DESIGNING LIBRARIES
Beijing and beyond – priorities and trends in public library provision
The revamped Designing Libraries (
http://designinglibraries.org.uk) website is a vital international resource for those involved or interested in the design of new libraries or the remodelling of existing ones. Here, DL Director Ayub Khan looks at a new flagship library in China, along with some trends we all need to consider.
BEIJING Library, which opened in December 2023, (
https://tinyurl.com/DesLibs1) boasts the largest library read- ing space in the world. The award-winning library and community hub has been described by IFLA as a model of nature-integrated design. Not just a library, it is also a museum, concert hall, arts centre and technology hub. The building covers around 75,000 square metres and welcomes 20,000 visitors a day at the weekends. Beijing demonstrates current priorities for library build-
ings everywhere. Flexibility is built into the design which offers a range of community services and attractions under one huge roof supported by China’s largest load-bearing glass system. One of three new cultural buildings in Tongzhou District, the library is part of a masterplan to turn the area into a lively arts and cultural destination, and an extension of Beijing’s urban fabric. Innovative technology has been used to enhance the visitor experience and ensure environmen- tal responsibility. The library was awarded China’s highest sustainability standard for minimising both its built and operational carbon footprint. Beijing’s design is inextricably linked to its natural surround- ings with interior spaces inspired by the hills around it and the nearby Tonghu river. The architects set out to foster “an emotional connection between books, people and the natural landscape beyond”. They say “the building firmly rejects the argument of the library becoming a derelict typology with the numerous possibilities it creates”. This massive library, then, echoes the concerns of library designers in all places, whatever the size of the building. Beijing is a cultural landmark, innovative and striking, rooted in and responsive to the natural landscape, environmentally sustainable, and future-friendly. It provides flexible spaces that are, above all, customer-focused. For most of us, library design – or redesign – projects are on a much smaller scale. However, there are some common trends in public library provision that should inform and guide the design process. Here’s a quick summary, with ref- erence to my own library authority, Warwickshire:
l Books and reading are still very much at the heart of what libraries do. However recent decades have seen a shift towards a wider remit and role for libraries as cultural cen- tres and community hubs;
10 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
© Yumeng Zhu Beijing City Library.
l the growth of digital libraries, offering an ever-increas- ing range of online services, was accelerated by coronavirus pandemic restrictions on physical services and interactions;
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Beijing’s design is inextricably linked to its natural surroundings with interior spaces inspired by the hills around it and the nearby Tonghu river.
Summer 2025
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