The library is the ultimate complex environment
As we start work on our 16th library project, at Trinity College, Dublin, we’re reflecting on how we adapt our approach to wayfinding when we are faced with this “micro” environment.
Libraries represent the quintessential complex environment. Our wayfinding strategies typically focus on bringing people “to the door”, but projects like Trinity College take the user one step further – literally – beyond the door. Instead of buildings, users navigate from the library door to subject, section, shelf and book. It’s wayfinding, but on a micro level.
Freestanding signage at Maughan Library, Kings College London helps limit impact on the physical fabric of the building.
What happens when you venture inside a room as complex as a library?
How can wayfinding help the user find their quest’s end in such a dense space without losing their bearings amongst the dozens of potential paths?
We’ve set out four key considerations when devising wayfinding solutions for libraries.
1. The information hierarchy is king
Libraries are unique in that they already function with an established hierarchy classification system. The vast majority of libraries organise their shelves in line with the Dewey Decimal Classification system, which organises and sorts information into a granular hierarchy. Books and other materials are sorted into 10 classes (like philosophy, language and technology) that cover the entire world of knowledge, with each class divided and further divided into divisions and sections, each getting more specific.
The categorisation of place works in much the same way.
Effective wayfinding in libraries must distil this detailed system into a format that users can easily comprehend at a glance.
At Dublin’s Trinity College, the library is held within three connected buildings, two of which are listed. We are focusing on simplifying the amount of information shown on signs, highlighting key facilities and access points only. The key objective is to help guide without overwhelming the user with too many choices, but this approach also limits the need to make too many updates in the future.
2. Signs paint a thousand words
One of the most unique and recognisable characteristics of a library is their pervasive silence. More than a cultural norm, it’s a practical requirement, to allow visitors to engage with reading material without distraction.
For the lost visitor, that presents a problem.
But by using large, easily understandable icons on signage many directional queries can be resolved without the need to speak. Mapping plays a key role in helping the user to orientate themselves and set off on the right foot.
3. Update-ability in design
The dynamic nature of library layouts, where shelves and sections may frequently relocate, requires a wayfinding system that can adapt quickly and easily.
Modular signage that can be updated or changed without significant cost or effort is crucial to keeping the wayfinding system accurate and reliable as the library evolves.
The vinyls we used at King College London’s Maughan Library gave an element of flexibility to allow for future updates without harming the (listed) fabric of the building.
4. Broadening horizons, in the shadow of history
While not always the case, many libraries are situated within historic buildings. University College London’s iconic Wilkins Building is a case in point: the Grade I building is the historic heart of the campus, and was purpose built as the university’s main library.
Historic buildings present unique challenges for installation. Signage must not only be sympathetic to the building’s historical significance but also designed to avoid physical damage to the structure. Our campus-wide brief for UCL, including the Wilkins Building, was to design sensitively to limit impact on the campus’s historic fabric. We had to make sure our design struck the right balance of form and function, to respect and preserve the integrity of the campus’s historic buildings.
Digital online mapping is one way to reduce the impact on a historic building’s fabric. Our online maps for UCL Wilkins were granular, showing seat numbers and shelves, and even where windows were positioned. Originally developed around the peak of Covid-19, these maps helped users understand where busy areas would be, so they could find quieter seats.
Micro-level wayfinding with macro-level principles
Libraries present a unique and complex setting for users to navigate, and a challenge for us that we love to grab with both hands.
But while these projects force us to focus on the micro-level wayfinding, the core principles of effective macro-wayfinding that we employ in larger, more expansive environments, remain consistent.
It’s about understanding user behaviour, predicting needs and desire lines, and delivering information in the most accessible and non-intrusive ways possible. In libraries, where the search for information is as personal as it is varied, customising wayfinding principles to fit the micro-context can transform the user experience.
Contact us today to discuss how to improve wayfinding in your library.
