Better Library and Learning Space: Projects, trends, ideas

What are the most important things a 21st-century library should do with its space? Each chapter in this cutting-edge text addresses this critical question, capturing the insights and practical ideas of leading international librarians, educators and designers to offer you a ‘creative resource bank’ that will help to transform your library and learning spaces. This is an innovative and practical toolkit introducing concepts, drawing together opinions and encouraging new ways of thinking about library learning spaces for the future. The book is structured in three parts. Part 1 – Projects and trends describes features of library space around the world through a selection of focused case studies painting a global picture, identifying common directions and ideas as well as highlighting country and regional diversity. Part 2 – Trends and ideas looks at the why and how of library space, covering topics such as contextual factors, current ideas in library space development, and the creative design of new spaces. It examines how library spaces are adapting to new forms of learning, digital literacies and technological fluency. Finally, Part 3 – Ideas and futures looks to the future of libraries and their learning spaces, inviting future-scanning contributions from a diverse range of authors, including librarians, learning specialists, academics, architects, an interior designer, a furniture designer and a management specialist. Readership: This is a must-have text for those involved in designing and developing library and learning spaces, from library and university management to designers and architects. It’s also a useful guide for students taking courses in library and information science to get to grips with the importance of library design.

Table of Contents:
Introduction - Les WatsonSECTION 11. UK projects and trends – Les Watson and Jan Howden2. USA projects and trends – Matthew Simon3. China projects and trends – Hugh Anderson4. Hong Kong projects and trends – Professor Bob Fox and Peter Sidorko5. Europe projects and trends – Joyce Sternheim and Rob Bruijnzeels6. Australasia projects and trends – Professor Roland Sussex, Professor Peter Tregloan and Professor Philip LongSECTION 27. Library space and technology – Les Watson8. Libraries information and learning – Les Watson and Jan Howden9. Key ideas on space – Les Watson10. Thinking it through – Les WatsonSECTION 311. Beyond space: access is all – or is it? – Professor David Baker12. Thinking inside the box – Colin Allan13. Nothing has changed/everything has changed – the enduring aspects of learning – Hugh Anderson14. Books, nooks and MOOCs – Jo Dane15. The researcher’s view: context is critical – Professor Sheila Corrall and Dr. Ray Lester16. Libraries in the networked society: evolution, revolution, extinction? – Chris Batt OBE17. Libraries at the heart of campus life – Graham Bulpitt18. The library has left the building - Joyce Sternheim and Rob Bruijnzeels19. Beyond analogue: the learning studio as media-age library – Dr. Kyle Dickson20. 3-D libraries for 3-D smarting – Jef Staes21. Learning landscapes, the library and the University of Lincoln: efficiency, effectiveness, expression and experimentation – Professor Mike Neary and Sam Williams22. Viral design: learners building better environments together – Professor Stephen Heppell23. The interior designer’s view – Val Clugston24. Furniture fit for the future – Paul White25. Conclusions – Les Watson

About the Author :
Les Watson is a well-respected educational advisor and consultant on learning spaces. Previously, as Pro-Vice Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University, he led the landmark development of the Learning Cafe, REAL@Caledonian, and the award winning Saltire Centre.

Review :
Informed and informative, Better Library and Learning Spaces: Projects, trends and ideas is an invaluable and seminal contribution to the field of Library Science and is highly recommended for professional and academic library reference collections and supplemental reading lists. This book is a must-read for anyone involved in planning a new build library, redesigning an existing library or evaluating the use of space. It will be of interest to many disciplines beyond librarianship, including educators, learners and policymakers. Editor Watson, a consultant in technology-enhanced learning environments, gathers 24 librarians, architects, designers, educators, and educational technologists to explore emerging ideas and innovative projects in the design of library spaces for learning. Real-life projects and trends are profiled in the UK, China, the US, Hong Kong, Europe, and Australasia. Trends examined include the learning studio as media-age library, learning landscapes at the University of Lincoln, and library and learning furniture of today and tomorrow. The book includes many b&w photos of buildings, indoor spaces, furniture, and equipment. Its readership includes librarians and LIS services managers in public school, academic, and specialist libraries. The book will also be of interest to architects and interior designers. The editor teaches at the University of Lincoln. Better Library and Learning Space: Projects, trends and ideas should prove a very useful contribution to library space planning, in particular for university and college libraries, the main focus of the book...it can be recommended to library managers who would welcome advice on designing 'new library learning space [which] has the potential to excite and inspire'. It should be noted that this book is not a how-to guide for planning and developing library and learning space. Rather it is intended to encourage re-thinking library and learning spaces, especially around softer values such as creativity that are much harder to assess. There is frequent reference to creating the “wow” factor in these spaces: this is evidenced in the case studies, but also balanced by considerations of how library users use the space and how architecture and design can enhance or detract from the use of the space, particularly in terms of conversational spaces. Though useful for anyone about to embark on the design or redesign of a library space, it is also useful for librarians to help them examine whether their own library space is indeed a learning space.