Library as place

In the Freeman article, we get an idea of library design from an architectural/design firms perspective. Here, a successful library expansion or new library design in an academic setting requires flexibility. Separate spaces for contemplation (silent reading rooms) as well as areas for collaboration with others (enclosed study rooms for groups) are both needed. The problem that I have with new library design ideas is that I believe that if possible, room should be made for the physical book stacks to be integrated into the library site. I don't believe that off-site libraries fulfil the needs of most college students on campuses at this time. The actual books need to be readily and easily accessable. If it takes a week to get a book, this may be too late.

As the Freeman article states, projects for classes which used to take two weeks to research now might only take an evening of a students time. Therefore, I feel that the library materials need to be physically accessible both in print and on the web. It goes without saying that flexible library design includes places for plugging in laptops and such but there also need to be adequate spaces for those students using print materials. I think that most libraries on campuses have successfully adapted to this rising need for laptop computer outlets.

Libraries as learning laboratories
The idea of private study rooms is an important one. I feel that a successful collaborative space will have the technology available to do dry-runs of presentations with digital projectors in each study room so that groups of students working on projects may have a good sense of how the next days presentation will go. These group study rooms should be laboratories to test how a presentation might go in the actual classroom setting . This would be very helpful. I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to practice in a similar setting before giving a group presentation. Since students don't have access to the classrooms, usually, I believe it is very useful for their academic libraries to have areas where they can reserve space to practice.