These inspiring library designs are sure to have you swapping your e-reader for a hard-cover novel. While libraries have gradually shifted their focus from books to digital devices, they have retained their purpose as a place where patrons come to learn. These contemporary library designs continue to inspire bookworms everywhere to pick up a new novel or two.
While libraries are often thought of as fixed structures, there are several modern libraries that are designed for maximum mobility. These roving libraries help to bring literature to those who may be unable to access traditional public libraries. These mobile libraries come in the form of miniature trucks, pedal-powered carts and even antique bicycles.
While some libraries are designed for accessibility, others are focused on catering to a specific portion of the population. These libraries target a range of consumers who might not visit a traditional public library. These inspiring library designs include beach library installations, exclusive travel libraries and experimental fashion libraries.
46 Inspiring Library Designs
From Dangling Mobile Libraries to Beach Library Installations:
Katherine Pendrill — Sep 7, 2015 — Art & Design
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Beach Library Installations
Herman Kompernas Promotes Reading by the Bulgarian Black Sea
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Charming Mobile Libraries
This Intriguing Mobile Library was Created by Antonio La Cava
44
Exclusive Travel Libraries
Hyundai Card's Members-Only Library Design Inspires Wanderlust
43
Backyard-Inspired Libraries
A Cozy Library Built by 3rdSpace in a Backyard
42
Lounge-Worthy Libraries
This Library was Designed by BC Architects for a School for Deaf Children
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Curvaceous Colorful Kid's Libraries
This Rainbow Library Brings Fun Back to Reading
40
Textile-Inspired Libraries
King Fahd Library is a Lattice Cube Inspired by Classical Architecture
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Experimental Fashion Libraries
The Lena Fashion Library Allows Members to Borrow its Clothing
38
Dangling Mobile Libraries
By The Book Creates the Illusion That Your Hardcover Collection Floats
37
Library-Themed Homes
This Remodelled Library Keeps its Original Charm
36
Hi-Tech Wallpaper Bookshelves
The Digital Library Wallpaper is Full of Downloadable E-Books
35
Louvered Library Architecture
FJMT Distinguishes Craigieburn Library with a Louvered Appearance
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Local Characterist-Embracing Libraries
The Shanghai Jiading Public Library Reflects Surroundings
33
Time Capsule Libraries
Katie Paterson's Future Library Will be Accessed in 2114
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People-Renting Human Libraries
This Library Lets You Take Out Interesting People Instead of Books
31
Literary Retail Takeovers
The Sonia Rykiel Flagship in Paris Has Been Transformed into a Library
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Futuristic Student Libraries
Zaha Hadid's Student Library is a State-of-the-Art Learning Center
29
Endless Bookshelf Residences
This Stunning Home Features a 17-Meter Library Wall
28
Green Pop-Up Libraries
Latvia's Story Tower is Made Using Local Wood and Recycled Juice Cartons
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Geometric Student-Run Libraries
X-Space is a Library that is Built by Students for Students
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Understated Hilltop Libraries
This Cultural Center in Ateliers O-S Architectes Resembles a Museum
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Motion-Sensing Novel Sculptures
The Bristol Central Library Book Hive Installation is Mesmerizing
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Portable Portuguese Libraries
The Reading Cabin is a Rustic Literary Hideaway
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Panoramic Library Interiors
