What would a good public library even look like in your opinion? Probably "no homeless problem" but would it be more modern? Lots of floors? Just really big with tall ceilings? Study rooms? Unique features? Coffee shops?

>>24568981 (OP)
corduroy recliners (Most libraries I've been in are pretty uncomfortable. I feel I might as well just read at home), segregated age spaces, and little nooks and crannies for furtive coitus. I like the idea of coffee shops but I wonder how shit wouldn't just get ruined all the time. Maybe just a separate section like the starbuckses in barnes and nobleses would work. Also libraries should be in malls and transportation stations. I'd probably be more likely to drop in and read a magazine or a few chapters if I didn't have to go out of my way to drive to a library in the middle of a sidewalkless suburb

>>24568981 (OP)
No idea but sf main is pretty great.

>>24568981 (OP)
Fireplace room.

>>24568981 (OP)
1) It needs to be reader-first. If you don't have both individual and group seating with tables available it's inherently a bad library
2) Intelligently design shelf positions & seating to ensure both group ups and mingling. The airport novel segment probably doesn't need group seating, but we can put it in view of the manga/comic shelves, so mommy can keep an eye on her progeny while she looks for something.
Earth science, medicine, or other primarily memorization-based subjects should probably have several group seats to encourage studying together.
Extending from that
3) Don't be afraid of dark corners. Many book readers are weird in the head. Have places you can retreat into. A singular table with an old-timey lamp on it way behind the VHS tape shelf? Why not?
4) Have a central hub with rows of hot/cold/room temperature water dispensers

Homeless people are sliced by slicers at the front gates, the gates can instantly detect if you are homeless and if they do you get sliced. There are also etiquette rules. Eat loudly, clear your throat or cough repeatedly, sniffle repeatedly without just blowing your nose and putting an end to the need to sniffle, do anything weird in general like clip your fucking nails in the library, anything that violates basic consideration for others, and you get sliced. Put out an "Architect needed for big modern library" ad and when all the art school faggots who want to make it into a brutalist prison or glass funhouse, they get sliced. Then hire a real architect with experience making real buildings, ones people actually like being in. It should feel like when people actually went to the library to do research back in the day, like pic related. The chairs should be comfy and the hall should be well lit but not in that depressing "abstract public space" way where it's meant to be easy to hose off the hobo piss at the end of the day. It should be old-timey but not too old-timey. There should be various different study rooms for people who like different kinds of rooms with different lighting conditions, and a covered rooftop study area, and weird nooks for autistic people who like to study in nooks, and even little balconies for people who want to study on a little balcony. There should be offices and carrels you can rent for cheap, and if you abuse them you get sliced. There should be an info desk AND a circulation desk, and the circulation desk people should be nice and polite and not weird old crotchety fucks or bitchy women or unaccountably uppity blacks, and the info desk people should be proper librarians who can teach people how to do research by answering queries and showing the process on a dual monitor setup. There will be NO public computers in the library, so the library won't feel like a cheap gaudy rundown shithole with aging broken computers, but people can bring their laptops. There will be ONE cafe, and it will have fast service and be separated from the quiet areas so you can talk in there, and the coffee will be very cheap and good, and everybody who works there will be polite and not an uppity black or snooty woman. Different floors will have different kinds of chairs so you can find out which floor has the best chairs for you. If you "whisper-yell" in the library as if that's somehow quiet enough not to bother people, you get sliced fucking big time, by me personally.

Never been to a library without comfy atmousphere

>>24568981 (OP)
Way too much empty space in that pic.

>>24568981 (OP)
I don't mind the homeless chillin' at the library -- I've been there, I get it -- but I just wish they wouldn't take up space in the fiction section and bother and scare people by acting weird and crazy when they're tweaked out.

>>24568981 (OP)
More shelves, less space. More isolated chairs and tables. No open planning. Computers can't be used for anything but look up items. Food and drink forbidden. No newspapers (fuck the pensioners). No cafe, no study rooms, no features. Just all around reduce the noise level and make it an unattractive place to hang out if you're not actively reading.

