ACTIVE LEARNING
This mode of constructive learning encourages students Transparent
to solve problems while engaging in understanding and
discovery through interactive
discussions and learnings. Fragile

 WELCOMING
Warm, friendly, intuitive, and inviting spaces within a
library, often at the point of entry create a welcoming
environment for collaborative learning. Spaces are
manifested in large, oversized chairs and couches that create the feeling of
the library as the "campus living room." Decorations and displays should be
included to create a welcoming environment. They can reflect the local and
national culture, reinforce academic content or provide information to
library patrons.

 OPENESS
Large areas with uninhibited sight lines in order to minimize physical
barriers, remove enclosed rooms or private offices, and emphasize

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 collaboration and information opportunities formulate to open
surroundings.

 SOCIAL
Social spaces are mixed-use space where conversation, collaboration, and
informal learning are encouraged, facilitated, and expected. A social space
is also intended to support academic and leisure activities and events, and
cafes/coffee bars, maker spaces, and art galleries.

 TRANSPARENT
An approach to showcasing learning activities taking place in a space
through open concepts, low profile technology and furnishings, and limiting
physical barriers that might otherwise obstruct a user's open view.

 FRAGILE
A space that is designed to be rapidly and easily transformed often, so that
a broad range of user needs, both anticipated and not, are supported and
served. Flexibility is an essential condition for agility.

4.1.2 PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

A model library provides a variety of programs that support learning and
literacy and help bring the community into the library. Library programs may
include the following types:

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A. Book Lending Programs that make books available for individual users
to check out and take home as well inter-library loans and book sharing
programs with schools that get the library's resources into the community.

B. Literacy Programs that help community members improve their ability

to read, write, develop critical thinking and analytical skills, and in still a
love for reading, writing and learning. These may include a weekly read-
aloud story hour for kids, book clubs or the Adventures in Reading school
break reading program.

C. Outreach Programs that help the community discover how they can
access services at a library. These can include a range of activities such
as hosting a booth at community events, creating book boxes that can be
used in classrooms, hosting seminars on issues of interest or other needed
community services like vaccination or voting locations.

D. Library Exchange Activities that help develop a professional

community of librarians within a region and promote communication
between libraries. This communication facilitates skill development as
well as the enrichment of services and programs through the sharing of
ideas and experiences.

E. The library actively engages the support and input of members of the
community and recruit’s local volunteers to assist in the operation of the
library, for example through the creation of Community Library
Committees.

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4.1.3 LIBRARY FUNCTIONS
The main library functions are: User service, Media processing,
Preservation, and Organisational services.
These main functions are typical for all kinds of libraries. According to these
functions, library space is divided into 3 parts: space for user services, space
for library media, and for the library staff. Now libraries are treating users as
individuals with very personal needs, approaches and psychological
characteristics.

In order for a library to function well, it needs to have adequate space that is
well organized and pleasantly presented to serve the community. A model
library has the following physical characteristics:
 Sufficient work areas that can be arranged to meet the needs of various
users, organized book stacks that are available to users and plenty of light
to read and work.
 Special display areas that invite exploration, discovery and a love for
learning. They can range from information about current and historical
events to thematic displays of books from the library's collection.
 Special activity corners, such as a Children's Corner, Author's Corner or
Games Corner, where the library's patrons can participate in educational
activities in an engaging environment.
 Decorations and displays that create a welcoming environment. They can
reflect the local and national culture, reinforce academic content or provide
information to library patrons.
 Services may be provided for other groups, such as large print or Braille
materials, Books in these libraries are for young adult literature and other
materials for teenagers with many in other national language.