Vector Architects' Latest Project is a Reading Room With a View
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QR-Accessible Subway Libraries
Beijing's Underground Library Lets You Scan Codes to Read eBooks
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Retro-Modern Library Decor
This Geneva Library Marries Retro and Contemporary Design Details
20
Bookless Libraries
Florida Polytechnic University Has a Massive New Bookless Library
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Contemplative Library Homes
The House of Respect and Happiness Recognizes Important Qualities
18
Social Exchange-Promoting Libraries
Musashino Place in Tokyo Offers an Area for People to Learn
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Tranparent Presidential Libraries
HOK Presents a Plan for the Barack Obama Library in Chicago
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Church-Renovated Libraries
The Monique Corriveau Library by CLC Architects is Bright and Airy
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Antique Tricycle Libraries
The See-Clo Combines Vintage Objects into a Playful Contemporary Shelf
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Revolutionary Miniature Libraries
The Standing Table Does More Than its Stationary Name Suggests
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Sloping-Roofed Libraries
The Pinch: Library and Community Center Helps Children in China
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Color-Coordinated Libraries (UPDATE)
The Saraiva Bookstore is Organized to Invite Users to Browse
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Distorted Grid Libraries
The National Library of the Czech Republic Receives an Interesting Design
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Reflective Media Libraries
The Mont de Marsan Mediatheque by Archi5 Resembles a Mirror
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Arching Underbelly Libraries
The New Calgary Library by DIALOG and Snohetta is Technical
8
Free Ice Sculpture Libraries
This Free Ice Library Gives Out Books to Whoever Passes By
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Sculpted Creative Library Designs
This Stunning Wood-Clad School Library Spurs Productivity
6
Customized Microchip Libraries
The eGranary Pocket Library Provides Access to Information
5
Modernist Educational Institutions
The Dalarna Media Library by ADEPT Embraces Simplistic Design
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Mobile Library Carts
These Passionate Librarians are Delivering Books Via Bicycles
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Library Listening Parties
Japan's Mori No Tosho Shitsu Will Host a Silent Disco Library Party
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Leaning Library Extensions
D’houndt Bajart Architectes Creates an Additional Educational Facility
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Digitized Venetian Libraries
The Venice Time Machine Project Will Digitize 1,000 Years of Archives
Related Ideas
Modified Wheelchair Designs
Leaning Wheelchair Design Reduces Effort and Enhances Mobility
Venetian-Inspired Museum Designs
The Conceptual Floating Glass Museum is AI-Generated
Scooter-Like Portable Desks
The Conceptual 'Worknic' Portable Work Station Can Be Brought Anywhere
Sculptural Gondola-Inspired Speakers
The Gondola Bluetooth Speaker Concept is Whimsical
Modernized Modular LP Players
found/Founded Designs the Controlled Vibrary Digital LP Player
Beautiful Automotive Design Books
Auto Photo Manual drives the car design coffee table book trend
Tree-Inspired Speaker Systems
The Conceptual LG PICK Stand Speaker is Easy to Move Around
Laptop-Stowing Portable Desks
The Conceptual 'LAPCASE' Transforms to Support Working from Anywhere
Plant-Filled Latticed Buildings
Wallflower Architecture + Design Creates the Touching Eden House
Origami-Inspired Sleek Cabins
