The document discusses the evolving role of public libraries as crucial social infrastructure, emphasizing their design and programmatic engagement with the community. It highlights various architectural examples and the importance of fostering discovery, curiosity, and emotional connections through innovative library spaces. The text also reflects on the lessons libraries can learn from various cultural and creative influences, encouraging adaptability and new ideas in library services.

1. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Is it the the last mainstay of social
infrastructure?
@malbooth

2. Customs House
Library, Sydney | a
great example of
brilliant design and
successful
connected programs
and services |
refurbishment by
PTW Architects in
association with
Tanner Architects &
Lacoste+Stevenson

3. Libraries are not
circuses, shopping
malls, banks or Apple
stores
(but probably have a little to learn
from each of these)

4. Apple Store, Manhattan, NYC |

5. MONA:some thoughts
leaving it to chance | don’t aim for
perfection | the power of not
knowing | aim for wonder, awe,
inspiration, delight, serendipity &
surprise | more random | more trust |

6. MONA

7. MONA

8. MONA

9. UTS Interior & Spatial Design student work exhibited recently in UTS Library |

10. The importance of
Discovery & Curiosity
for libraries, their collections,
content & context

11. Columbus Circle, Manhattan | because search is like White Pages & discovery is like Colombus in 1492

12. Snøhetta’s yellow pathways | James B. Hunt Jnr. Library, NCSU

13. What would Andy Warhol
or David Walsh do?
libraries have a lot more to learn
from them than from Jack Welch or
the Harvard Business Review

14. Watch Andy Warhol:A documentary Film | by Ric Burns (image from an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum, NYC

15. Escaping the old ways
can be harder than
having new ideas
John Seely Brown (paraphrased)

16. The Morgan Library & Museum, Manhattan, NYC |

17. You’ll always have to
deal with Ambiguities
so don’t throw out all the
babies with the bath water

18. Still functional & popular | Main Reading Room, New York Public Library

19. Snøhetta’s modern reading room | James B. Hunt Jnr. Library, NCSU

20. Identity &
Inspiration

21. King’s Library
and public
spaces | The
British Library,
London

22. Foster + Partners | Philological Library, Freie Universität, Berlin

23. Foster + Partners | Philological Library, Freie Universität, Berlin

24. Foster + Partners | Philological Library, Freie Universität, Berlin

25. Foster + Partners | Philological Library, Freie Universität, Berlin

26. Culture
connecting and engaging
with the community

27. Customs House Library, Sydney | Vivid Festival, 2012

28. Moshe Safdie |
Main Library, Salt
Lake City

29. Exhibition of student works from the 2014 Global Textiles Studio | UTS Library, 2015 (image by Jackson Mann)

30. Delivering an
Experience
emotional connection

31. Customs House Library, Sydney |

32. Harvested Instagram images | James B. Hunt Jnr. Library, NCSU

33. Asia Pacific Design Library | State Library of Queensland

34. New Media
Literacies
visual, musical, procedural &
cinematic:it isn’t just about
books

35. Kapi
Warku |
Painting
by Paniny
Mick a
senior
Amata
woman

36. Teaching & Visualisation Lab | James B. Hunt Jnr. Library, NCSU

37. Games Room | UTS Library

38. Media Editing Studio | UTS Library

39. Design &
Behaviour

40. Rain
Garden
Reading
Lounge |
James B.
Hunt Jr.
Library,
NCSU

41. Silent Reading Room, 5th floor | UTS Library

42. Leave enough
Space!
don’t try to cram too much
stuff in

43. Historic hall of the Hamburger Bahnhof | Berlin

44. Rain Garden Reading Lounge | James B. Hunt Jr. Library, NCSU

45. Can you design for
Advocacy?
sustainability | diversity | Open
Access | fair IP & Copyright |
net neutrality |

46. Sustainability at The Grove Library | Perth, WA

47. Kuring-Gai
Campus Library |
UTS