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4.1.4 CHANGING NATURE OF LIBRARIES
Information is considered as the "Fulcrum for power and prosperity". It is
very essential for economic and social development of the society. Libraries
are collections of books, manuscripts, journals, and other sources of recorded
information including reference works, such as encyclopaedias that provide
factual information and indexes that help users find information in other
sources:
 creative works, including poetry, novels, short stories, music scores,
and photographs;
 nonfiction, such as biographies, histories, and other factual reports;
 and periodical publications, including magazines, scholarly
journals, book series
 use of records, CD-ROMs, and audiotapes and videotapes has
increased.
Libraries were involved early in exploiting information technologies. For
many years' libraries have participated in cooperative ventures with other
libraries. Different institutions have shared cataloguing and information
about what each has in its collection. Librarians have also become expert in
finding information from on-line and CD-ROM databases. As society has
begun to value information more highly, the so-called information industry
has developed. This industry encompasses publishers, software developers,
on-line information services, and other businesses that package and sell
information products for a profit. On the one hand, as more information
becomes available in electronic form, libraries no longer have to own an
article or a certain piece of statistical information, for example, to obtain it
quickly for a user. On the other hand, members of the information industry
seem to be offering alternatives to libraries. A student with her own computer
can now go directly to an on-line service to locate, order, and receive a copy
of an article without ever leaving her home.

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4.1.5 DIGITAL LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION CENTRE
With new development of growth of Information society and by increasing
the awareness among the people and related information, a remarkable
increase in the number of organizations focuses on research and action-
research in areas of social, economic, socio-economic and human
development issues on the improvement in the quality of life.
A digital library is a crowd of digital computing, storage and
communication machinery together along with content and software that are
required to reproduce, emulate and extend the services provided by
conventional libraries that are based on paper and other material means of
collecting, cataloguing, finding and disseminating information.
A full-service digital library must accomplish all essential service of
traditional libraries and also exploits the well-known advantage of digital
storage, searching and communication. It provides access to part of or all its
collections, such as plain texts, images, graphs, audio/video materials and
other library items that have been electronically converted, via the Internet
and World Wide Web (WWW).
Many libraries now offering an online public access catalogue known as
OPAC with public PCs equipped with CD-ROM drives, scanners or public
terminals connected to the Internet. Information and can get knowledge
management which could be the centre of business and society in 21st
century.

Using knowledge within an organisation sonly follows two objectives:

 effective management of information resources
 establishment of a learning environment.

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Librarians serving in many public libraries were present to provide reference
and research help to the general public, usually at a reference desk which could
often be done by telephonic interview. As online discussion and social
networking allow for remote access, reference is becoming available virtually
through the use of the Internet and e-mail.
It was found that the children's section in a public library has its own reference
desk. Public libraries are also increasingly making use of web 2.0 services,
including the use of online social networks by libraries.
When represented as a place to study, Internet use affords new forms of work
in an updated continuity with a traditional role, while it also guarantees the
continuous visits of students and occupational readers. The only negative
association with the Internet was found in some forms of representation of the
library as culture, and this is only if culture is equated with privilege.
With this inter-disciplinary and issue-based research that contributes to growth
and development of special libraries and information-resource centres are
relatively different from conventional libraries in their organization,
composition, functioning and services.
With steady transition, from the library as a storehouse of books and further
to the information centre as information processor-cum-provider, has emerged
a new branch of information specialists, that aims at fulfilling the information
needs of the users in a multi-disciplinary information environment.
Their goal is to produce a regular and fixed flow of value-added, customised
information services. Nowadays in electronic information environment, the
role of the librarian has evolved to meet the requirement of both technology
revolution and information revolution. It is found that new technology is being
increasingly utilised not only for library automation but also for enhancement
of information access and delivery of items not physically contained within the
library boundaries.

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4.1.6 LIBRARY AND ITS CHANGING RHYTHMS
‘During the morning one space may be used mostly for quiet, individual
study while later in the day the same space will host louder, group study and
socializing.’
It is the idea of renovating libraries with the idea of Multifunctional
activating all the spaces throughout the day so they
are easily adaptable for multiple purposes is Comfortable
something that should be opted for in most of the
cases. Communicative
A new multifunctional type of library of the
flexible model where one third of the library space should be assigned for
the additional social and cultural activity.
Public library serves as a catalyst for socio-cultural and educational
development by providing access to information and knowledge. Many
individuals and institutions have deliberated on and defined the objectives
and functions of the public libraries.

1. Modern library has to be multifunctional

The modern public library has to be multifunctional and to provide not
only informational or other typical library services but cultural,
communicational and other extra services as well. Such library will
comprise two functional parts: provision of library's traditional
(informational) services & cultural and social services. The modern
public library will become a social centre of culture, a home for society.
It will be a multifunctional and vital centre, organising and joining
society.
 A library with such social and cultural activity will be more attractive
for investments.