A.L.P.S. Designs the Infinity Mobile Architecture System
Concept Perfume Stores
Lush's Perfume Library Provides Consultations with Fragrance Experts
Modular Grid-Style Shelving
The Bend Shelf by Spenser Atlas Was Designed with Jim Isermann
AI-Powered Choose-Your-Own Adventure Books
Playbrary GPT Merges Literature with Gaming
Twisting Donut-Shaped Bookshelves
The Hullabaloo Bookshelf by Deniz Aktay is Perplexing
Transforming Beach-Ready Camping Trailers
The Hobby Beachy 420+ Helps Revive Beach Culture
Bookshelf Board Games
These Classic Board Games are Disguised as Vintage Books
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Modern Bookworm-Inspired Capsules
Indigo Debuts its Book Club Collection
Infinity Loop-Shaped Museums
Aedas Completed the Design of the Yohoo Museum in Hangzhou
Car design luxury books
Aston Martin and McLaren use Benedict Redgrove to showcase designs
Book-Inspired Public Benches
Madrid City Council Launched the Sit Down to Read 2024 Campaign
Reinvented Fitness Design Exhibitions
Technogym Hosts the Design to Move Exhibition
Philanthropy-Inspired Collections
The I’m Library People Initiative Encourages Holiday Giving
Interior Design Concept Guides
IKEA Unveils its Inaugural Style Guide on Home Design
Upcycled Book-Made Marbled Furniture
Willem Zwiers Designs the Tranformed Remnants Series
Iconic Designer Catalog Collections
The Eames Institute Launches A New Publication Program
Minimalist Book Storage Tables
The 'Pocket' Coffee Table by Deniz Aktay is Split Open
Colorful Educational Art Installations
Mario Cucinella Architects Displays Sparking Change
Japanese Inn-Inspired Apartments
Intheory Design Creates an Apartment Inspired by Ryokan
Rope-Like Dynamic Chair Designs
Miray Ozlem ER Designs the Caterpillar Lounge Chair
Beautifully Sculptural Concrete Museums
Qatar Museums Unveils Official Images of the Lusail Museum
Earthy Tonal Tranquil Lounges
Cloud and Sabine Marcelis Create a Lounge Promoting AlUla
Abstract Triangular Side Tables
The Triangle Side Table from SouleWork Holds Books and More
Historic Fashion Try-Ons
The Design Museum's London Fashion Exhibition Integrates AR Mirrors
Playfully Renovated Homes
This Home Has a Slide, Swings and Rock-Climbing Wall
Industrial Design Exhibits
Design Burger Hosted a 'Design Dialogues Exhibit' in London
Vibrant Inclusive Playground Exhibitions
Wade and Leta Presents the Falling Into Place Exhibition
Contemporary Backyard Pavilions
AMDLD Circle Designs the Cosmo Pavilion for Ethimo
Sliding Wintery Landscape Bookshelves
This Manhwabang Bookshelf by Jisu Kim is Whimsical
Everyday Material Colorful Pavilions
Foster + Partners and NEON Create Two Pavilions in London
Reimagined Ecclesiastical Architecture
The Ørestad Church Was Designed by Henning Larsen
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Detailed Ceramic Book Vases
Biblio Bloom Vases are Inspired by Timeless Literary Classics
Revamped Museum Brand Identities
The Brooklyn Museum Has Updated Its Branding Aesthetic
Kilometer-Long Museums
Junya Ishigami Introduces the Zaishui Art Museum Along a Lake
Cloud-Inspired Furniture Designs
Per Buchardt & Nicoline Olsen Design the Cloud Tables
Custom Inspirational Quotes
Muse Combines Quotes with Creative Themes for Social Media
Vibrant Adaptable Workplaces
Ester Bruzkus Architekten Designs a Modern Workspace for Relaxound
Bookstore Wine Shops
New York's Bibliotheque Offers Rare Books and Great Wine
Gallery-Like Elevated Retail Designs
Format Architecture Office Designs the Leica Store & Gallery
Mobile Reading Accessories
Astropad's New 'Bookcase' Aims to Enhance Mobile Reading Comfortability
Modular Modern Wooden Bookshelves
Kengo Kuma Designs the Marumarushikaku Shelf for More Trees
Automotive-Inspired Sculptural Furniture
SANAYI313 Launches the Lounge Collection of Furniture
Swooped Museum Roof Planes
BIG Designs the Waterfront Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art
Modern Office Environments
