Library

British Library.

Libraries provide accommodation for organised collections of knowledge that can be accessed for reference, or to borrow. They can be private (accessible only by authorised people, such as employees or members), personal, or public. The earliest collections of writings (or archives) are thought to date back as far as 2,600 BC.

Libraries may also contain administrative accommodation, experienced librarians, study areas, and so on.

The character of libraries has changed significantly with the emergence of the internet. Libraries increasingly provide access to large numbers of regularly used documents (such as current journals, course books and so on), whilst less-regularly used documents (such as historic texts or research) are archived and can be retrieved on request.

Libraries are also increasingly seen as places to meet, work, access digital knowledge sources, drink coffee and so on, rather than simply accessing physical documents.

Many large construction industry organisations will have their own technical libraries where employees can access journals, product information and key reference books. They may also have digital knowledge management systems.

Articles on Designing Buildings Wiki about libraries include:

• Birmingham Central Library demolition.
• British Library extension.
• Library of Celsus.
• National Library of Latvia.
• Tianjin Binhai Library.
• Trinity College Library.
• University of East London’s new library in Stratford.
• University Town Library, Shenzhen University Town.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Construction industry knowledge standard.
• Construction industry publishing.
• Construction knowledge sources.
• Construction Knowledge Task Group.
• Construction knowledge.
• Document control.
• Knowledge management.
• Knowledge pyramid.
• PD 7503:2003 Introduction to knowledge management in construction.
• Types of building.