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 The library will become a library information centre, club, and
Internet café etc. Oriented to the various needs of society such a
library will satisfy needs of different social groups and ages.
 It will become a synthesis of various cultural activities.
 All these different kinds of activity will stimulate other kinds of
cultural activities and all kinds of culture in general.
 These non-traditional services (cultural, educational, commercial,
sports, recreational, entertainment etc.) will make the library more
attractive and can lead to an increase of the number of users of the
traditional library services.
 For this new cultural and social functional part adequate premises
have to be planned. This will give the library a new image of
social importance.

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2. Modern library has to be Comfortable
Comfortableness of service is one of the most important indicators of
modern library activity's value. This indicator includes:
 easy access to the library building,
 rational planning of the building,
 and impressive architecture.
There should be created a good working environment in the library:
arranged individual carrels for intensive working and studying users, and
well illuminated working places with dividing screens separating each
place.
Comfortableness also includes: providing the library with soft
furnishing, plants, aquariums, soft carpet, large windows, balconies,
premises for communication of people with different interests, and
provisions with sound and video equipment.
There is one more important demand for comfortableness. This is the
accessibility of the collection. The collection has to be located according
to library's collection profile, library's strategy and expectable users. The
whole collection, arranged in subject groups, has to be located in
different areas of open stacks.

Comfortable environment created for the seatings.

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3. Modern library has to be Communicative
➤ All architectural solutions of the modern library have to express the
image of the library
as an open, democratic and intellectual communication institution.
➤ This image can be created by planning buildings of "virtual"
architecture what can be
characterized by "dematerialised" forms of clear, laconic, simple and
visible bulks.
► In the process of making constructional resolutions and choosing the
building materials one has to orient on comfortableness of the internal
and external environment of the library.
> There has to be a balanced thermal, illumination and noise regime.
The building of a public library has to be not higher than four over
ground floors. The higher a building, the more expensive will its
maintenance be, more staff will be needed and more sophisticated
technology and security systems.
So, the public library has to be perceived as an information institution
and as an amateur art centre and organizer of recreation and
communication as well.

Interactive and Co working Spaces of libraries

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4.1.7 LIGHTING INFLUENCE ON LIBRARIES
When it comes to library lighting, the best lighting for library is quite
controversial as it is different for all parties involved in terms of quality,
function, aesthetics and intensity.
The lighting needs to be wisely designed according to the overall architecture
and its functions. In the old days, the structure of libraries was rather simple
with a reading room which has book shelves lined up in the same direction,
reading tables, and big windows on one side to let the NATURAL LIGHT in.
Over time, the architecture of libraries has changed to larger and more complex
multi-storey buildings. Because of the increasing size, some areas cannot be
reached by daylight so they need to be illuminated by artificial light. Decisions
on the library building planning used to be done step by step, but now the
lighting design is included at an early stage of the overall design and is
developed concomitantly with other aspects. Due to energy-saving issues,
daylight is chosen to be the main source of light in many libraries, but it comes
with limitations. Even though natural light is freely available, it is hard to
control. The intensity of natural light varies with several factors, such as the
season, the weather and the time of day, and can greatly affect the brightness
and the temperature of a library. Therefore, it is necessary to include some
protection such as screens or curtains to reduce the transmission of ultraviolet
rays that can harm library materials and transfer the heat throughout the
construction. For this reason, windows play an importance role in modern
library buildings. Their purposes are not only to provide light, but also expose
people to a small amount of sunlight and allow people to enjoy the surrounding
view for psychological reasons. Other than the sense of openness, giving
people outside views allows them to estimate the time with their biological
clock and to know the state of weather. As for artificial lighting, it is used as a
complementary to the natural light for different tasks in the library.

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USER AREA
The concept of 'the more the better' does not apply to the lighting for reading
books or writing because too much reflection from the surface of the papers
can harm readers' eyes. This is why the most important consideration for Task
Lighting is not the high intensity, but the right position of the lighting fixtures.
The ideal lighting for reading/working provides enough visual contrast while
avoiding glare and shadow which can disturb the activities. In general, the light
should come from the side or over the shoulder of the readers; lighting that is
too strong and comes from the front side of readers should be avoided at all
costs.
As for lighting in areas for other activities, such as meeting rooms or event
areas, the lighting should be customised to fit the nature and requirements of
those activities. Another consideration is that lighting intensity should be
varied to match the needs of the readers in different areas and to avoid
monotony.
In the main reading hall, where most people do their individual work or read
newspapers and magazines, there is a high intensity of natural light that shines
through a glass-roof atrium, giving the library a sense of space and light. The
main reading hall is braced with two more relaxing areas where dimmer and
warmer artificial lighting is used to enhance the cozy atmosphere of the
multimedia and novel areas. Many respondents mentioned that they found the
variation of lighting suitable
for their tasks and make the
library more interesting.

