Library Design Gallery

Heritage library interior design — vaulted stone arches and modern shelving in a historic library refurbishment

Heritage buildings

79 photos · 19 libraries

Historic buildings bring unique challenges for library interior design - limited wall space, listed status, and features you must work with not against. We specialise in creating high-performing modern, high-performing library spaces inside heritage buildings.

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New build public library exterior — modern glass facade library interior design project

New buildings

86 photos · 9 libraries

New buildings look great but create challenges: libraries are often designed as showpieces with large windows, so tall furniture can’t go against walls. This pushes bookcases into the middle of the floor and can make spaces feel crowded. Opening the Book works with architects and contractors, as well as library managers, to get the most from any new space.

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Library makerspace design with custom tables, equipment storage and colourful maker zone furniture

Library Makerspace

25 photos · 9 libraries

Large, small and mobile – we design attractive and practical makerspaces with custom designed tables, equipment housing, graphics and fun storage.

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Library workspace design — co-working seating area in a public library business support zone

Workspace & business support

25 photos · 7 libraries

Libraries are meeting the needs of freelancers and small businesses who want a break from working at home by offering appealing shared spaces with company and expert support. Opening the Book creates a mix of individual and collaborative work areas, meeting rooms and pods, social zones, quiet relaxation spaces, and well-presented resource displays.

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Library wellbeing zone design — families using a health and wellbeing space in a public library

Health & wellbeing

23 photos · 15 libraries

Libraries have always provided peaceful, safe spaces, and studies confirm the positive impact of reading on wellbeing. Opening the Book has been creating wellbeing zones in libraries for 15 years, most recently launching Wellbeing Pods in collaboration with the NHS at Leeds Libraries & Community Hubs.

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Digital library design — technology integration with screens and computers in a public library space

Integrating digital offers

51 photos · 25 libraries

Opening the Book plans screen locations for all sizes and purposes — from study and presentations to collaboration, information, and promotion. Designs include power access for bring-your-own-device wherever we can. Our approach treats digital and print as complementary, working together rather than competing.

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Large public library interior design — open plan shelving and reading areas in a central library refurbishment

Large libraries

20 photos · 20 libraries

Browse some of our largest completed library design projects in the UK and North America - demonstrating space planning and interior design at scale.

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Small library interior design — compact community library space planning with warm wood ceiling

Small libraries

19 photos · 19 libraries

Small libraries want to offer the same range of services as larger ones. Opening the Book helps them to meet the challenge of keeping a feeling of spaciousness while fitting a lot in.

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Library browsing layout design — curved face-out shelving and book merchandising zone

Browsing & choosing

42 photos · 32 libraries

Opening the Book creates layouts which draw customers deeper into the collection by bringing books into the eyeline at every turn. Look closely and you’ll see some great examples of merchandising to support choice and encourage surprising discoveries.

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Teen library zone design — young people's library space with defined seating area

Young people

34 photos · 23 libraries

Consultation shows that young people in libraries want their own area, preferably not too close to children. Colours, furniture, book display and graphics all help to define a space.

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Children's library interior design — family library space with picture book displays and play elements

Children & families

72 photos · 34 libraries

Opening the Book’s designs seek to integrate books with play elements to encourage exploration, excitement and imagination. Books are displayed face-out to tempt children who may not be confident readers as well as those who love the library. Our colour schemes and furniture make older children feel at home as much as toddlers – the space needs to appeal across age groups. And we never forget a sofa for accompanying adults – often grandparents help out with childcare these days and they don’t want to sit on the floor.

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Library social space design — comfortable reading nook and seating area encouraging longer library visits

Spaces to linger

34 photos · 27 libraries

Opening the Book research shows that many library visits are quite short – in and out to drop books off and grab new ones. But libraries are also ‘third spaces’ and in a world where more of us spend time alone, visiting social spaces is increasingly important. Our library seating designs create opportunities to meet for a chat or to sit by yourself while feeling part of a wider community experience.

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Local studies library design — archive and local history library space at Gateshead Central Library

Local studies

31 photos · 7 libraries

Local and family history is a key part of any library, but it can be hard to present attractively, with ugly equipment, rows of filing cabinets, and books of mixed sizes that don’t suit standard shelving. Opening the Book’s examples show how local studies areas can be both practical and visually engaging. A standout project is Gateshead Archive, where a compact space open to a busy entrance and Library Shop posed extra challenges. Our design turned this visibility into a strength, drawing passers-by into an inviting local history display.

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Council contact and advice library design — customer service zone with advice desks and waiting area at Southwater Library

Council contact and advice

29 photos · 14 libraries

Freephones, kiosks, advice desks, space for parter organisations – library designs need to accommodate all of these. Opening the Book’s innovative design at Southwater changed the way a large contact centre interacted with its customers. More recently, we designed a Mobile Community Hub for Leeds to take services to areas where there is no contact centre.

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Library help desk design — modern welcome counter and staff pod in a public library interior

Help desks

25 photos · 22 libraries

Oversized library counters are thankfully a thing of the past but we still need to manage customer enquiries. Opening the Book can help you plan the right size of help desk or staff pod to manage operations efficiently – and we then customise the interior to your specific needs.

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Library leaflet display design — smart information display furniture in a public library entrance

Leaflet display

15 photos · 11 libraries

It can sometimes feel like libraries are drowning in information that everyone else wants us to display but not many of our customers actually look at. Opening the Book can help libraries take control of the leaflet problem. Smart furniture in the right locations, and well-merchandised, will ensure that people see the information they need to.

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Library shop design — mobile retail merchandising unit with books and gifts for sale

Library shop

24 photos · 5 libraries

From a single unit to a full retail offer, Opening the Book helps you maximise your shop sales. We collaborated with retail designers to create a unit tailored to library needs — visually appealing, full of products, and easy for visitors to touch and take. Its flexible merchandising options accommodate a variety of sizes and types of products. Despite its surprising capacity, it remains low enough to maintain sightlines and is fully mobile, so it can be moved aside when space is needed for events.

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RFID self-service library design — kiosk housing with book return shelves integrated into library entrance

RFID self-service housing

26 photos · 21 libraries

Kiosk design is improving all the time but the problems of managing physical book return do not go away. Opening the Book designs housing which supports kiosks with return shelves and drop bins. When matched in with your overall colour scheme, this gives a smart first impession and avoids the clutter that often spoils the experience of walking into a library. Our latest units are futureproofed to last if you change your kiosk type or provider.

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Solving problems

42 photos · 21 libraries

Our skilled joiners can find solutions to every problem when installing our designs. We fit round pipes, conduits, switches and architectural details – the skill in scribing is shown in the photos. Instead of losing precious shelving space, we build round large items like heating manifolds while keeping the necessary access. For more complex issues, Nick Hurst, our lead installer, visits site and plans a custom solution with Astabridge, our manufacturer. For example, we turn the hazard of walking into stairs into an opportunity for extra shelving or storage.

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Heritage buildings

New buildings

Library Makerspace

Workspace & business support

Health & wellbeing

Integrating digital offers

Large libraries

Small libraries

Browsing & choosing

Young people

Children & families

Spaces to linger

Local studies

Council contact and advice

Help desks

Leaflet display

Library shop

RFID self-service housing

Solving problems

Heritage buildings

New buildings

Library Makerspace

Workspace & business support

Health & wellbeing

Integrating digital offers

Large libraries

Small libraries

Browsing & choosing

Young people

Children & families

Spaces to linger

Local studies

Council contact and advice

Help desks

Leaflet display

Library shop

RFID self-service housing

Solving problems

Library Space Planning

Library Interior Design

Design Case Studies

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