Transforming the Academic Library
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This document summarizes the transformation of the Heriot-Watt University academic library since 2013 into a Learning Commons. It discusses how academic libraries have changed from places of silence to places that support collaborative and social learning. The library lacked space for the growing student population and needed to be redesigned according to modern pedagogical needs. In collaboration with a design firm, a vision and plan was created to reimagine the library spaces with new furniture, technology, and zones for various learning styles. The first phase of renovations created a new Learning Commons that has been successful in increasing student satisfaction and library usage.
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Transforming the Academic Library
- 1. Wendy Pirie Head of Academic and Learner Services, Directorate of Information Services, Heriot-Watt University REIMAGINING THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY as a learning destination (Learning Commons) …or, how we have been transforming our academic library since 2013
- 2. What is an academic library • A library that is attached to a higher education institution which serves two complementary purposes to support the school's curriculum, and to support the research of the university faculty and students https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_library • Is not just a repository, or a service like any other, or a place for study: it is all these things • It can also be a partner in research and in teaching https://www.sconul.ac.uk/page/the-value-of-academic-libraries
- 3. What’s in a name? • The word ‘library’ continues to be a strong brand in society, but others exist • Learning centres, learning resource centres, learning streets, learning hubs, learning malls, learning grids, idea stores, cultural centres, research villages and more • These may offer a different balance of traditional collections, electronic services and readers places, whether in support of learning and teaching, or of research, or both https://www.liberquarterly.eu/articles/10.18352/lq.7840/
- 4. How has the academic library changed “Learning takes place not only in classroom settings, but wherever learners have an access to information sources or means and use them for solving problems or constructing a new meaning” Barr, R. B. & Tagg, J. (1995) From Teaching to Learning - a new Paradigm for Undergraduate Education. Change, November 01, 1995 http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00003274.htm
- 5. How has the academic library changed “Academics and students will need both the virtual and physical library for years to come” http://repository.jisc.ac.uk/5209/1/UK_Survey_of_Academics_2012_FINAL.pdf
- 6. How has the academic library changed Quoting Les Watson; “Libraries were places of silence with pockets of group work and activity.” "In the 21st century university, they are becoming places of learning activity with pockets of silence.” http://repository.jisc.ac.uk/5209/1/UK_Survey_of_Academics_2012_FINAL.pdf
- 7. How has the academic library changed
- 8. Why has it changed “Digital natives will likely seek to incorporate more technology into their professional lives, which may be used to improve workplace efficiency or increase productivity, but they may also seek increased access to technology, more virtual and physical spaces for sharing with colleagues and peers, more comfortable working environments to support work-life blurring, and more sustainable work environments” “Digital Natives: A More Tech-Savvy Generation Enters the Workplace.” Marie Puybaraud and Hannah Hahn. WorkDesign Magazine. February 1, 2012. https://workdesign.com/2012/02/digital-natives-a-tech-savvy-generation-enters-the-workplace/
- 9. Why has it changed https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/aug/06/university-libraries-learning-shapes-design "Pedagogy is the driver for the changes in library design," says Ann Rossiter, Director of the Society of College, National and University Libraries “changes to the way undergraduates are expected to study, for example, including more social spaces, more social learning and group learning. The way that library buildings are changing is designed to reflect that.”
- 10. Why has it changed David Lindley, executive director of Designing Libraries, an online resource for the library community, says: "redesign and refurbishment will commonly increase usage by 50% and even double the occupancy as libraries introduce multi-purpose spaces, study spaces and more relaxed furnishings”. He adds: "A new library invariably succeeds in helping students to rediscover the library as an essential resource and learning space, confuting preconceptions of the library as out of date and peripheral to their needs."
