Planning and Using Library Codesign: Towards a Toolkit for Public Libraries

This paper reports on the final stage of an Australian Research Council Linkage research project that examined codesign interventions in two Australian public library refurbishments. The article investigates how codesign outputs influenced final library designs and identifies key considerations for integrating codesign into public library development projects. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with council staff and architects involved in finalising the designs for both libraries. A directed content analysis of interview transcripts was used to examine the extent to which codesign outputs were incorporated into final designs and to gather reflections on the codesign process. Findings show that codesign outputs significantly influenced both final designs, in one case accounting for an estimated 80–90% of the final design, and in the other, 70–75%. The codesign process provided valuable community engagement, generated diverse ideas, and helped secure funding support. However, challenges included recruiting diverse participants and managing expectations. The paper presents nineteen practical recommendations for planning codesign interventions in public library settings, which cover areas such as workshop configuration, participant recruitment, professional involvement, and budget considerations. These recommendations will form part of a codesign toolkit for public library staff who seek to engage communities in designing physical library spaces.