Includes index.

Introduction: Collaborative design / Peter Gisolfi -- Part 1. Public libraries. Darien Library: Darien, Connecticut. Planning the Darien Library of the future / Kimberly D. Huffard -- Darien Library relates to its New England setting / Peter Gisolfi -- Darien Library: A partner in civic initiatives / Alan Kirk Gray -- Longwood Public Library: Middle Island, New York. From a one-room schoolhouse to a 48,000-square-foot building / Gail Lynch-Bailey and Kathrine Soscia -- A natural landscape suggests a focus for the Longwood Public Library / Peter Gisolfi -- A community embraces the new building / Suzanne Johnson and Lisa Jacobs -- Bronxville Public Library: Bronxville, New York. Planning an expansion and transformation of a well-loved library / Janet C. Lentz and Eloise L. Morgan -- A transformed library maintains the original vision / Peter Gisolfi -- Librarian involvement in the design process benefits patrons and staff / Pat Root, Tessymol John, and Marianne Wingertzahn -- Dobbs Ferry Public Library: Dobbs Ferry, New York. An active library emerges from a unique village site / Julie Lowy -- Two settings present an architectural challenge / Peter Gisolfi -- New library offers expansive interiors and river views / Edward Canora -- Byram Shubert Library: Byram, Connecticut. A small branch library expands to meet the needs of its patrons / Jane Marsh -- In the new library, children and adults work harmoniously / Peter Gisolfi -- Let there be light, let there be space / By Miguel Garcia-Colon -- Part 2. Academic and school libraries. Sternberg Library at Hackley School: Tarrytown, New York. Thinking big produces a positive result / Philip Variano -- The iconic library building represents the spirit of Hackley / Peter Gisolfi -- The Sternberg Library at Hackley: After a fire, renewal / Brianna Judkins -- Scarsdale High School Library: Scarsdale, New York. The vision for the new library takes a classical form / Michael V. McGill -- A gymnasium becomes an academic library / Peter Gisolfi -- New teaching and learning spaces attract students, teachers, and the community / Phyllis DiBianco -- Timothy Dwight Library at Yale University: New Haven, Connecticut. The expansion and transformation of a residential college library / John Loge -- Student-run library expands to three levels / Peter Gisolfi -- Forging a sense of connection between students, their colleagues, and their studies / Alex Werrell -- Moss Library at the Agnes Irwin School: Rosemont, Pennsylvania. Moving a school library into the twenty-first century / Kathleen G. Putnam -- Connecting a library of separate spaces / Peter Gisolfi -- Two-level library accommodates multiple activities simultaneously / Julie Diana -- Browning School Library: New York, New York. Creating a coherent school from multiple acquisitions / Stephen M. Clement, III -- A small academic library accommodates a range of student needs / Peter Gisolfi -- A quiet gem becomes a destination / Sarah Murphy -- Conclusion: Creating the essential library / Peter Gisolfi.

"Exceptional library design is the result of effective collaboration. A successful design comes about through a productive exchange of ideas among the stakeholders and the architect. These participants define objectives, evaluate alternatives, and make the choices that can lead to a successful library"--