Economical design and smooth functioning of libraries require detailed preplanning before the architect begins to draw. This preplanning and coordination can be facilitated by an interior designer deft in communication skills and willing to become acquainted with library functions. Flow charts, spatial analysis, and layouts are useful tools to…

The hazard of fire is of great concern to libraries due to combustible books and new plastics used in construction and interiors. Building codes and standards can offer architects and planners guidelines to follow but these standards should be closely monitored, updated, and researched for fire prevention. (DS)

This paper discusses the design of flexible and intelligent library buildings. The first section addresses how flexibility, as one of the requirements of a library building, that has high priority in the planning process. Intelligent libraries are considered in the second section, and functionality is stressed. The third section examines…