Breanna Sheeler

It is the duty of the modern library to respond to the challenges of current and future means of accessing information, and in doing so preserve the legacy of the library as a place where knowledge is to be stored, cherished, and shared. As technologies advance at an exponential rate and the volume of digital data climbs towards the infinite, libraries are faced with adaptation or obsoletion. But for small rural communities, the economic burden of maintaining a large institution, regardless of its cultural significance, is becoming ever more unconscionable. Therefore, the prototype for the Novo-Library must be considerate of its physical and cultural context, facilitate new methods of creating, learning, and archiving, an ensure the sustainable and longevity of the Global Novo-Library Project.

 

The Global Novo-Library Project establishes a network of institutions that share a travelling collection of data and artefacts. Each library is a branch that supports the entire system, feeding the project with new information, culture, and content from its community. If a branch suffers from lack of resources or engagement, it is bolstered by the strength of the system and their shared efforts.

 

The Library is comprised of two formal systems - the shell and the crate. The shell houses all programs, broken into three wings. The two flanking wings contain static programs in defined spaces that can continually serve the community. The voluminous central space houses the most dynamic activities of the Library, and is adaptable to the changing needs of the institution and neighborhood. The crate is the variable module which populates the central space. Each unit is designed to serve a specific function, and expands the overall program of the library. The content contained within is generated by the visitors and shared between communities through the Novo-Library Network. This travelling collection ensures that no one library is responsible for sustaining a large archive, yet benefits from a volume greater than any single one could support. Moreso, the content of the
collection is constantly evolving and expanding with contributions from the public.

 

spring 2019