Library Design Resources

I am extremely excited that my new school is building a new school library in the next few years. While I have entered at a time when first designs have already been created and the general idea of the space is already known, there is a long road ahead as we finalise the library design and what the space will look like. I’d like to document this journey on my website. 

Following librarians on networks and social media, there seems to be a wonderful trend of school libraries being renovated or redesigned. Hopefully this is a sign that school libraries and their staff are being valued by their school leadership and communities.

I needed a place to start collecting the library design ideas and research I was finding. I’m putting it here in a hope it might be helpful for others as well.

This post will be updated as I come across more sites and resources. It will reflect my own design preferences, but also a general sense of the research and ideas out there.

Websites and Resource Curation

My Pinterest Library Design Board.

School Library Refurbishment Padlet created by Matt Deleon which is a collaborative space. 

ALIA Design Awards 2021 

ALIA Design Award School Library Winner Gallery

School Library Designing Website created by Hilary Hughes. Includes research, case studies and resources. 

School Library Design Pinterest Board by Jane Ichord

Articles

How to Create the 21st-Century School Library of Your Dreams article by Margaret Sullivan.  

Library Spaces via Libraries Tasmania. 

21st-Century Libraries: The Learning Commons. 

(Re)Designing the library through school community participation by Dr Hilary Hughes via SCIS Connections.

Design Thinking for Ongoing Library Transformation. Anne Whisken, Sia Yannopoulos, Liz Campbell, Linden Carroll. 2017. 

Library Learning Spaces: One School Library’s Initial Design Brief. Anne Whisken. 2021. Synergy. 

Learning Landscapes: Teacher-librarians in the design process. Anne Whisken. 2014. Synergy. 

Reimagining the library landscape: an approach to school library design. Anne Whisken. 2017. Connections. 

Ten ways to transform your library into a flexible learning space. Liza Moss. 2018. Connections.

Podcasts

Library Learning Commons – School Librarians United

Hygge and Happiness – School Librarians United

Communal Space – School Librarians United

Build it and See What Happens with Austin McChord – Make:Cast

Books

School Spaces for Student Wellbeing and Learning: Insights from Research and Practice. 2019. Hilary Hughes, Jill Franz and Jill Willis (eds.).