The Australian Library Design Awards showcase the best in contemporary library interiors and exteriors in Australia, and celebrate the investment in libraries made by our nation’s institutions, corporations, local, state and territory governments.
They have been developed in the context of other competitions internationally, including the American Institute of Architects/American Library Association Library Building Awards and the International Federation of Library Association Public Library of the Year Award.
The entries, shortlisted and winning designs provide case studies in excellent library design for the 21st Century.
The awards are organised by the Australian Library and Information Association. The awards were first presented in 2017, and they are now a biennial event.
Awards Categories
There are five categories – public libraries, academic libraries, school libraries and special libraries. This year, the judges are also welcoming entries that may not fit in those categories. New concept, specialised, pop-up, temporary, mobile or any other innovative library can nominate under the ‘other’ category.
Applications are encouraged for small or large projects, for ‘new builds”, renovations or refurbishments. While entries are judged against the same criteria, the judging panel is empowered to make special awards for outstanding entries in specific areas where a high level of innovation, creativity and transformation has been demonstrated, regardless of scale.
Eligibility
Any library in Australia, recently built, renovated or refurbished (work completed between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2023) can be entered for the awards. Libraries nominated for previous awards cannot be entered again.
For more information and to enter, visit the Design Awards website.