Lighting effect in user

Areas.

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SHELVING AREA
The lighting design in shelving areas can be challenging because reading the
spines of books on shelves is one of a few visual tasks in a library that must be
done vertically. In a conservative design, shelves are usually placed in rows
with narrow aisles, making it difficult for light from above to reach all the
materials on the shelves, especially on the lower shelves. Realising that,
modern libraries adjust their shelf placement and make use of additional
lighting.
There are three sources of light that can be used in shelving areas: room
lighting, direct shelf lighting, or a combination of both.
Room lighting is flexible for positioning the shelves, however, if the main
lighting of the room is natural light, shelves are usually placed far enough from
windows to avoid direct sunlight. For this reason, some shelves do not receive
enough light from the windows or other room lighting, therefore they need
additional light to give readers a clear view.
These additional lights are usually built-in or attached to the shelves. They are
carefully designed to properly illuminate the shelves in order to let people
browse through them without difficulty or distraction.
Each library has its own way to achieve this as is shown in the case studies.
Ex: - The shelving areas in The Hague Public Library do not need additional
light due to the fact that the building itself is very bright with natural light and
room lighting.
In addition, the use of white colour
and the light colour floor covering
also brightens up the lower
shelves. LED lighting was chosen
because its low voltage is safe for
the books and it shows the books in their accurate colour.

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 4.1.8 BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF LIBRARY BUILDINGS
All libraries have somewhat similar architectural requirements, whether they
are located in separate buildings or in rooms in larger buildings. Some of the
most important requirements include:
 The right amount of space of the right type in the right arrangement. This is
where a building program is essential.
 Strong floors. Books are extremely heavy, and floors designed for typical
office use are seldom strong enough for book storage. Compact shelving
running on rails requires substantially more floor strength.
 High-quality light. Libraries require bright, even, low-glare lighting.
Usually this means careful control of daylight and the use of lighting systems
specially designed to reduce glare. As a general rule, the best results are
obtained by using reflected uplight, bouncing all light off white ceilings.
Some workable quick specifications include - (a) fluorescent fixtures (b)
electronic ballasts, (c) strip fixtures, and (d) fixtures spaced to provide of
illumination at table top.
 HVAC systems should meet current standards for air exchange and
efficiency of operations. They should keep the meeting room comfortable
when it has 20 people and when it has 100. HVAC systems also need to
control relative humidity. Humidity in libraries should not greatly exceed 50
percent.
 Pleasant acoustics. Libraries that echo or reverberate are unpleasant to
occupy.. Among the worst sources of acoustic problems in libraries are hard-
surfaced ceilings and floors, large areas of glass, barrel vault ceilings (or any
other shapes that are not flat) often transmit sound in impressively distressing
ways, but they are usually acceptable if they have acoustic surfaces.
 Adequate celling height. Most book shelves are high and ceilings are almost
always too low. Suspended uplights usually hang down at least two feet from
the ceiling. Most libraries do better with ceilings 11 or 12 feet high. Good