>>24569910
This

>>24568981 (OP)

It would NOT have an open-air atrium like that. The major local library has an open-air plan exactly like that, and what this does in practice, is it guarantees that EVERYONE in the entire building gets distracted and bothered and EVERYBODY gets to hear it when one of the feral schizos starts acting out, shouting into the all-commnicating void as security boots them out. literal man-hours of study and retention: lost. Day: ruined. Even assuming a well-behaved society, I would still oppose such plans for libraries, for the basic noise communicating reason.

This sort of thing is a perfect example of the architect wanting to show off their own acumen, and not paying serious attention to what the building is for. A more classical style with enclosed rooms, divided floors and more compartmentalized spaces would be preferable. Not for the usual chud reasons to enjoy classical architecture, but for the more practical reason that such a design helps to baffle noise and keep things fucking QUIET. Designers in general hate books-as-objects, because a book collection or library represents a block of physical stuff that they either feel a need to get rid of altogether to do a re-design (which, to be fair, is their whole job), or if they can't, they feel a need to "design around" the blocks of bookshelves. Put their own touch on things.

I don't mind modernist architecture. In fact, I enjoy some brutalist buildings precisely because they get such a visceral negative reaction out of normies and the non-autistic. But where libraries are concerned, a more closed, anechoic plan is imperative.

>>24568981 (OP)
Pic related. It would be outdoors and lit by the sun. It would have every book or a small pile of books at the most laid out at one table. It would have one single floor, and the floor would be made of the same thing tennis courts are. You could move around without getting in anyone's way. The books would be laid out in a grid so if you had to get to one quickly you could just run for it. Every ten tables or so would have a coffee machine ready for you with hot coffee, if you get tired or just want to chill. It would have CCTV to televise anything interesting going on, and it would employ felines to keep the rats and bugs out. It would be cleaned by a janitorial staff 24/7. Philosophers would come to it and debate about anything they want to. If there were any disputes over books the disputers would gather around the book they're disputing and talk it out peacefully. The only librarians would be kindly old black women. No eye contact allowed unless you're debating, and there are no chairs or places to recline, just the floor.

>>24568981 (OP)
This is the winter plan of my ideal library. Every book is still on its own table and on one floor, but it's no longer an open-air space. A huge semi-transparent canvas is put over the entire floor to cover it from snow, and the floor is transformed into ice. To ensure nobody slips on the ice every third row will have a transport zamboni pulling a personal-size chariot playing soft christmas music which anybody can hitch a ride on. The coffee machines will be swapped out for hot chocolate machines. Anyone can write to the library from November 25th until December 15th in order to stock their favorite book, which would be a free christmas gift for all library members (you can take it home with you). The feline pest control team is replaced by a different feline species that can stand the cold better. Instead of philosophers, Christians would be permitted to come to the library and tel labout the birth of Jesus. The librarians would wear Christmas dresses. There is still nowhere to sit, so patrons would go back in the chariot.

>>24571224
Open-air atriums do waste space and heating, I just thought this was somewhat visually interesting although those mezzanine levels are useless.

Based on what I've seen and been to (including the college library) it would be this:
>clearly at least two different buildings slammed together, an older historic one built pre-1940 and a more modern, multi-story (3+ floors) connected together, either through enclosed atrium (no more than two floors), directly, or with skywalk
>plenty of practically unused stacks to get lost in (including narrow ones)
>HUGE historic section with rare books, microfilms, directories, and so on
>a whole maps room
>variety of seating options on each floor
>fiction segregated into childrens' areas and wine aunt area
>separate manga sections for minors and adults
>no computers except for reference
>copy machines readily accessible or easy scanning direct to email/cloud/flash drive
>small coffee shop in the basement serving coffee, tea, and light fare (with the vending machines)
>a way to actually purchase books you like, provided it is not rare
>no displays featuring blacks/gay/minority shit
>no displays with "banned books" unless it has "anti-semetic texts" as Reddit would call it

>>24571254
>>24571323
O_O

>>24569060

i like a lot of this, though i wouldn't necessarily call those hard wooden chairs in the image comfy.

i wonder if it's possible to make a small non-profit library where you have to pay for a membership and swipe in like a gym. boot (or slice) people who are disturbances.

