Library Buildings: Planning and Programming

There are many books and articles dealing with planning a library building project. This article presents the need for project teams, describes their composition, and presents their role in the planning process. The role of the building consultant is outlined and the qualities desired in the building consultant presented. The space estimation process is presented, including charts of space required for selected library equipment. The building program document is described. Several examples from a building program are presented to illustrate the types of information found in these documents. The importance of inclusivity throughout the planning process is emphasized as well as the importance of including enough space for future expansion.