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 sightlines. The easiest way to maintain good security in libraries is to maintain
good sightlines.
 Clear internal arrangement. As libraries grow larger and more complex,
keeping their floor plans simple and straight forward becomes more and more
difficult, but small libraries should be easy to understand.
 Pleasant internal spaces. Most libraries want to encourage users to stay in
the library to read, use computers, consult library staff, and socialize with
other library users. To be successful, therefore, libraries need comfortable,
well-lighted spaces with good acoustics and-wherever possible-views of the
outside world. One of the great challenges in library design is providing cozy
spaces that do not lead to supervision problems.
 Parking. School libraries and corporate libraries usually rely on parking
provided for the entire building, and libraries on small residential campuses
may expect students to arrive on foot, but all public libraries need to be
concerned about where people will park.
 Every library needs to provide a way for users to return books and recordings
when the library is closed. A wide variety of return bins is available.
 Good sites. All libraries need convenient sites. For public libraries, this means
sites next to other destinations, such as stores. Most campuses seek central
locations for their libraries.
 Provision for expansion. No matter what people say, all libraries run out of
space sooner or later.
 Inexpensive maintenance. Some buildings can be extraordinarily difficult to
maintain. Keep your life simple by avoiding light fixtures you cannot reach,
wall surfaces that are hard to clean, light-coloured grout in ceramic tile floors,
cut pile carpeting etc
 Good security. Among the issues you will need to confront are limiting the
number of entrances, providing alarms with time delays on fire exits,
supervising restrooms, controlling who can open windows etc.

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4.2 USER RELATIONS
A fundamental principle of the public library is that its services must be
available to all and not directed to one group in the community to the exclusion
of others. Provision should be made to ensure services are equally available to
minority groups who for some reason are not able to use the mainstream
services, for example, linguistic minorities, people with physical and sensory
disabilities or those living in remote communities who are unable to reach
library buildings.
Public libraries are locally based services for the benefit of the local
community and should provide community information services. The services
and collections they provide should be based on local needs, which should be
assessed regularly. Without this discipline the public library will get out of
touch with those it is there to serve and will, as a result, not be used to its full
potential.
Library readers represent themselves as users of a valued public service which
they wish should continue to receive funding to pursue its purposes. Many
among them represent the library as a collection of diverse resources for
diverse uses, as entertainment, as a place to study, as culture or as connection
to the cyberspace.

Graph of ranking of public library services

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TYPES OF USERS
The users are one type but libraries are different from those of another type. In
case of a public library the users are mainly children, students, housewives,
farmers, retired persons, literates and researches. It is assumed that in the public
libraries the users are almost heterogeneous and in academic and special
libraries the users are almost homogeneous in nature.
Information users can be categorized mainly into 4 groups, on the basis of their
approach to information a library, they are:
1. Potential user: Are those who need information which can be provided by
specific services.
2. Expected user: Are who is known to have the intention of using certain
information services.
3. Actual user: One who has really used an information service in spite of
whether he derived advantages from it or not.
4. Beneficiary user: One who derives measurable advantages from
information services.

Bubble diagram of users.

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4.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY

The atmosphere of a library is an incentive to study. When one finds so many

readers intent on books, one naturally develops a desire to read on one's own
account. It is thus that the library habit is created and developed among casual
readers. The importance of Library cannot be exaggerated.
We cannot do better than to create and develop a library movement in our
country, and foster among casual readers a widespread demand for library and
a habit of using libraries for knowledge as well as for recreation.
The placement of a library in a struggling or depressed neighbourhood can help
to revitalize the area - libraries are a great way to bring large numbers of people
together and they also create economic opportunities for businesses and
organizations.
It is acknowledged that public libraries provide great value to their
communities. Value is often defined by what materials and services libraries
provide to the communities. In the past public libraries primarily offered access
to printed information, and served as a public social and physical meeting place
in the community. In the digitized age the role and value of public libraries has
become enhanced by the advent of new information technologies.
These may include workstations, increased available bandwidth, and provision
of computer training. In some communities today, public libraries are the sole
provider of free access to the Internet.

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5 CASE STUDIES

For understanding various socio-cultural aspects, cultural relations of visitors,

site management, knowledge platforms 3 case studies are studied briefly:

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5.1 Case study 1- LILAVATI LALBHAI LIBRARY at CEPT UNIVERSITY

HIGHLIGHT OF THE PROJECT: Range of formatted data in printed and

virtual form, Architectural volume and spaces.

