The Library and Takapuna: Maintaining the Relevance of the Public Library in a Contemporary Community

Abstract

The relevance of the public library has been called into question in the age of increasing digitisation, dematerialisation and decentralisation. This thesis explores the role of the public library and identifies ways in which the library can reassert and even increase its relevance in a contemporary community. Modern libraries from around Auckland have been accessed and evaluated to ascertain what makes them successful and where their shortcomings may lie. From this as well as research into the topic, possible roles that the library may fulfil in order to enhance the local community in the contemporary context have been identified. The major finding from this research was that, in order to maintain its relevance, the library must be designed in accordance to the needs of the community it serves. Takapuna is an area set to undergo an intensive period of redevelopment and population increase. This thesis proposes that revitalisation efforts of the area would be greatly enhanced with the inclusion of a new public library that will be designed to cater to the requirements of the predicted population. Through a survey of the Takapuna Library staff and assessment of available statistics, it was found that the existing library was underperforming and not meeting all the needs of the current community. A design for a new Takapuna Library has been proposed and its potential for catering to the needs of the community assessed. Through these research methodologies, this thesis has concluded that the most important aspects of library design are its sensitivity to the needs of the community it is to serve and that it be flexible enough in design to continue to provide information regardless of the format of that information and that modifications to the usage of the building can be easily incorporated in the future.