Checklist of Library Building Design Considerations

Profound changes in information production and consumption have deeply disrupted how libraries function. At a minimum, libraries are repurposing space occupied by collections into space for readers. As capital budgets allow, digital media studios, makerspaces, meeting and group study rooms, and social spaces are replacing book stacks. Although renovation dominates new design activity, some institutions secure funds for new construction. Either way, library managers need to be adept in making the case for the project, ensuring the creation of an accurate building program, advocating for programmatic requirements, scrutinizing the impact of design decisions, and capitalizing on promotional opportunities. Although this seventh edition of Sannwald’s (Fowler Coll. of Business at San Diego State Univ.; Financial Management for Libraries) indispensable checklist lists revisions and updates in its preface, the structure and table of contents remain unchanged from the prior edition. New material, such as the critical client-architect-contractor relationship, is based on an external blog and is merely inserted into the chapter; disappointingly, it lacks the checklist format that is so useful elsewhere.