1 Library As Place LS 501: Introduction to Library & Information Studies Summer 2006, 2010, 2011 C.2006, Deborah J. Grimes

2 How Does Technology Affect Library Spaces?  Has technology changed the need for library spaces? In what ways?  What unique services/resources do library spaces offer?  Can space/design reflect a philosophy of service or mission?  How do we need to redesign library spaces?  Are some types of libraries obsolete? How do we justify spending money on facilities and their upkeep?  What do library users want/need?

3 Fallacies and Facts (from SPEC Kit 200)  Fallacy I: Libraries will purchase fewer and fewer materials in print form. True or False?  Fallacy 2: The Library of the Future will soon meet all user information needs and will not require “walls.”  Fallacy 3: Users will no longer come to a library facility to acquire information needed.  Fallacy 4: The need for the Library as a “place” in the academic center of the campus will diminish.

4 Fallacy 1: Libraries will purchase fewer and fewer materials in print form. u Book publishing grew 1.8% overall between 2002 and 2009; higher education book publishing grew 5.0% (declines in book clubs, mail order, paperbacks, K-12) u Printed page remains major communications device among scholars and researchers (in most fields) u New technologies supplement but do not replace old (aka “displacive fallacy,” coined by Daniel Boorstin) u Proliferation of third world publishing u Lack of aggressive investments/commitments in publishing to electronic formats u Wide variety of formats still required BUT ebooks are now on the rise!

5 Fallacy 2: The Library of the Future will soon meet all user information needs and will not require “walls.” u Virtual Library defined: “the act of remote access to the contents and services of library and other information resources, combining an onsite collection of current and heavily used materials in print, microformats, and electronic form, with an electronic network which provides access to, and delivery from, external library and commercial information and knowledge sources worldwide” (Gapen & Barker, Case Western Reserve) u Synergy created between scholar, technology, resources u People do not work alone

6 Fallacy III: Users will no longer need to come to a library facility to acquire information needed.  Libraries of the future will require “flexible” space to accommodate changing technologies – not less space but different space.  Prediction: there is a core or “acceptable level” of user space and services that must be met by library facilities of the future  Library space facilitates interaction between expert library staff and users

7 Fallacy IV: The need for the Library as a “place” in the academic center of the campus will diminish.  Need for a campus “social and intellectual commons” will continue  Need for a “place in which minds of the present interact with minds of the past”  Need for space for “comtemplative study”

8 Space for staff to do the work of the library  Work areas  Equipment  Storage  Meeting spaces  Technology

9 Archival/preservation role of research collections and libraries  Constant in times of rapid change  Connection to and preservation of the culture, knowledge, civilization of the past  Libraries as museums? Relics of bygone eras?

10 Symbolic value for learning, scholarship, quality of life  Intellectual commons  Academic community crossroads  “Signature” building on campus, in a school, in a city  Focal point  “Esprit de place” – places that transcend and transport  Source for alumni/donor contribution$

11 Haven for study and research  Is it important for libraries to provide study space? To serve as “study halls”?  Access/distribution center for print and electronic information  Need for personalized access and services to users  Variety of access, from desktop to mobile technology  Training to users, reference services (expertise made available to users)  “Destination” rather than a quick stop u Designed for comfort, social encounters  24/7 access  “Safe” place for people of all ages  Use increases in educational programs that emphasize problem- based learning/critical thinking skills

12 Information Commons  One-stop resource for students and faculty  Learning, research, technology all together  Collaborative areas for both students and faculty  Value-added services in one location  Takes into account the information habits, needs, preferences of library users  Economics considered in planning, design, staffing, access (hours of operation), security, etc.  See the Leavey Library at USCLeavey Library at USC

13 Value-added spaces to contribute to or enhance institutional mission  Services that add value to information, literature  Teaching functions in libraries u Classes, classroom space, one-on-one assistance  Only place where emerging technologies are combined with traditional knowledge resources in a user-friendly, service-rich environment  Accountability – How does library space enhance or fulfill institutional mission?

14 Meeting/community spaces  Spaces that foster collaboration  Group study  Tables/seating that encourages collaboration  Is the function of libraries to connect solitary readers with isolated texts?

15 “Libraries without walls”  Virtual libraries  Networked library  Scholar’s workstation  Librarians’ “split personalities” – fostering services that enable uses to access information from anywhere while keeping physical spaces for collections and services

16 How do we bring new technologies to bear on old library values?  Technologies require new and/or flexible design of library spaces.  Values remain constant in changing environments (especially in a democratic society).  Responsibility of librarians to determine how best to design library spaces to add value to information sources

17 Is technology affecting school, public, and academic libraries differently?  Group discussions: u Are library spaces obsolete in academic, public, school libraries? u How do we maintain accountability for library spaces in these types of libraries? u What user needs are met in these types of spaces that cannot be met through technology alone?