Learning Spaces in Public Libraries |
| |
| Authors: | Alex Cohen |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Aaron Cohen Associates, Ltd. , Croton‐on‐Hudson , New York, USA aca2009@acohen.com |
| |
| Abstract: | This article focuses on the impact of learning spaces as well as collaborative technology, which affects library building and design. The article illustrates that learning spaces are an important component in the design of library buildings rather then a temporary trend. During each of our company's latest public library building projects, both librarians and architecture teams have recognized the need to support increases in learning activities. To bring more users to the public library, they recommended that the building needed increased seating to support training, education and in‐house cultural programming. The stories cited in this article suggest that there is a relationship between learning spaces and collaborative technology. Among librarians and library planners, learning spaces are seen as a unifying requirement for the expansion of library services. They recognize that the library's seating plan must include more learning spaces to support social networking, sharing and project base learning. Our qualitative findings suggest that public libraries need more learning spaces to support new types of digital work. |
| |
| Keywords: | learning spaces library design library programming space planning library architecture homework center social networking space digital space planning |
|
|
