Planning and design of library / Godfrey Thompson

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Libraries -- 2. Preparing the way -- 3. Primary Brief -- 4. Primary Brief (cont.) -- 5. Feasibility study -- 6. Secondary brief -- 7. Outline planning -- 8. Layouts and critical sizes -- 9. Layouts and critical sizes -- 10. Reading areas -- 11. Other areas -- 12. Furniture and fittings -- 13. Floors -- 14. Circulation -- 15. Lighting -- 16. Security and protection -- 17. Physical conditions -- 18. Enclosing elements and finishes -- 19. Detail design -- 20. Conversions.

This book is meant for beginners: not only for students but also for those, however skilled and experienced in their own professions, who are approaching for the first time the fascinating and important task of creating a new library. Its theme is that few architects in such a situation know very much about libraries, and far fewer librarians know anything about architectural planning. The literature on the subject is already large but it is dominated by a book so outstanding that any new one must appear to be presumptuous. No librarian needs to be told that the reference is to Keyes D. Metcalf's Planning academic and research library buildings, a book based on wide experience and considerable research. The justifications for another book in the field are that Metcalf deals only with academic and research libraries, that the book was published seven years ago and that much has happened in the last seven years. Another reason is that Metcalf deals almost entirely with American practice; this book deals with British practice. One further point: Metcalf is an expert and he writes mainly for experts, dealing with problems (for example of construction) in a way which requires librarians to think in architectural terms. This may be the right approach to the specialist library building consultant, but the less experienced need guidance expressed in more general terms.