The aim of this study is to clarify the methods of top-lighting in the open-stack reading space in contemporary library. Top-lighting and high side lighting were only way to let daylight in the reading area located in the middle of the space when the walls are ocupied by the bookshelves before the artificial light were invented. Today, top-lighting is still important in open-stack reading space not only for giving the light for reading under the requirement of energy saving but also for creating the atmosphere by light that cannot be achived by the artificial light in the changing of requirement to the function of library fromlending type to staying type. Therefore, more variety can be seen in the top-lighting design in the illuminated area of use, the location and form of skylights.
