Historic Buildings and Modern Technology: The California State Library Remodels for Automation—A Case Study

Challenges in modifying an older building to accommodate a contemporary library include many of those inherent in planning for any new building: defining future needs, anticipating growth, projecting how new technology will affect functions and staffing patterns. An older building presents additional challenges because electrical, plumbing, and other systems often must be retrofitted to accommodate higher demands. The introduction of new technologies also imposes requirements for ventilation, noise suppression, and temperature regulation that are much more complex than old designs anticipated. Sophisticated, contemporary electronic linkages for voice and data communications make demands that were unknown when the building was designed. These challenges are related to the remodeling of the California State Library.