This paper identifies approaches, challenges, and best practices related to planning and designing today's academic library learning spaces. As part of the Project Information Literacy (PIL) Practitioner Series, qualitative data is presented from 49 interviews conducted with a sample of academic librarians, architects, and library consultants.…

This report is based on a series of presentations at the second CLIR Seminar on "Participatory Design of Academic Libraries," held at the University of Rochester's River Campus June 5-7, 2013. Participatory design is a relatively recent approach to understanding library user behavior. It is based on techniques used in anthropological and…

This article describes a library renovation project in a community college that involved using existing space and reorganizing it to support the way students learn both individually and collaboratively. The article also looks at the importance of the academic library as place.

Despite the recent turmoil in the U.S. economy, most libraries that were tracked by "Library Journal" won their referenda at a rate just slightly lower than 2007. Nearly three-quarters of operating referenda passed. Building referenda under $10 million passed at a whopping 85%, with those over $10 million batting slightly better than…

How can libraries best assess and improve user space, even if they are not in a position to undertake new construction or a major renovation? Staff at New Mexico State University used a variety of ethnographic methods to learn how our spaces were being used as well as what our users considered to be ideal library space. Our findings helped us make…

"Research Library Issues" ("RLI") is a bimonthly report from ARL (Association of Research Libraries), CNI (Coalition of Networked Information), and SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition). This issue includes the following articles: (1) ARL Encourages Members to Refrain from Signing Nondisclosure or…

Public library service is a critical service that must be preserved. Despite a current (FY08) budget cut of $5 million and the threat of reductions of nearly $20 million more in the next budget, the Queens Library has maintained massive and excellent programs of service and incredibly high levels of use by a public that lines up at every one of…

"ARL" is the bimonthly report on research library issues and actions from ARL (Association of Research Libraries), CNI (Coalition of Networked Information), and SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition). "ARL" reports on current issues of interest to academic and research library administrators, staff, and…

A description of the architectural design of the library. (RM)

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COLLEGE CAMPUSES OFTEN NECESSITATES THE MOVING OF A LIBRARY COLLECTION FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER. AT DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, A PROCESS WAS DEVELOPED BY WHICH THE REGULAR STAFF OF THE LIBRARY AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL MOVED EQUIPMENT AND FURNITURE IN A 3-DAY PERIOD. STUDENT VOLUNTEERS, WORKING UNDER…

This survey was conducted to identify service areas and needs of the sixteen libraries in Albany County. Based primarily on personal interviews with the librarians, the report provides information on staffing, community size, financial support, and library programs directed toward the community. A summary showing comparative collection size,…

This report discusses the following aspects of New York Public Library systems: services, resources, organization and government, accessibility, users and uses, role of the state, management, finance, special problems of New York City libraries, and trends. Information was collected mainly during late 1964 and 1965 and was gathered from local…

This commentary is taken from speeches and discussions at (1) Meeting on New York State Library Development, Albany, March 3, 1967, (2) Annual System Conference, Lake Minnewaska, March 30-April 1, 1967, and (3) Meeting of School Librarians and Administrators, New York City, May 15, 1967. Discussions cover the methodology and findings of the…

Presents tips from a project that made modest but significant improvements to the young adult areas and services of 11 rural libraries in the Pioneer Library System in upstate New York. Discusses floor plans, layout and location; furniture and fixtures; collections and displays; technology; and staff. Illustrates changes with before-and-after…