Communities and Computing

What Form does Information Follow

Information may not take on any particular form but, libraries will continue to be built and developed. In the world of architecture the architect who said, "Form follows function", Lois Sullivan felt that buildings were to house their contents. Libraries of the past were built on ideas such as this, but this was a time when physical elements like books and card catalogs were the main inhabitants of the library.

From one of the interviews with Frank Schmitzer at the University Hills library, he identified the library of the future as full of computers. This led me to wonder what future library buildings would look like, architecturally speaking. Peter Knight, has explored this issue in his paper; Functionality of Buildings: an investigation into library building, the architecture and in particular for the next millennium.

"In London a development is being created which combines libraries, colleges, galleries, performance space and healthy living advice, these are being called 'Idea Stores' and are making libraries more than just warehouses of books."

Importantly he identifies the issues of the Library Administration and Management Association and their building strategies.

The four areas of change are very interesting that he lists;

These issues are becoming increasingly important especially when building a different kind of digital library. It is very significant that the users and the technology are addressed as important concerns. We may not know what the future holds architecturally, but it is good to know that the library will definitely follow function if guidelines or concerns like above are pondered.

some other links on architecture and libraries

http://fox.nstn.ca/~jbeaumon/ola98/tsld019.htm
http://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/library/photos.html