LOCATION: CEPT university, Ahmedabad

ARCHITECT: Ar. Rahul Mehrotra

AREA: 2790 sq.m

PROJECT YEAR: Oct 8, 2017

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5.1.1 ANALYSIS
The library has a capacity for 1 lakh books which will be housed in 3 floors
below ground and 2 above to match height of other buildings on the campus.
CEPT library houses more than 46,000 resources which include books, bound
volumes of journals, theses, students' reports etc.
The library collection covers subjects like Architecture, Art, History and
civilization, Urban design, Landscape design, Interior design, Furniture design,
Graphics, Textile ETC.
More than 150 national and international periodicals are subscribed to keep the
users updated with the trends in the field. CEPT library has a unique collection
of drawings, prepared by students during their academic programs. More than
4500 drawings are available in the library. This collection attracts national and
international visitors.
Apart from this, library has Audio Visual Resources on CDs, DVDs, Slides etc.
A user- friendly library software called Koha has been adopted at the Library.
This internationally recognized software facilitates automated circulation
(issue & return) of the books and speedy access to bibliographies, locations and
availability information of the books stocked in the library.
Bar-coding on books and the automated check-in and check-out facility of
books reduce the waiting time.

Subject wise Book Individual Co-working Individual

shelf corners digital carrels spaces reading tables

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Floor plans and sections

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Mehrotra made the library no higher than CEPT's existing buildings but in
order to fit the required 30,000-square-foot program on the constrained site, he
submerged half of the building.
A central book core, surrounded by study carrels, with archives at the base,
extends almost 40 feet down into the ground, a strategy that provides a
geothermal advantage in the hot climate.
The three stories above grade house exhibition spaces and reading rooms. To
accommodate this arrangement, the RMA team created something that
resembles a building within a building: an inner one with a steel structure and
a skin of drywall and glass, and an outer one defined by manually operated
shutters, a top a sculptural concrete base.
Mehrotra's library has delicate plywood slats that can be adjusted and shifted
to mitigate the sun or let the breezes in. These finned facades are very effective,
along with skylights on the roof, which bring day light deep into the library,
reaching almost to its lowest level.

5.1.2 CONCLUSION
Here, the spaces are literally open to the campus, such as an upper-level terrace
that occupies the interstitial zone between the outer and inner shells. It offers a
sheltered spot for relaxed meetings and socializing. The informality flows out
of the building too, with people using its exterior areas in a similarly low-key
way-lounging on the deep, shaded sills of the base, chatting with each other,
and eating lunch. It is clear that the students have taken to the library, making
it their own. And in this way, the youthful building establishes a new
centrifugal core for its storied campus.

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5.2 Case study 2- YCMOU LIBRARY AT NASHIK
HIGHLIGHT OF THE PROJECT: Various sections of books available for
students and administrative staffs as well, Green building technology
incorporated to create a micro-climate within the building

LOCATION: Sawargaon- Nashik, Maharashtra

ARCHITECT: Ar. Sanjay Patil

PROJECT YEAR: 2014

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5.2.1 ANALYSIS
 Library and Resource centre of this university is one of the most appreciated
book hub. Along with a huge number of assorted books, the centre has
facility for researchers to study their matters thoroughly. The Library
building has been recognized as one of the best in Asia.
 Along with the academics in the university, the centre has a facility of
reading and studying for the administrative staff and student.
 Since the exterior facade has less punctures for the security reasons, the
building breathes through the well-integrated courtyards, skylights and
overlooking spaces.
 The building and the landscape blend so well with the surrounding that it
seamlessly looks one.
 The circular plan with a central spine makes the spaces easily accessible
reducing the travel distance.
 Conscious effort has been done to incorporate the green building
technology for energy efficient and sustainable design including the use of
eco-friendly materials, weather shading devices and rain water harvesting
to name a few.
 The understanding of the sun path derived the skylights that have been
positioned, orientated, angled and opened in such a way that they reduce
solar (thermal) gain by blocking the high summer, nowhere reducing or
hampering the interior ambient natural light. These skylights also act as
ventilation stacks. The vertical roof extractors (turbo ventilators) enhance
the stack effect. The structure is designed to be disable friendly.

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5.3 Case study 3- SEATLLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
HIGHLIGHT OF THE PROJECT: Multi- functional vertical space links
created, space provided includes
knowledge zones as well leisure, structural
influence.

LOCATION: Seattle, U.S

ARCHITECT: LMN Architects

PROJECT YEAR: May 2004

5.3.1 ANALYSIS
From the outside, you can see a large glass building, straight lines that intersect.
It is articulated by large blocks at different levels corresponding to the library
premises. It is a building that is in harmony with the skyline of Seattle and the
townscape of the city, helping to attract new economic activities, much of
which comes from tourism.
- CONCEPT- The concept involves the REINVENTION of the library as an
access point to information presented in a variety of media.
"The new library does not reinvent or modernize traditional, they are just
packaged in a new way," is explained in the OMA study.
The building was made flexible for future expansions, with the possibility of
grouping of spaces according to the needs of the building and the platforms
connected to the study would provide open spaces, work and social interaction.

