Imagine a scenario where your building is both a public library and a historically protected facility...and you've been both since your building was established. That is the scenario that the Barbican, a public library in London, finds itself in. The Barbican is part of a larger multi-purpose facility that has been on the UK protected list since it was established. That means that much of the furniture, layout, and functionality may not be altered, no matter what the library needs.
While the librarians and administrative staff at Barbican have done an excellent job of making use of the space they have, they will always be limited by their status as a protected building. That being said, they are also somewhat protected. Unlike many other public library locations, the Barbican library does not need to worry about leasing arrangements or property reallocation. By the nature of their protected the status, the building could likely not be altered enough to be given to another function. Further, all of the furnishings are protected, and therefore would either have to stay at the location in their position, or go to some sort of Barbican museum (that does not exist).
The staff at the Barbican has done an excellent job of using creative solutions to deal with their space, layout, and technological advancement needs, just as any other public library has done. In our visit, we saw all sections of the library including a huge music library and substantial areas for books about the arts and fiction. However, I was most taken with the children's section. Their section wasn't particularly fancy or huge, but the kids in their felt free to be themselves...all while utilizing a space and place that is protected by the government. To me, the children's area most readily expressed the dichotomy between historical location and public library...and I loved it.
While the librarians and administrative staff at Barbican have done an excellent job of making use of the space they have, they will always be limited by their status as a protected building. That being said, they are also somewhat protected. Unlike many other public library locations, the Barbican library does not need to worry about leasing arrangements or property reallocation. By the nature of their protected the status, the building could likely not be altered enough to be given to another function. Further, all of the furnishings are protected, and therefore would either have to stay at the location in their position, or go to some sort of Barbican museum (that does not exist).
The staff at the Barbican has done an excellent job of using creative solutions to deal with their space, layout, and technological advancement needs, just as any other public library has done. In our visit, we saw all sections of the library including a huge music library and substantial areas for books about the arts and fiction. However, I was most taken with the children's section. Their section wasn't particularly fancy or huge, but the kids in their felt free to be themselves...all while utilizing a space and place that is protected by the government. To me, the children's area most readily expressed the dichotomy between historical location and public library...and I loved it.