Tomorrow's library

The buildings in which we house libraries are like other special purpose structures; the needs they fill are significantly influenced by technology. A prime function of the library building is to house collections (of people, material, and systems) as well as collections of collections (networks). Electronic formats for library material offer new approaches to information service delivery. An example, the information access station, typifies how traditional functions can be reconfigured with respect to space. Flexible design can help ensure that tomorrow's libraries meet the users' needs, but we need to question all our assumptions about building design including those driven by our understanding of the browsing process.