A Critique of the paper ‘Library Architecture around the World’ by Garba, Chiwendu and Mustapha

For the past two decades, libraries have been dramatically reinventing their physical spaces. The traditional model of cavernous reading rooms and dark warrens separated by stacks of books is incompatible with the digital age. The library of today and tomorrow must provide versatile spaces that support a wide range of users’ learning and research activities while accommodating rapid advances in information technology (IT). As expectations for library resources and physical facilities have changed, stakeholders, library management and librarians have been called upon to transform libraries in innovative ways. This paper highlights library architecture, evolution of library architecture, principles of library architecture and management and features of a good library architecture. It was also concluded and recommended while designing library building is that it is not for librarian or the architecture interior designer, it is meant for library users. Hence their comfort should be priority. Considering the emerging library services and the new roles of the librarians in an ever changing and knowledge-intensive environment, there is a call for renaissance in library buildings. A modern library building that is designed and operates with the features of openness, flexibility, multifunctional and artistry is recommended for every institution or organization. Library building and space management should be actively taught in library schools, in order to prepare future library administrators. The community and staff should be sensitized on the operational features of a library building.