>>24571627
Someone posted recently about a private library they own that works like that. I guess it would be even better to get non-profit status because you could collect tax-deductable donations, including donations of books.

>>24568981 (OP)
soundproof booths, like a capsule hotel, where I can just chill under a blanket and read

>>24571463

I do think it's reasonable to have one big "grand room", architects must be granted that. I can think of one such recently completed branch and I felt that my tax dollars were well spent on that one, just a simple, modern, pleasant design with faux-classical conceits (a basic arch with what looks like wood paneling across the top). But it shouldn't communicate to the entire building in the case of a very large building, as in my personal negative example (and which I project onto the OP picture, which looks extremely similar).

Well I am building an archival library to preserve the endangered Timbuktu Manuscripts of Mali as a part of a larger zawiya, which is quite literally a lodge for homeless Muslim ascetics.

This serves a dual function, which is to preserve the Islamic manuscripts of West Africa from being destroyed and to attract students who study said manuscripts, as a zawiya functions as a mosque, madrasa, and monastery.

The architectural style is white mud brick, the Tunisian style, and the design itself is Al Janad Mosque in Yemen. In building the educational institution it may require expansion with additional buildings. The location is rural Alabama.

>>24571720

I have been given the blessing to do so from the Shia Sayyid of Iraq, the living blood descendants of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Salafists threaten the manuscripts with willful destruction in attacks on the library, hundreds of thousands of said manuscripts have been transferred by NGOs to protect them from destruction.

They are still looking for sponsors to take up the cause of preserving them and so we have decided to take this responsibility, it is especially fitting as the first Muslims in the USA were slaves from West Africa, including former territories of the Malian Empire, forcibly converted to Christianity by slave owners. Many of such descendants who live here in Alabama.

The Sayyid suggest seeking an endowment from the Shiite Endowment Office of the state of Iraq under direct management of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, but I believe that this is unwise while Iraq remains under military occupation of coalition forces from the 2001 invasion.

Even if they were to approve millions for the building of Shia institutions, it is still taking money from the zionist occupied government of Iraq. And so I have taken it upon myself to secure the plot and construction by my own funds and fundraising efforts. An effort that will span years. Have found a Shariah compliant bank that is willing to finance it already.

Having previously handled Islamic manuscripts from archival libraries, I believe the ideal design is a comfortable and tasteful reading room with tables, chairs, carpets, and nice wooden bookshelves as well as a front desk manned by an archivist to access the physical archive behind locked doors.

>>24571748

Something like this. This is the reading room of the Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez, Morocco. This is the oldest university in the world and one of the oldest libraries in the world.

A quiet room with tables and chairs, lighting for reading at night, wooden shelves for regular texts, and access to a secured archive for the retrieval of manuscripts which require careful handling.

An archival library requires an archivist as you can't simply leaves these very old and delicate books on shelves for people to publicly handle. I consider such a purpose built building to be an intellectual and religious responsibility as cursed Salafists threaten to destroy these very important works of Islamic history.

Plus, access to said manuscripts attracts students and scholars who wish to pore over them for purposes of Islamic study. A madrasa is ultimately a private institution that requires the patronage of students and benefactors as well as the employment of educators.

>>24568981 (OP)
My university's library was pretty great for getting a little spot for yourself or going down into the common area which was more like a cafeteria. There were around 20 floors or more, and each level had desks near the windows, plenty of cozy privacy with each floor maxxed out with rows of floor to ceiling shelves.
I'd go there looking for a quiet spot, but so did many others, so it became this multi level hunt looking for a spot on one of the upper levels.

Nowadays my library is Anna's, my phone and my bed.

>>24569060
There is something DFW-esque to this post that I just loved. Thanks for the laugh.

I sincerely agree with all of it except the glass hate. When done well, it can make a library feel grounded in nature in a way I personally find calming.

Lots of books and very few people

>>24569060
We did want a library, nice though the abbatoir is.

requirement to post a bond of $100 in order to enter the library. if you are disorderly or damage any property, they kick you out and keep the money. ezpz

>>24571748
Based Sistani follower, any book recs?

Tbh the more I think about what I personally want in a library the more it resembles the Diogenes Club, but keeping in mind it has to be usable and accessible to the public here are some ways to fix it.

