Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
90 Canal Street, Suite 500
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
617-725-1860
800-952-7403 (in MA)
617-725-0140 (fax)
Need more information or help along the way?
Andrea Bono-Bunker, Library Building Specialist
617-725-1860 x246
andrea.bunker@mass.gov
Library Space: A Planning Resource for Librarians
This planning guide outlines a set of best practices for library planning. A collaboration between Sasaki, an international architecture and planning firm, and the MBLC, it was released in 2020.
Hundreds of images, ranging from teen spaces to acoustic treatments, are available via Pinterest:
Go to http://www.pinterest.com/laurenstara to browse ideas and share with your designers.
Author | Title | Pub date | Description |
Barclay & Scott | Library Renovation, Maintenance, and Construction Handbook | 2011 | Practical, hands-on advice from a knowledgeable architect, from building systems to interiors and signage |
Carr | The Green Library Planner | 2013 | How to incorporated sustainability into a construction or renovation project |
Cohen | Designing and Space Planning for Libraries: a Behavioral Guide | 1979 | An oldie but a goodie in terms of the behavioral issues involved in planning a good library |
Feinberg & Keller | Designing Space for Children and Teens in Libraries and Public Places | 2010 | Designing for these special audiences |
Holt | Planning Library Buildings and Facilities: From Concept to Completion | 1989 | A little outdated, but the basic concepts stay the same and there's good stuff here |
LLAMA (ALA) | Building Blocks for Planning Functional Library Space | 2011 [3rd ed] | A compilation of information about how much space to allocate for various pieces of equipment and furnishings in a library |
Gunnels, Green & Butler | Joint Libraries: Models That Work | 2012 | Case studies of joint library projects, with ideas for management and operation |
McCarthy | Managing Your Library Construction Project: a Step-by-Step Guide | 2007 | Working with building professionals and how to deal with all the paperwork required for a construction project |
Piotrowicz & Osgood | Building Science 101: a Primer for Librarians | 2010 | The basics of building systems and methods, written for those with no building background |
Sannwald | Checklist of Library Building Design Considerations | 2009 [5th ed] | Every checklist you could possibly think of, from space planning to dedication ceremonies |
Schlipf | Constructing Library Buildings that Work | 2020 | An updated, abridged version of his other title below |
Schlipt & Moorman | The Practical Handbook of Library Architecture: Creating Building Spaces that Work | 2018 | A comprehensive and detailed compendium of library planning and design from the librarian's point of view |
Schmidt & Etches | Useful, Usable, Desirable | 2014 | User experience comes to libraries -- at last! |
Woodward | Countdown to a New Library: Managing the Building Project | 2000 | Written from a librarian's point of view |
All these books (and more) are available to borrow from the MBLC's Professional Collection. Place a request through NobleNet or contact Lauren.