Planning Library Spaces

A Practical Guide for Library Building Projects

Lauren Stara (Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners), Kelsey Kruse

$120

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
13 November 2025

Public buildings: civic, commercial, industrial; Library & information services

This book is for librarians, trustees, local government officials,

architects, and interior designers who are designing or planning to

build, renovate, or reconfigure library spaces.

Most librarians embark upon a library building project with little experience in space planning, architecture, or construction. Written by a registered architect and professional librarian, this is a guidebook for librarians embarking on a library building project. It includes a brief history of library facilities, placing them in the context of public buildings. An introduction to library planning principles and a discussion of library design concepts and trends are presented, including the impact of the 2020 pandemic on library design. Sections on working with architects, building design/construction terminology and the basics of reading architectural drawings provide insight into unfamiliar jargon and visual communication. Extensive illustrations and photographs show examples of library layouts and furniture and equipment, and the final chapter addresses the challenges inherent in a major building project.

As library services change, buildings must adapt to accommodate and provide these new innovations. Buildings are living things, and this book will offer guidance to those embarking on a project of any scale or size.

By: Lauren Stara (Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners)
Illustrated by: Kelsey Kruse
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 254mm, Width: 178mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781538182406
ISBN 10: 1538182408
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 13 November 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Lauren Stara, B.Arch, RA, MaLS, is a registered architect and a professional librarian specializing in library design. In her architectural career, she was a designer for the Bronx Zoo and Walt Disney Imagineering. Her library experience includes everything from front desk clerk to director, and she has also served as an adjunct instructor for library science students in the United States, Canada, and Bulgaria. As a Library Building Specialist for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for over a decade, Lauren administered construction grants and assisting libraries with building projects. She now consults, writes, and speaks on library building design. Kelsey Kruse is a registered architect living and practicing in Baltimore, MD, since 1985. Her focus with these firms has been hospitality, financial, and institutional work. She was Graphics Editor for Interior Graphic Standards. Other illustration work included Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction; Specifying Interiors and A Guide to Commercial Construction and FF&E for Residential and Commercial Interiors Projects.

Reviews for Planning Library Spaces: A Practical Guide for Library Building Projects

""An honest guide of what to expect during the library design and construction process, written by someone with experience on both sides of the table. A must-read for any librarians with a project on the radar."" --Toni Lombardozzi, WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C, Library Design + Construction Consultant, Early Rain LLC ""A successful library building project blends and balances the distinct perspectives of two professions - librarianship and architecture. With training as a librarian and as an architect, Lauren Stara brings a unique viewpoint and voice to the ongoing discussion of how library buildings should be planned and what they should prioritize."" --Anders C. Dahlgren, Library Planning Associates