As the new University Librarian of the Sir Duncan Rice Library at the University of Aberdeen I was often asked why I chose to take on a new build. Naysayers commented that the fun was already past, but I disagree. Libraries are under constant renewal, and this includes policies and services as well as space. We continue to innovate following the third place construct first posited by Ray Oldenburg in The Great Good Place.

1. INHERITING A
NEW BUILD
AND BUILDING A NEW FRAMEWORK

2. IT’S BUILT, WHAT CAN YOU ADD?

3. REALITY
• It’s never finished
• Planning from at least 10 years ago
• Much to learn from a few years of
usage
• Years of concentration on physical
framework, time to refresh the
strategic framework
• Ask two different questions

4. 1.
HOW DO WE NOW DEFINE,
IDENTIFY, AND CREATE NEW
POLICIES AND SERVICES
WITHIN THE NEW SPACES?

5. THIRD PLACEA sociological construct (and our new
strategic framework)
Attitudinal shift
Cultural adjustment
Not revolutionary, but
Pervasive

6. SOME DEFINITIONS
• Informal public life
• Pub, coffeehouse, café, barbershop, church …..
• In community building, the third place (or third space) is the social
surroundings separate from the two usual social environments of
home and the workplace. [wikipedia]
• Remedy for stress, loneliness, and alienation [Oldenburg, The
Great Good Place, 1999]

7. HOME AWAY FROM HOME

8. CHARACTERISTICS
• Neutral ground
• Level playing field
• Interaction, conversation
• Accessible – long hours
• Unpretentious, playful
• Diverse population
• Loose structure

9. Independent Adult Student
1.Home 1. Dormitory
2. Work 2. Department/classes
3. Football club 3. Library

10. HOW DOES THIS TRANSLATE?
• 24/7 PILOT
• 2:00 CLOSING PILOT
• RELAXED FOOD AND DRINK RULES
• MACMILLAN COFFEE
• CAROLING DURING EXAMS
• FREE PHOTOBOOTH DURING EXAMS
• RELAXED RULES FOR STUDENT ASSOCIATION USE OF LIBRARY
SPACES

11. WHAT ELSE COULD WE DO?
• Circulating laptops or tablets
• Free or break even printing
• Seat reservations
• Food & drink rules tossed out completely
• Cell phone usage not controlled
• Group study areas prioritized
• Long hours beyond exam period
• Free interlibrary loan
• Game nights
• ????? – let’s ask them.

12. WHY DOES HAVING A FRAMEWORK MATTER?
• Academics love to hear about a sociological construct
• The principal now understands what we are trying to do
• Consistency of message
• Great elevator speech
• Very appealing to students
• Presents the library as a vibrant, ever-changing, still growing
service

13. 2.
HOW DO WE NOW REDEFINE,
IDENTIFY, AND CREATE NEW
SPACES WITHIN THE NEW
BUILDING?

14. STUDENT
LOUNGE

15. FEWER QUIET/SILENT STUDY ROOMS

16. MORE GROUP STUDY ROOMS

17. MOVE PRINT SHOP OUT

18. MOVE MICROFICHE OUT

19. ADD MORE COMPUTERS – AND/OR
CIRCULATING LAPTOPS OR TABLETS

20. BETTER CONTROL OF FLOOR ACCESS

21. WORKING FRONT DOORS

22. COLOR, PLEASE

23. ART, PLEASE

24. MAKERSPACE
MORE EXHIBIT SPACE
SEATS (A STUDENT INITIATIVE)
DEDICATED STUDENT PROGRAMMING SPACE
MORE SEATING
MICROWAVE/HOT WATER TAP

25. BEFORE MAKING THESE CHOICES/DECISIONS
• User Experience Design - study what students do, rather than
what they say
• Build a program of student interaction
• Analyze the data we collect
• Stay open to new ideas
• Never declare it finished

26. WE REMAIN VITAL TO
OUR COMMUNITIES
THROUGH
INNOVATION AND
ADAPTATION.

27. DIANE BRUXVOORT
dbruxvoort@gmail.com
01224 273384