This document provides information on several libraries including the Library of Alexandria, National State Library of France, Library of Birmingham, Bishan Public Library, and Kanazawa Umimirai Library. It includes details on the architects, sizes, budgets, and notable design features of each library. Functions of a library are also listed, along with some standards related to shelves and furniture. References are provided at the end for additional information on the case study libraries.

1. WHAT IS A LIBRARY ?
A Place In Which Literary
And Artistic Materials,
Such As Books,
Periodicals, Newspapers,
Pamphlets, Prints,
Records, And Tapes, Are
Kept For Reading,
Reference, Or Lending.

2. CASE STUDIES
1 - LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA
2 - NATIONAL STATE LIBRARY FRANCE
3 - LIBRARY OF BIRMINGHAM
4 - BISHAN PUBLIC LIBRARY
5 - KANAZAWA UMIMIRAI LIBRARY

3. LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA
1995 – 2002Year
Alexandria -
Egypt
Location
Hamza
Associates
Architect
80,000 sqmSite Area
4 Millions
Volumes
Capacity
212 m USDCast

4. Introduction
The New Alexandria Library Has Been Invested With A
Contemporary Design That Will Allow It To Contribute Meaningfully
To Students, Researchers And The Public Well Into The Future.
The New Building Is The Result Of An International Architectural
Competition In 1989 Organized By The International Union Of
Architects, Unesco, And The Government Of Egypt

5. WHAT DO I LIKE ABOUT LIBRARY OF
ALEXANDRI ?
Because There Is No High
Rise Buildings Allows Us To
See How Massive Is The
Library Building And How
It Acts As Protect For The
Building .

6. NATIONAL STATE LIBRARY FRANCE
1989 - 1995Year
Paris - FranceLocation
Dominique
Perrault Co.
Architect
250,000 sqmSite Area
14 Millions
Volumes
Capacity
328 m USDCast

7. Mission
The National Library of France is a public establishment under the
supervision of the Ministry of Culture. Its mission is to constitute
collections, especially the copies of works published in France that
must, by law, be deposited there, conserve them, and make them
available to the public.

8. WHAT DO I LIKE ABOUT NATIONAL STATE
LIBRARY OF FRANCE ?
The Centralize Green Area
Acts Like The Heart Of The
Building , It Makes The
Building Come To Life . Its
Refresh The Air And Then It
Release To The Reading
Areas , Which Are Open To
It.

9. LIBRARY OF BIRMINGHAM
2010 - 2013Year
Birmingham -
England
Location
Francine
Houben
Architect
20,798 sqmFloor Area
243 m USDCast
Architects'
Journal Building
of the Year 2013
Prizes

10. BACKGROUND
The Library of Birmingham will provide a showcase for the city’s
internationally important collections of archives, photography and
rare books. New facilities including state-of-the-art gallery space
will open up public access to the collections for the first time.

11. Ground
Floor
Plan

12. Section

13. WHAT I LIKE IN LIBRARY OF
BIRMINGHAM ?
The Façade Change
The Simple Mass Of The
Building From The Outer
Side To Inner Side , It
Gives An Interesting
Shades To The Inner
Spaces .
Exterior Facade Interior Facade

14. BISHAN PUBLIC LIBRARY
2006Year
Bishan Place,
Singapore
Location
LOOK
Architects
Architect
1400.30 sqmSite Area
165 m USDCast
-Prizes

15. ABOUT
The Metaphor Of A Tree House Was
Invoked From The Onset Of Design
Conceptualization To Create An
Environment For Learning Via A
Journey Of Discovery And Play. The
Use Of Skylights, Trellises And
Colored Glass Transforms Incoming
Daylight Into A Myriad Of Shades
And Colors, Creating An Intriguing
Dappled Light Quality Within The
Library That Simulates Light Filtered
Through The Foliage Of Trees.

16. First Floor Plan

17. Second
Floor
Plan

18. Section

19. KANAZAWA UMIMIRAI LIBRARY
2011Year
Kanazawa
city, Japan
Location
Coelacanth
K&H
Architects
Architect
2,311.91 sqmProject Area
-Cast
-Prizes

20. ABOUT
Libraries In Japan Are Moving
Towards A Model That
Encourages Readers To Stay
And Linger, Instead Of Their
Original Function As Spaces For
Collecting And Lending Out
Books. Reflecting The General
Trend For Libraries To Facilitate
Reading As Well As Other
Functions, This Library Uses
Compact Automated Shelves
That Operate As A Closed
Stack System

21. GFPlan

22. 1st
FPlan

23. 2nd
FPlan

24. Sections

25. Elevations

26. LIST OF FUNCTIONS :
1. Administration
2. Child Library.
3. Theater.
4. Publications for sale.
5. Technical performance section.
6. Meeting hall.
7. Handicapped hall ( Blinds ).
8. Periodicals.
9. Computer section
10. Café.
11. Workshop.
12. Photocopy.
13. Indexing and classification section.
14. Supplying section.
15. Internet hall.
16. Reading hall.
17. Audiovisual hall.
18. Bathrooms.
19. Reception.
20. Supervisors.
21. References.
22. Thesis section.
23. Rare book section.
24. Praying room.
25. MPH.
26. Classrooms
27. Exhibition / Lecture hall.
28. Electrical / mechanical room.
29. Offices.

27. STANDARDS:
• Standards related to Shelves

28. STANDARDS:
• Standards related
to Reading &
Study tables.
• Standards related
to Staircases

29. REFERENCES
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/egypt/alexandria-library
http://www.perraultarchitecte.com/en/projects/2465-
french_national_library.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Birmingham
http://coinmill.com/EUR_USD.html#EUR=254
http://www.archdaily.com/421970/library-of-birmingham-mecanoo/
http://www.archdaily.com/209596/bishan-public-library-look-architects/
http://www.archdaily.com/145757/kanazawa-umimirai-library-
coelacanth-kh-architects/