The Dark Side of Library Architecture: The Persistence of Dysfunctional Designs

One of the most disappointing aspects of library architecture is the endless repetition of the same two or three dozen dysfunctional design ideas. Bad design ideas come from many sources, not only architects and interior designers, but also librarians, library consultants, and various governmental bodies. This article describes some of the most commonly repeated design errors in library architecture and provides suggestions on how to prevent them in advance or deal with them after they are committed.