The MOL Campus Project Was Designed by Architecture Firm Kinzo
Tranquility-Centric Pavilions
DEOND Presents the Enfold Pavilion with Physical and Digital Design
L-Shaped Stacked Shelving
The LOFT Shelf for GOODS Can be Assembled at Various Heights
Bright Whimsical Home Accessories
Blue Balcony Design Studio Delivers a Range of Vibrant Decor
Dynamic Organic Store Displays
External Reference Decorates the La Manso Store in Barcelona
Muscle Loss-Combating Playground Benches
Helan & RAAK Design Modify Benches to Encourage Activity
Digital City-Inspired Art Works
New Digital Art is on Display in Grand Central Station
Community-Centric Office Spaces
Shubin Donaldson Architects Designs the Tricon Residential Office
Demountable Wooden Retail Spaces
Architecture for London Designs Present & Correct's New Space
Sustainable Hi-Rise Outdoor Chairs
Lill Designs Creates the Lollygagger Hi-Rise Chair
Unwinding Multifunctional Charging Stations
EFFEKT Designs the Better Energy Charge Park
Viewing Box Cultural Centers
The Center for Arts & Innovation Hosts Events and Education Spaces
Modern Convertible Shelving Systems
halblang Designs the Blendend System with Easy Adaptibility
Women's Literature-Inspired Skincare Stores
Aesop Boasts a Women's Literature Library
Italian-Informed Loft Extensions
OEB Architects Adds Extension to the Lewisham Loggias
Curved London Office Buildings
Foster + Partners Designs 50 Electric Boulevard in South London
Geometric Prefabricated Pavilions
Heams & Michel Architectes Presents the 7 Kiosks Project
Architectural Midcentury Bike Racks
The Draken Bicycle Stand is Inspired by 1950s Architecture
Tea-Honoring Angular Libraries
Atelier Xi Designs the Interconnected Library and Tea Rooms
Floral Architecture Floating Restaurants
Thilina Liyanage Designs the Nelumbo Sustainably
Natural Japanese Art Galleries
Brazil's Yayoi Kusama Gallery Features a Nature-Inspired Design
Mesmerizing Fluid Art Installations
Dutch Invertuals Creates the Flow Fountain Installation
Floating-Style Classroom Designs
Ennead Architects & Rockwell Group Completes the Bloomberg Center
Doll-Inspired Modern Installations
Nina Tolstrup Creates The Pavilions of Wonder Series in London
Travel-Themed Book Recommendations
Belletrist Curated The Reading Route for Trainline
Artfully Inspired Home Renovations
Reflect Architecture Designs the North Drive House in Toronto
Live-In Art Gallery Homes
Casa Galeria is a Home That Doubles as an Art Gallery
Censorship-Combatting Library Initiatives
The Toronto Public Library Marks Freedom to Read Week
Children's Story-Inspired Libraries
Studio Vapore Reimagines the Western Academy Library
Elevated Park Nature Lookouts
LYTT Architecture nad ADEPT Join on the Amager Nature Park
Wood-Wrapped Contemporary Libraries
The Graded School Library is Integrated Inside a School
Temple-Inspired Striking Galleries
Abin Design Studio Designs a Gallery with Temple Themes
Law-Firm Office Interior Designs
Kin Designs the Office Interior for Law Firm Dentons
Clover-Style Conference Center Designs
MAD Designs the ZGC International Innovation Center
Expansive School Bamboo Canopies
CollectiveProject Creates a Canopy at Talaricheruvu Rural School
Thoughtful Wheeling Cabinets
Anna Søgaard's Cabinet on Wheels Emphasizes Mobility in the Everyday
Multipurpose Bright Community Parks
Local and Pir 2 Join to Design the Skakkeringen Park
Elevator-Inspired Cozy Sofa Collections
Julien Renault and MOR Design Presents the LIFT Sofa
Personal Digital Book Libraries
Bookov Lets Readers Create a Digital Personal Library Collection
Traditional Sustainable School Designs
Heatherwick Studio Showcases Plans for Universidad Ean
Poetic Habourfront Nature Centers
3XN Created the Centre for Coastal Nature and Sport Fishing
Graphic Design Bold Books
Standards Manual Presents the Parks 2 Graphic Design Book
Personality-Enhancing Side Tables
The ORDO Book Side Table Features Organized Nooks
Tradition-Focused Digital Libraries
