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What should the library sound like?

Silence has always been tied to the very nature of the library. We’re all familiar with the image of the shushing librarian, urging us to lower our voices. For centuries libraries have been places for quiet reading, studying and concentration. The architecture of library buildings was primarily based on these functions, so a considerable amount of attention was paid to acoustic measures. Nowadays the library has zones that promote different uses. Some are quiet study zones, some promote social interaction and others provide opportunity to engage in creative activity.
It means we must think anew about sound in the library, not as something to be eliminated, but as something to be welcomed, designed and orchestrated …... something that makes a valuable contribution to the library experience.
There’s many questions to investigate. How does sound contribute to the atmosphere of the building? How does it influence people’s moods. Is sound signage a possibility? Will a carefully designed soundscape actually help people to make better use of the library - how could 21
st century libraries sound?


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