Literature review

What's public library?

Public library: A public library is an entity that is established under state enabling laws or regulators
to serve a community, district, or region, and that provides at least the following:-

1) An organized collection of printed or other library materials, or a combination thereof.

2) Paid staff.

3) An established schedule in which services of the staff are available to the public.

4) The facilities necessary to support such a collection, staff, and schedule.

5) Is supported in whole or in part with public funds.

Overview
Public libraries can be differentiated from academic, school, and special libraries because
they function to serve the needs of a diverse service population including small children,
students, professionals, and the elderly. In contrast, academic libraries serve college and
university faculty and students; school libraries serve elementary, middle, and high school
students and faculty; and special libraries (such as Presidential Libraries) serve scholars and
experts within narrowly defined fields.

Types of libraries
There are four main types of libraries:

1. Academic libraries
2. School libraries
3. Special libraries
4. Public libraries

Functions of public library

Each public library has a function to serve its community in different ways, but its core
functions are:
  To make available all of the information entertainment (within limits), and resources
possible to every patron, regardless the age, financial statues, or any other factors.
 To provide a quiet, safe place for study, research, reading and learning.
 To educate, inform, and entertain its patrons through programming for all groups.
 To protect the rights of all the users, including the right to visit the library and check out
any materials (within certain requirements) without judgment, censorship, or
interference.
 To keep a collection of local materials, such as newspapers archives, genealogical
records, historic nonfiction, and fiction by known authors, which may not exist
elsewhere.
 Many libraries, even in tiny towns, are relied upon by the unemployed, those in
poverty, and even the homeless for provision of public computers with internet access,
which patrons may use to seek and apply for jobs, communicate with their beloved
ones, etc.
 Public libraries often partner up with others in regional library systems now as well. This
partnership expands both a library’s reach of influence and its availability of resources.

What's expected form a public library to offer?

1. A good range of books: people are avid for information and they know that in most
cases books are the best source of high-quality knowledge.

2. Longer opening hours: the first thought that comes to library visitors mind when
thinking of going to the library is whether the library will be open at a convenient time
for them.

3. Core library service for free: users want free access to information but also to the
libraries facility.

4. Help form knowledgeable librarians: we all love librarians because they represent the
“human Google” of our local community.

4 important spaces every modern library should have

1. A social space for interaction and knowledge exchange: A recent report represent the
young generation, are a social generation and they consume and spread knowledge
while socializing.

2. A quiet space for contemplation: For centuries, the library has represented a sacred
space for knowledge consumption.
 3. A maker space for innovation: One important expectation from the user is to create
more room for them and not for the books.

4. A neutral and trusted space for public use: It can be a peaceful place for insightful work
for professionals, a playground for families or even an information point for those with
limited resources and much more.

What are the areas we need in a public library?

 Collection space (including public electronic workstation space)

 User seating space
 Staff work space
 Meeting space
 Special use space
 Non-assignable space (including mechanical space)

How to determine the land area needed for a public library?

 STEP 1: DETERMINE THE SERVICE POPULATION

 A projection of the needs of the design (service) population for 20 years is the start
of the library design process. This design projection will allow the library to serve the
future needs of its population of users and allows the designer to determine the
space needed for the preceding categories of library spaces.
 Population estimates can be gathered from local municipalities, county, or regional
planning commissions, or from a state's Office of Policy and Management.

 STEP 2: DETERMINE NEEDS FOR COLLECTION SPACE

 The number of volumes of books, non-print materials (music CDs, audio books, etc.),
and periodicals that are maintained by the library can change from 5 to 25 volumes per
square foot depending on shelf height, aisle width, and the kind of material, whether it's
magazines or encyclopedias.

 STEP 3: DETERMINE SPACE NEEDS FOR ELECTRONIC WORKSTATION SPACE

 Work/study desks and tables in the primary library space and in meeting rooms must
provide connections for computers and other devices that utilize two-way
communication services, such as the Internet
 STEP 4: DETERMINE SPACE NEED FOR USER SEATING

 In general, public libraries should provide at least 5 seats for every 1,000 users in its
service population. As a guide, public libraries that serve no more than 10,000 users
should accommodate 7 to 10- seats for every 1,000 users. These guides do not include
the seats needed in meeting rooms or staff areas. The number of seats can be adjusted
depending on the library.

 STEP 5: DETERMINE SPACE NEEDS FOR STAFF WORK AREAS

 Staff space should include space for computers for online access to outside resources.

 STEP 6: DETERMINE THE SPACE NEEDS FOR MEETING ROOMS

 Many public libraries incorporate meeting space for library- and community- sponsored
meetings or events. Meeting rooms also serve as staff or library patron training space.

 STEP 7: DETERMINE SPACE NEEDS FOR SPECIAL-USE AREAS

 The need for special-use spaces (such as a history or genealogy room, a job center, or a
community information area) will vary depending on the function of the library as
determined in its written program.

 STEP 8: DETERMINE SPACE NEEDS FOR NON-ASSIGNABLE AREAS (SUCH AS

MECHANICAL ROOMS)

 Non-assignable spaces are important for the general operation of the library facility but
they are not a direct part of the services offered by the library. These spaces include
mechanical rooms, bathrooms, entrance halls, corridors, stairs, security rooms, and
elevators.