- 12. History of Heriot-Watt University • In 1821, while Edinburgh was at the heart of the Scottish Enlightenment, Leonard Horner founded The Edinburgh School of Arts - the first Mechanics Institute in the UK • Several name-changes later in 1855 we became Heriot-Watt College and on 4 March 1966 Heriot-Watt University was established by Royal Charter, granted by Queen Elizabeth II
- 13. History of Heriot-Watt University We were the first British university to set up a campus in Dubai International Academic city in 2005
- 14. History of Heriot-Watt University In 2014 we invested £35 million in a purpose-built campus in Malaysia. This is the first green campus in the country and the first university in Putrajaya, the government capital of Malaysia
- 15. History of Heriot-Watt University • In addition to our campuses, we have 53 learning partners and over 30,000 students across the world • Heriot-Watt is now a global university with a focus on the practical application of knowledge and learning for the betterment of society. We remain open to change, adapting to the needs of our students and partners, ensuring we have remained at the forefront of research in many industry sectors
- 16. Current approach to educational delivery and exams • Teaching mainly Science, Technology, Engineering and Social Science subjects, with virtually no Arts subjects, the HWU curriculum remains very traditional, with a heavy leaning towards assessment by formal written examination • Some coursework is undertaken in only a few disciplines • Only beginning to explore online examination • So….. students are heavily dependent on space for revision and group work • Exception is HWU Edinburgh Business School, who provide simultaneous multi- lingual examination across the globe with students currently based in 166 countries
- 17. Pressure on space • HWU Library was built 1970s, no major development since then • Built for 1500 students, now catering for 9000 and 24/7 access • Challenges: ◦ group work v private and/or silent study ◦ ubiquitous high bandwidth wifi ◦ access to power sockets ◦ toilets (too few), cafe, noise
- 18. Beautiful campus setting, but…. sunken garden
- 19. Beautiful campus setting, but…. trees in the fog
- 20. Beautiful campus setting, but…. frozen pond
- 21. Beautiful campus setting, but…. external view of the library
- 22. 1970s ‘brutalist’ architecture, stock before humans
- 23. stock before humans crowded shelves
- 24. crowded books stock before humans
- 25. crowded students stock before humans
- 26. old stock stock before humans
- 27. Library staff perceptions • Too noisy to hear a phone call • Change of emphasis in role, ‘not like it used to be’ • Roving and monitoring, having to enforce rules • Falling National Student Survey (NSS) and internal survey scores
- 28. Students view • Stock ok, but a critical lack of space • Have to sit on the floor • Too few power sockets • Major union campaign • Embarrassing!
- 29. Something had to be done • Define needs and wants • Need seat, table, sockets, PCs & wifi, ‘library stuff’ (e and paper) • Want AV monitors to enable sharing of work, coffee, food • Want different kinds of environments at different times of year • Want whiteboards/writing space, managed environment, help
- 30. Fact finding - what do others have • Better lighting, furniture, PC and wifi provision • More appropriate and effective study spaces for 21st century • ……… and so much more
- 31. what do others do/have? socialised learning University of Aberdeen
- 32. group study University of Dundee what do others do/have?
- 33. learning commons University of Manchester what do others do/have?
- 34. information commons University of Manchester what do others do/have?
- 35. soft seating Birmingham Public Library what do others do/have?
- 36. wide desks Sheffield Information Commons what do others do/have?
- 37. McDonald principles McDonald, (2000; 2002; 2003) suggests that good library space has a number of important qualities and that, ideally, this new space should be: 1. Functional 2. Adaptable 3. Accessible 4. Varied 5. Interactive 6. Conducive 7. Environmentally suitable 8. Safe and Secure 9. Efficient 10.Suitable for information technology 11. …and have 'oomph' https://www.liberquarterly.eu/articles/10.18352/lq.7840/
- 38. Creating our vision • Need to first define the ‘vision’ - where do we want to get to • Get professional help ◦people who can think laterally ◦who are not hide-bound by 'how we've always done it’ ◦more than simply focussing on ‘needs and wants’ • Contracted REALM isd, an interior design consultancy who worked closely with us to help us articulate our needs and begin to develop intelligent space designs • This led to the creation of our Vision documents that were shared widely within the University and helped to make the case for future investment
