The public library has long served as a repository of free resources for communities; however, the design has always focused on the book. As new technologies quickly develop and books become obsolete, libraries should be designed with a new focus: the user.
Historically, literacy is defined in terms of language and reading comprehension. What if there were other types, such as digital literacy or visual literacy, which certain people were naturally skilled at? What if new literacies could be defined every few years? And how can architectureÑwhich is intended to last 50 to 100 yearsÑstay relevant and adaptable to technology that is updated on an almost daily basis, but still serve as a symbolic place for a community?
The question becomes: How do architects develop a design process geared to self-guided and interactive community learning, whose value is its ability to adapt to unpredictable change? Will the library of the future be considered a ÒLibraryÓ anymore?