Why Outdoor Spaces Are Essential for the 21st-Century Library
Outdoor spaces are key assets to libraries. From walking paths to programming areas to teaching tools, there are so many ways libraries to can use these spaces to serve their communities.
Blog
The Studio at Anythink: Empowering Customers to be Creators
The Studio at Anythink Libraries in Colorado embraces the philosophy that customers thrive when given the chance to collaborate with others and become creators. By providing tools, programming, and guidance from artists in residence, The Studio is providing customers with opportunities to pursue their passions.
Take a Virtual Tour of The Mix
From choosing the tech tools to naming the space, teens were involved every step of the way in designing The Mix, San Francisco Public Library’s ultimate teen experience. Take a visual tour of The Mix’s 4,000+ square feet of designated space for teens to invent, create, study and just plain mess around.
International Library Spotlight: Holy Cross College, Bury, UK
When it was time to redesign the academic library at Holy Cross College, in Bury, UK, planners knew they needed a space that would meet everyone’s needs — individual study spaces, collaborative learning environments and technology. See their approach.
Top 3 Demco Featured Libraries of 2015
Today’s libraries are meeting customers’ expectations in new ways. Have a look at 3 of our favorites that highlight some of the top library design trends of 2015.
International Library Spotlight: The Forum Towcester, Northhamptonshire, UK
Tour the Forum, a stunning new library in the UK. This multifunctional civic building provides a variety of services to citizens in one convenient location.
The Library as a Center for Innovation
Today, people need different skills to thrive. See why the 21st century library is the right place for critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.
On-Trend Products for Today’s Libraries: 2015
Children’s play spaces, collaborative spaces and makerspaces topped the list of library trends in 2015. See why they’re still relevant.
Creative Spaces Support Lifelong Learning
Library makerspaces are rich in possibilities and opportunities for today’s communities. Learn more about creating your own engaging, effective space.
International Library Spotlight: Kingston Library, Milton Keynes, UK
European libraries have long been a source of inspiration in library design and the child space at the Kingston Library in the UK is no exception.
Function Over Form: Transforming School Libraries From the Inside Out
Expectations are changing and students have diverse needs. A library design professional talks about the new school library and its exciting implications.
Inside Library Directors’ Minds & How to Give Them What They Really Want
At Demco’s What’s Next Forum leading library directors from around the nation gather to share their insights about library trends. See what they shared.
2014: A Retrospective on Libraries
Have you noticed a shift in how K–12, higher education or public libraries spend their budgets? See why library renovation is gaining popularity.
Case Study: San José Public Library System
Known as one of the most innovative U.S. library systems, the San José Public Library is a champion of public library design and creative programs.
Making Your Libraries Friendly for Mobile Users
These days everyone is on a mobile device (or two). How does it affect library design? Discover the physical space needs that go along with mobile devices.
Wayfinding & Wayshowing
One’s ability to navigate and understand place is dependent upon maps, language, past experiences and contextual clues. Over time, experiences give us a basis of knowledge for understanding a hierarchy of information. Instinctually we apply this in new situations and draw analogies. However, there are times when this isn’t enough because things change. Experience is…
On-Trend Products For Today’s Libraries
As libraries continue their shift to dynamic community centers, they’re linking residents to information, services, technology and other people within their own community, and globally. This has prompted new and exciting emerging library trends. At the top of the list of priorities for today’s libraries: Designing multifunctional spaces that offer flexibility and variety to better…
Patrons at the Heart of Studio 300
Digital media labs and makerspaces continue to be relatively new and popular additions to public libraries. We have been fortunate to be able to learn from the early adopters who originated the basic ideas around what these spaces can mean to the library. This experience has helped provide many resources available to help you plan…
The Future of Libraries
Libraries have been Demco’s business for over 100 years, so preparing for their continual evolution has always been our focus. We like to be proactive instead of reactive. In 2013, we sponsored several events to hear directly from librarians about their vision for the Library of the Future. Demco’s Branch Out Talks at ALA Chicago…
A Global View of Library Trends
Embracing Kids as Kids A recent conversation with Corrine Hill, Director of the Chattanooga Public Library, spurred some investigation into what is happening in libraries beyond the U.S. Hill mentioned her travels to several libraries in Denmark, where in her words, they are really “rockin’ it” in children’s spaces. Hill cited that the libraries she…
Library Directors’ Favorite Features
Ever wonder what Library Directors say when you are not listening, or what special features your colleagues are designing into their library projects? Well, Demco asked Library Directors to tell us what their favorite feature was in their new building or recently renovated space, and this is what they had to say: Green Valley Ranch…
Empowering Teens with Environments that Cultivate Creativity
Marilyn Mason, then the Director of the Cleveland Public Library, gave us one of the wisest pieces of advice when we began working with her. She told the design team, “Be visionary, because the realism will take care of itself.” She was right. A project’s program, budget and schedule will dictate a required result further…
Innovative New Products Support Emerging Library Trends
As libraries continue their shift to dynamic community centers, they’re linking residents to information, services, technology and other people within their own community, and globally. This has prompted new and exciting emerging library trends including private and semi-private meeting spaces, media sharing and interactivity. When working with design professionals, consultants and customers throughout the country,…
Case Study: Pierce County Libraries
Making Way for New Service Needs The Pierce County Library System serves over 500,000 community members across 19 libraries. In 2013, they were one of 10 libraries to receive the National Medal for Museum and Library Services. This dynamic and innovative system is constantly adapting spaces and programs to meet the present-day needs of their…