- 39. Where we are now Vision
- 40. Where we are now Vision
- 41. ‘shoestring’ incremental improvements, good but insufficient over the last three years we have….. introduced new group study spaces
- 42. over the last three years we have….. introduced new group study spaces ‘shoestring’ incremental improvements, good but insufficient
- 43. over the last three years we have….. introduced new sofa booths ‘shoestring’ incremental improvements, good but insufficient
- 44. Improved wifi to reduce contention challenges Installed self-issue Increased seating by 150 study places Doubled the group study spaces, & added 26 more silent study spaces Removed 38.4 tons of library materials Progress to date
- 45. ribbon cutting and cake! Celebrate successes
- 46. Incremental progression • 2013, 2014, 2015 @ £100K per annum, local funds • Much more concerted funding required • NOMAD appointed to challenge and guide our thinking
- 48. Nomad’s Approach “Nobody is as smart as everybody” -Kevin Kelly Founding executive editor of wired magazine
- 50. Collaborative process for creating an HWU LookBook Cross-sector group meets intensively over 12 weeks Undertake several workshops ◦measuring success ◦keep, change, loose ◦define desired concept
- 51. establish ‘look and feel’ Collaborative process for creating an HWU LookBook 2
- 52. develop concepts for furniture Collaborative process for creating an HWU LookBook 2
- 53. begin to design specific spaces Collaborative process for creating an HWU LookBook 2
- 55. NOMAD to establish ‘look and feel’ for future developments 2016 Funding established to create our Learning Commons @ £1.5M
- 56. Learning Commons opened 2016
- 58. Learning Commons opened 2016
- 66. Continuing to influencing the funders • Another Learning Commons being created this summer at Edinburgh • At a cost of circa £700K - don’t underestimate the likely funding required • LC No 2 will be opened in September 2017, providing a further 120 seats
- 67. PERIMETERBENCH PERIMETERBENCHPERIMETERBENCH 53 60 61 62 54 55 56 57 58 59 54 54 56 57 58 59 60 61 dry riser outlet dry riser outlet electrical riser full height casing electrical riser rwp rwp rwp rwp rwp rwp RWP outlet shoe rwp rwp rwp rwp outlet rwp outlet rwp outlet STUDY/SOCIAL duct OFFICE CL. STORE STAIR 2 void STAIR 1 protec'd lobby FEMALE W.C. STORE DIS. W.C. MALE W.C. protec'd lobby FLUE LIFT DUCT AV VIEWING STATIONS full height casing Area: 237m2 Area: 14m2 Area: 28m2 1 2 STAFF screen ERL ERL 4897 110 2000 1000 2300 632 4100 5282 632 632 4254 T06 A01 T06 T07 T07 T07 T08 T08 T08 T08 T09 T09 T010 T010 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C04 C04 C04 C04 C04 C04 C04 C04 C04 C04 C04C04 C04 C04 C04 C04 C04 C04 C04 C04 C05 C05 C05 C05 C05 C05 C03 C03 C03 C03 T07 C06 C06 C07 C07 C07C07C07 C07 C07 C07 C07 C07 C08C08 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 A01 description title job number address client rev dwg no drawn by scale date rev checked date by checked www.spacesolutions.info Kim0309 xref_proposed - 4th floor DO NOT SCALE. Use figured dimensions only. All dimensions, spot levels and drainage positions to checked on site by Contractor prior to construction. Any discrepancies to be reported back to Space Solutions. Drawings to be read & fully understood before work commences. IF IN DOUBT ASK. © C o p y r i g h t o f S p a c e S o l u t i o n s ( S c o t l a n d ) L t d TENDER Herriot-Watt University Post Grad Centre, Heriot-Watt Uni Post Graduate Centre, Proposed 4th Floor Furniture Layout 208247-E-PRO L901 Oct 2016 1:50 @ A1 1:100 @ A3 KMCF JW 2 Lochrin Square, 96 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9QA tel: +44(0)131 221 5210 Proposed Fourth Floor Plan Scale - 1:50 Refer to Furniture Schedule for details if specification Postgraduate centre refurbishment
- 68. svp 01 svp 02 svp 03 svp 05 fg 06 fg 05 SEMINAR ROOM 3 ####### MEETING ROOM 2 ####### CORRIDOR/ WAITING 54.44m2 COLLABORATION ROOM 15.79m2 COLLABORATION GROUP STUDY ROOM 21.21m2 COLLABORATION ROOM 15.82m2 dry riser outlet dry riser outlet outlet outlet electrical riser electrical riser rwp rwp rwp rwp rwp rwp duct STORE CL. STORE LOCKERS protec'd lobbyprotec'd lobby protec'd lobby STAIR 1 protec'd lobby STAIR 2 EQPT. ST. FLUE LIFT electrical riser 40414243 39 3844454647 48 49 50 51 52 34 35 36 31 32 33 37383940414243444546 48 49 50 51 52 53 47 rad rad rad rad rad radradradrad rad rad rad rad BREAK-OUT AREA T01 T01 T02 T03 T03 T03 T03T03T03T03 T03 T03 T03 T03 T03 T03 T03 T03 T03 T03 T03 T03T03 T03 T03 T03 T03 T03 T04 T05 T05 T05 C01 C01 C02 C02 