An analysis of the design characteristics of new public library buildings

Recent years have seen the opening of many large and expensive new public library buildings, including in Australia. These new libraries reflect the increasing emphasis placed on the role of the library as a community hub. This article reports on an analysis of eight newly-built public libraries in the Sydney area to answer the research question: What are the design characteristics and attributes of new public library buildings? Based on more than 140 photographs taken at eight public libraries, our thematic analysis identifies the physical artefacts and features present in each image, organising these into three overarching themes: aesthetics, flexibility and openness, and sustainability. The libraries, in their embrace of impactful architecture, open plan layouts, support for flexibility, and prioritisation of sustainability, represent examples of many of the modern public library trends identified in the literature. We also find heterogeneity in aspects of the designs–architectural style, colour palate, floor layout and approaches to lighting and ventilation–suggesting that libraries and their designers are able to meet the requirements of public library users in very different ways.