Libraries have been an important institution i n the gather ing, curating and borro wing of books and information. The resources and services they provide create opportunities for education, supports literacy and aids in the development of new ideas and perspectives that are essential for a creative and innovative s ociety. However, with t he advances in technology, libraries and books have come under threat because personal computers and mobile devices have directed a change in the way people read and access information, thereby questioning the need for ph ysical libra ries and books.

While technology has inspired libraries to stay relevant, through the integration of electronic library services and by providing users with access to technology in libraries, this has shifted focus away from the original cont ent of libra ries i.e. books, and libraries as reader centered spaces. Technology has also changed the way people read, as the development of new mediums e books and audiobooks have been suited to the lifestyles of an increasingly mobile and urban have been suited to the lifestyles of an increasingly mobile and urban nomnomadic societyadic society. However, devices like. However, devices like the Kindle and book apps on the Kindle and book apps on mobile devices have negated the need for print books, while mobile devices have negated the need for print books, while audiobooks allow people to multitask while being read to, through audiobooks allow people to multitask while being read to, through audiobooks.

However, the multi functional nature of electronic d evices has b een seen to draw people away from an awareness of their surroundings and the people around them. Furthermore, the changes in the medium of books and culture of reading are subtly affecting the way people’s minds develop and how people think. In addition, technology has separated people from the sense experience of reading; of flipping pages, the smell of old books, the warmth, comfort and sere nity of a quiet reading in a reading room.

This project will therefore look at how technology has ch anged libraries and how people read, and the implications of this, with the aim of suggesting a new framework for the provision of reader centric libraries in the future . It is hoped that this will bring focus back to re ading , the reader experience and th e connection between the reader and their environment.