Exploring Library Design
College libraries are undergoing a rapid transformation. From storehouses of knowledge to vibrant community hubs, libraries are changing the dynamics of higher educational institutions.
To better understand interior design solutions that emphasize and improve student experiences, we completed extensive research in partnership with StudioFYNN. These findings revealed eight critical ways to view the dynamic shifts in physical space and student engagement.
8 Shifts in Higher Ed Libraries
With such significant and rapid change in libraries, these eight key shifts offered a series of lenses to understand major shifts in the needs of students and spaces.
Influenced by architecture, library spaces need to adapt to accommodate digital and print resources, along with individual and shared needs. While libraries are vital knowledge hubs, many must renovate existing spaces instead of expanding to nearby buildings.
Institutions should redesign existing spaces to meet user needs through human-centered design, aligning culture, function, and brand. Custom solutions are increasingly sought to address diverse space requirements, considering factors such as materials, biophilic design, acoustics, and lighting.
Libraries are key hubs for active learning in higher education, promoting collaboration and providing refuge from traditional classroom settings. They also increasingly serve as havens for personal rejuvenation and fostering a sense of belonging, reflecting a growing emphasis on well-being.
Colleges emphasize signature spaces like libraries and communal areas to showcase their unique brand and value. Alongside these traditional areas, there's a growing need for informal, creative spaces that encourage learning and personal development, mirroring the entrepreneurial spirit of start-ups.
Libraries are collaborative community hubs, requiring spaces that nurture both individual and collective experiences. Designating areas for 'me' and 'we' not only establishes physical boundaries but also cultivates desired mindsets and emotions, facilitating diverse experiences.
In the U.S., the age diversity of academic institutions reflects wisdom, often mirrored in traditional furnishings corresponding to the library's era. Institutions aim to harmonize tradition with modernity, continuously seeking a balance between honoring their history and embracing their future.
As libraries evolve, community engagement and librarian responsibilities remain crucial to service offerings and space planning. Librarians, as lifelong learners, play a pivotal role in enhancing community engagement across physical and virtual realms through planning processes.
Campus facilities' success depends greatly on designing for diverse usage times, accommodating quick use and long-term study needs. To ensure spaces align with user behaviors, integrate space utilization into the design process, balancing dedicated and transitional uses.
Thank you to the following institutions for their participation in this research: University of Pennsylvania's Integrated Product Design Program, CA College of the Arts, Clemson University, CUNY Baruch, Dartmouth College, The New School's Parsons School of Design, and UC Berkeley.
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