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SPACES
 Inside the building, a spiral structure provides a continuous surface with
coated side shelves that offer different themed collections.
 The interior is divided into 5 distinguishable blocks from the outside: the
parking area, PUBLIC READING AREA and CAFÉ deployed in the
large atrium and main library space, area information, collections and
reading rooms and administration, all them culminates in a terrace on the
roof.
 The location of the book series is called "SPIRAL" and computing space
is called "MIXING CHAMBER". Shelves have the panels in extreme
indicators that help in the organization.
 The main feature of the interior is its large public spaces and leisure
reading, illuminated with natural light coming through the glass walls.
 Also, noteworthy plants collections, consisting of a ramp that goes over
4 floors.
 The library provides a "meeting level" with curved walls painted red and
a children's area with playful inclined columns.

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6 INFERENCE
It is acknowledged that public libraries
provide great value to their communities.
Hence, Value is defined by what materials and
services libraries provide to the communities.
The value of public libraries is often
discussed around these service provisions.

In the past, public libraries offered less access to

printed information, and limited public social and physical meeting places in
the community. But with the Digitized age the role and value of public libraries
has become enhanced by the advent of new information technologies. These
include workstations, increased available bandwidth, and provision of
computer training. Today, still in some communities, public libraries are the
sole provider of free access to the Internet.
It was observed that the most popular programs that can be offered in public
libraries are summer reading programs especially for children, families and
adults.
In case of rural areas, the local public library may have in addition to its main
branch, that could include a mobile library service comprise of one or more
buses or other transport furnished as a small public library, serving the
countryside according to a regular schedule.
It should be furnished with learning website for children that could carry
relevant information with on-line educational games and programs.
Services may be provided for other groups, such as large print or Braille
materials, books in these libraries are for young adult literature and other
materials for teenagers etc.

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7 CONCLUSION
In an age where information can be accessed anywhere, is the simultaneity of
all media and more importantly, the curatorship of their content that will make
a vital library.
Flexibility in contemporary libraries is conceived as the creation of generic
floors on which almost any activity can be developed. In practice, this means
that bookcases define generous, though harmless, reading areas on the opening
day, but through the relentless expansion of the collection inevitably come to
encroach on the public space.
In short, this form of flexibility, the library strangles the very attractions that
differentiate it from other information resources.

8 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 designing_libraries.pdf (designinglibraries.org.uk)
 B.Arch Thesis: Public Library at Jambhulwadi, Pune by
Ganesh Sutar, Aayojan School of Architecture and Design,
Pune - ArchitectureLive!
 B.Arch Thesis - A Public Library: An Approach To
Regeneration, At Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India,
by Ishita Parmar - ArchitectureLive!
 Public Library | WBDG - Whole Building Design Guide
 Modern Library Architecture: Types And Examples Of
Libraries In World | The Design Gesture
 public library architecture: Architectural Impact of Public
Library on Users’ Mental Health | shahnaz Javdani -
Academia.edu
 Architecture of Libraries | EBSCOpost
 The Architectural Evolution of Libraries - Architizer Journal

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 Step Inside the World’s 9 Most Futuristic Libraries |
Architectural Digest
 library architecture and design news, projects, and interviews
(designboom.com)
 see the 5 best public libraries from around the world in 2021
(designboom.com)
 Library Space Planning | Opening the Book
 (PDF) ARCHITECTURAL IMPLICATIONS OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENT FOR USERS' MENTAL HEALTH
(researchgate.net)
 Library architecture & design: a worldwide Wallpaper* guide |
Wallpaper
 Contemporary Library Architecture A Planning And Design
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 (PDF) Library Architecture: Some Observations
(researchgate.net)
 Designing for Community: 10 Essential Library Spaces
(demcointeriors.com)
 The Library as Intercommunity Hub | Architect Magazine
 The Small Public Library: Design Guide, Site Selection, and
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 Library Design: Five Things to Consider - BCI Libraries

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