Nestlé Brands Introduced the Living Traditions Library
Sleek Contemporary Metal-Encased Lamps
The Library Lamp is Reinterpreted with a Modern Flair
Modern Deco Office Designs
Reflect Architecture Designs the NewGen Office with Contemporary Detail
Broken Bike Lock Furniture
Design Students Showcase the People and Places Exhibition
Warm Weather-Catered Renovations
Dig Studio and Lake Flato Renovate the Scottsdale Civic Plaza
Lighthouse-Functioning Concrete Structures
Lin Architecture Creates the Concrete Pavilion in China
Office-Catered Modern Pedestals
Llorenç Poy Ventura Designs the Sustainable Tribeca Pedestal
Home Mobility Accessible Furniture
Capella Design Creates Furniture that Blend Style and Function
Tree-Like Library Spaces
Studio Hinge Presents the Forest of Knowledge Library Design
Latticed-Steel Transport Hub Columns
Tremend Designs the Metropolitan Station in Lublin
Modern Digitized Bookshelves
September is a Digital Bookshelf Where You Can Display Achievements
Bright Artful Cabinet Collections
Muller Van Severen Introduces the Bridges Collection
Multigenreational Seaside Renovation Projects
BarlisWedlick Renovates & Expands a Home in New York
Lotus Flower-Inspired Villas
Thilina Liyanage Designs the Lotus Villa Inspired by Nature
Bright Showroom Research Libraries
ANY Designs a Retail Space for Streetwear Imprint Vowels
Historic Academy Spatial Bookstores
TAO Designs the Weishan Chongzheng Academy Bookstore
Rustic Cultural Architectural Buildings
Abin Design Studio Designed the Gallery House in Bensberia
Glass-Lined Towering Libraries
Snøhetta Designs the Beijing City Library Located in China
Off-Shelf Tension System Pavilions
Webb Yates Creates the Off the Shelf Pavilion for London Design
Supportive Sensory Library Toolkits
Charleston County Public Library Develops Sensory Toolkits
Recycled Ship Sail Pavilions
The Breeze Installation is Installed at Chart Art Fair
Immersive Virtual Bookstores
Shepherd Let's Book Lovers Browse Virtual Shelves to Discover Books
Script-Covered Library Facades
Snøhetta Completes the Far Rockaway Library in New York
Design Inspiration Hubs
Collection Directory Offers Curated Design Inspiration for Professionals
Perforated Shadow-Casting Libraries
Parallel Studio Designs the Mariam's Library in Zanzibar
Arab Majlis-Inspired Modular Sofas
Patricia Urquiola's Insula Sofa Series is Customizable
Lantern-Inspired Soft Lighting
The Fermob Lighting Series Creates a Soft Illuminating Glow
Paper-Like Art Museum Roofs
BIG Expands the Museum for Paper Art in Denmark with a Folded Roof
Nature-Inspired Urban Art Installations
Kriskadecor Adds New Artful Installations to its Offices
Digital Audio Speaker Displays
found/Founded Introduces the Vibrary Digital LP Player
Fostered Design Curations
Brompton Design District Unveil Conviviality: The Art of Living Together
Shanghai Marketing Office Refurbishments
Linehouse Renovates an Office for The Independents
Nature-Inspired Design Objects
Students at Tecnológico de Monterrey Design the Plant-Based Series
Water Flow-Inspired Art Buildings
MAD Designs the Waterfront Nanhai Arts Center in Guangdong
Metal Sheet-Facade Book Stores
Wutopia Labs Designs the Shanghai Book City with a Dynamic Facade
Artful Dockside Installations
London Festival of Architecture Gets Benches for Pews and Perches
Educational Storage Shed Designs
Invisible Studio and Mole Architects Form the Big Roof
Railway-Inspired Lighting Series
Novocastrian Designs the Insulator Lighting Collection
Port Building-Nestled Museums
Colectivo C733 Installs a Museum inside of a Mexican Port Building
Sleek Contemporary Elevated Retreats
Brown & Brown Architects Designs the Tidal House
Repurposed Imperfection-Embraced Buildings
Civic Architects & VDNVP Elevate a Series of Workspaces
Modular Wireless Speaker Bookends
Liam de la Bedoyere Designs the Beat Bookend with Two Functions
Hawaiian Library Apps
The HSPLS is Enhancing the Customer Experience Through a Mobile App