Many towns and cities that have grown quickly over the past
60 years tend to suffer from unoriginal and unsightly architecture. The
buildings erected in the 1960s and 70s now appear dated and unsightly. The town
library is often one of the main offenders in the list of unsightly buildings.
Older libraries were often buildings of extravagant beauty and were a pleasure
to visit. Ugly architecture could be one contributory factor towards the
decline in popularity.
It is possible to recreate the appearance of the classic
library interior easily, if not so much the exterior. Replace soulless plastic
and MDF book shelves and fittings with traditional furnishings made by a
skilled carpenter. Rich wooden tones and mahoganies can serve to create the
much desired archaic appearance.
Two stories libraries can rid themselves of the cold,
sterile office feel by steel lined staircases with a more traditional look. TheWooden Staircase was a staple of the classic library look. It adds a touch of
elegance and timeless sophistication. Not just for the aesthetics but also for
the sound. The soft thud of feet upon wooden steps is aural ecstasy in a
library. Libraries with more natural light draping in may benefit from a
lighter Timber Staircase.
The most important part of the library is the collection of
books. Investing in high quality literature with ornate hard back covers adds
authority and class to the establishment. Literary greats such as Hemingway,
Steinbeck and Shakespeare should take pride of place when adorning the book
shelves of a high quality library environment.
People who enjoy books and reading often have more than a
passing fancy for fonts and calligraphy. Take advantage of this by using
elegant sans serif fonts. Stay away from authoritative serif fonts such as
Times New Roman. Likewise never use completely informal fonts such as Comic
Sans.





