Evaluation of university libraries within the scope of universal design and sustainability

The fact that the architectural design is built on the standard user may cause problems for some users in accessing the buildings. As a constitutional right, education and accessibility are supported by various laws and arrangements, but various arrangements are needed in educational institutions, including higher education, for disabled users to receive education and participate in social life. Adoption of the Universal Design approach, which proposes the integrated design of buildings suitable for all user groups, without marginalization, is accepted within the discipline of architecture in the arrangements made in recent years. Similarly, understanding that the construction industry consumes the energy resources produced in the world to a large extent and that the fossil fuels used are not environmentally friendly; It has brought the sustainability approach to the agenda as a key concept that produces solutions by showing sensitivity to energy and environmental issues. Sustainable design principles evaluate buildings throughout their life cycles and are of interest to many disciplines, including the discipline of architecture. In this context, designs that use renewable/alternative energy sources and environmentally friendly building materials in buildings, are sensitive to energy, protect soil, water, air, reduce waste, and care about human life and comfort, gain importance. Study; It has focused on the design and implementation of university libraries in higher education institutions with a universal design approach and sustainable policies, which is a new and open subject for Turkey. The aim of the study; To evaluate the libraries of universities, which are the most important step of educational institutions, within the scope of universal design and sustainability, and to develop suggestions for the design and implementation of these buildings with inclusive, environmentalist policies. In this context, a literature search was conducted on the concepts of universal design and sustainability, library buildings were discussed through examples in the world and in Turkey, university library examples were examined within the scope of universal design and sustainability, and the libraries of universities determined as study areas were compared, accessible for all users, with high spatial qualities and sustainable. Solution proposals for adopting policies were presented.