>No computers
This immediately gets rid of groups of faggot highschoolers talking, perverts, boomers, hipsters, and anyone else generally unlikeable. If you're in the library you should be there to read books.
>a wide selection of high quality curated books, especially serious works of scholarship. No booktok or propagandaslop. Keep children's literature to its own level.
This is all I see in libraries these days. My university library has 1000x better books than my state library, despite the latter no doubt having better funding.
>comfortable recliner chairs in closed off spaces
As said earlier in the thread the open floor plans just lead to distraction, and the cheap chairs feel awful to sit in for long periods of time.
>no fucking bright lights or sunlight
The library looks like pic related at all times
>strict rules of decorum
Any loudness, messiness, sleeping, unhygienic behaviour, etc. and you're kicked out. Do it twice and you're barred for life.
>Industrial level printer
You just say the name of the book and they print it out for you. Fuck copyright.
>cafe
High quality, cheap, cozy. In it's own little area where discussion is allowed.

>>24571842
what university?

If you are "gifted" the libraries are spying on you

i just borrow the stuff if available to take home, going to the library became a hassle, hobos, zooms zooms just talking loudly, old farts sleeping anywhere, lesbians and all types of faggots, they even let dogs in under the "emotional support" pet bullshit, on top of that they put these stickers en every fucking table reminding women to ask for help if someone is harrasing them, lets be honest i doubt anyone is getting raped at a library

>>24569015
Hello anon.
Yes it's my favorite library i've ever been to.
I'm there very often, perhaps we've sat near each other before.
I find the constant flow of crazy people in and out a relaxing background noise desu.
I also really enjoy how each floor has the common areas and the more quiet nooks. I am able to go very often without feeling like a regular because I can just go to a different section and see a totally different class of people.
My neighborhood branch is fine but it's just so small and I see the same annoying regulars there every time I go in.
Nothing really beats that feeling of walking into the main library next to some crazy lady with a big bag, looking up at the spiral ceiling and riding the elevator with a guy who smells like BO.
Nothing quite like sitting next to a senile foreigner, a qt3.14 Chinese girl and some crackhead muttering to himself while he tries (and fails) to charge his phone
I also enjoy listening to the librarians deal with questions and situations that are dramatically outside the purview of a normal librarian
From what I've seen Seattle seems to have a better one, but other than that I'm not convinced we don't have the best library in the world.

>>24574677
>on top of that they put these stickers en every fucking table reminding women to ask for help if someone is harrasing them,
kek what? The local library I go to just has plastic cards stating no food or drink allowed on the upper floors.

>>24568981 (OP)
Like they looked in white countries in the 90s.

>>24571748
>>24571720
Alright, hire me for something in this.

>>24574712
I mean incels always read dumb advice like how to find nice nerdy foreveralone girls and it's in a fucking library.

>>24568981 (OP)
it would definitely need a Ben & Jerry's for sure

>>24569060
this would be so easy if more than 60% of the population weren't demonoid mutt creatures and MK ULTRA victims

>>24568981 (OP)
Anything that looks comfy really. I also don't like libraries that enforce silence because that's not usually a good working environment. Hearing a drone of others talking in the background actually helps people focus. Some computers that have expensive software on them for you to play around on, just a place in general where you feel like learning is happening.

>>24568981 (OP)
The severity homeless problem at our public libraries is a direct result of the slow decay and disappearance of actual public spaces in the US. That said, my ideal library would be in a secluded, wet, wooded area, with large windows facing out to the forest, with a couple large, open areas for desks and chairs, but with stacks in the lower levels flanked by nooks and corners with comfortable chairs and desks. Also, visible wood/timber on walls and local art to give a sense of place

>>24571769

Maybe a cafe as well, like the House of Peace in Dallas, Texas. Tea and coffee, maybe some baked goods. Provides employment and revenue for upkeep.

>>24568981 (OP)
Lots of places to sit
Different wings with different architectural styles
Group rooms you can book
Close to coffee, but not so close you can hear people in the coffeeshop talking at normal volume
Security guards to throw out the trash, no explicit rules, you know who they are