Flexible Design, Digital Focus, and Concierge Service Concept Reflect Changing Role of Libraries.
Victoria Library is a prototype for what architects at LEO A DALY say is a new concept in library design: the DIP library, short for Digital In-Person. Small by traditional library standards, the 4,300 square-foot Victoria branch prioritizes digital resources in order to maximize space for people-focused functions, such as tutoring, small-group, and classroom-style learning. It provides a limited selection of paper books, while leveraging other branches within the system to provide book delivery on-demand.
“The big idea behind the DIP Library is that intellectual discovery is about people, and the dialogue between them,” said Cindy McCleary, architect with LEO A DALY. “With today’s digital technology, we can facilitate this within a much smaller space than before.”