C02 C02 C02 C02 C02 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03C03C03C03C03C03C03C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03C03C03C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C03 C04 C04 C04 C04C04 C04 C04 C04 svp 01 svp 02 svp 03 svp 05 fg 06 fg 05 dry riser outlet dry riser outlet outlet outlet electrical riser electrical riser rwp rwp rwp rwp rwp rwp rwp rwp rwp rwp rwp duct STORE CL. STORE LOCKERS protec'd lobbyprotec'd lobby protec'd lobby STAIR 1 protec'd lobby SEMINAR 1 SEMINAR 2 STAIR 2 EQPT. ST. FLUE LIFT electrical riser 40414243 39 3844454647 3130 32 33 34 35 36 37 48 49 50 51 52 34 35 36 31 32 33 37383940414243444546 48 49 50 51 52 53 47 rad rad rad rad rad radradradrad rad rad radrad rad rad rad rad rad description title job number address client rev dwg no drawn by scale date rev checked date by checked www.spacesolutions.info L902_3rd floor Furniture Plan FOR COMMENT ONLY DO NOT SCALE. Use figured dimensions only. All dimensions, spot levels and drainage positions to be checked on site by Contractor prior to construction. Any discrepancies to be reported back to Space Solutions. Drawings to be read & fully understood before work commences. IF IN DOUBT ASK. © C o p y r i g h t o f S p a c e S o l u t i o n s ( S c o t l a n d ) L t d Aberdeen | Dundee | Edinburgh | Glasgow | London Heriot Watt University POSTGRADUATE CENTRE Third Floor Alterations Proposed Furniture Plan 208247-E-PRO L902 March 2017 As noted @ A1 KMCF JW 2 Lochrin Square, 96 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9QA tel: +44(0)131 221 5210 Proposed Floor and wall Finishes Plan 1:50 Postgraduate centre refurbishment
- 69. Success - Library to be fully refurbished! • University to invest £6M in the Cameron Smail Library building over next 2 years • Campus Library opened in 1976 with 150,000 books and 1,500 students • Six times as many students now taught on the Edinburgh campus • Loans of paper-based materials down by 78% over 1991 values • Over 3,000% increase in availability of e-resources to HWU • Only minor investments in the building’s infrastructure in the last forty years
- 70. The project will be delivered in five phases • Noise will be kept to a minimum during exam study times • Contract currently out to tender for a construction company • Tradesmen will be on site continuously from 22 May 2017 • Some minor exploratory works to took place in February • 1970s buildings often contain asbestos…..
- 71. The patient will be awake throughout…. Overarching principles: • The library will remain open for business at usual times throughout • Books will remain in the library throughout • Periodicals will be removed to store and a daily retrieval service will be put in place • Most study capacity will remain available in the library, most of the time • Additional study space will be available elsewhere on campus
- 72. Five building phases in total Exact start dates not yet known, but could be..... ◦ Phase 1: June – Oct 2017 ◦ Phase 2: Nov 2017 – March 2018 ◦ Phase 3: April - August 2018 ◦ Phase 4: Sept 2018 – January 2019 ◦ Phase 5: Feb – June 2019 An enabling phase prior to each Building Phase will take place from now onwards
- 73. For example, Enabling for Phase 1 • All closed run periodicals will be removed to store in May 2017 • Will retain on site only those periodicals that are still purchased in paper-only format • All shelving in the basement and most from top floor will be removed and disposed • All retained paper-only periodicals will be moved temporarily to the top floor • They will move to permanent shelving on the Ground Floor during Phase 2 • Seating from the basement will move temporarily to the top floor
- 74. Ground floor
- 75. First floor
- 76. Second floor
- 77. Third floor
- 78. Completed refurbishment in 2019 • Results in a new total of 1,044 library study seats...... • Over 3.5 times more than when the library opened in 1976 (295 seats)
- 79. Library Refurbishment project From this ............
- 84. Library Refurbishment project To this ............
- 88. Planning for your future projects • consult with all stakeholders, students and academic staff • seek and engage expert design advice • realise there will be significant costs, probably substantial
- 89. Take away message remember we are not designing for ourselves, but for 21stcentury‘digital natives’
- 90. Questions?
- 91. Wendy Pirie Head of Academic and Learner Services, Directorate of Information Services, Heriot-Watt University REIMAGINING THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY as a learning destination (Learning Commons) …or, how we have been transforming our academic library since 2013 w.pirie@hw.ac.uk