Community Library

About this pattern

Community libraries can integrate multiple uses and forms of knowledge at various scales and provide readily accessible interior and exterior cool spaces. Community libraries provide free access to books, audiovisual, and other materials to local residents who must be members; some extend into lending household and other items as well such as tools, toys, and cooking implements.

Libraries usually provide free internet access, although this may be time-limited, and many provide charging ports for electronic devices. Libraries can combine or balance indoor and outdoor spaces and include bookable meeting and discussion rooms. Most libraries are used for learning and other events such as classes or reading groups, whether organised and run by library staff or other non-profit organisations. Many libraries include cafes.

Libraries can provide free community cooling refuges during times of extreme heat, provide early childhood and local health services, and house a knowledge commons of and for the community.

Pattern Conditions

Enablers

• Community buildings such as libraries can serve an important function as cool refuges in times of extreme heat (Bradford et. al. 2015).

Constraints

• Libraries require funds for construction and there is an imputed or actual cost of site allocation (if purpose built).
• The maintenance and management of libraries cost and effort; this requires trained and qualified professional staff.

Commoning Concerns

Community libraries are a public commons.

Ownership: Community libraries are usually in public ownership and most often owned by Local government. State and Federal levels of government also provide large institutional libraries.

Access: Access is free and open to anyone. Joining the library bestows rights such as borrowing and internet access.

Use: Libraries can be used for education, recreation, and life management through internet access to online government services. They also provide spaces for spontaneous interaction and, where the infrastructure is conducive, spaces for interaction, meetings and learning activities outside.

Benefit: Libraries provide immense benefit including learning, social interaction, life management, community engagement and cool spaces.

Care: As public assets, libraries are cared for by paid staff who are government employees, although users are also asked to respect the space and the rights of other users.