University Library Building Research Articles

Capturing the student user experience (UX) in York and Loughborough University Library buildings

Purpose – In higher education libraries, the concept of the user experience has increased in profile and importance. The concept of the “student as customer” has generated much debate but there is general agreement that universities need to be more successful in meeting student expectations. A key strategic area for university libraries has been to adapt and improve their physical spaces to ensure that they are still relevant for today’s students. York and Loughborough University Libraries have both undergone building refurbishments and both are committed to monitoring and reviewing services and spaces. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – There were various constraints which very much influenced the methodology. These included: avoiding survey overload no resource allocation an acknowledgement that the methodology employed needed to combine rigour and validity with a pragmatic approach to data collection. A joint project team was established of representatives from each university. A questionnaire created on Google Forms was administered by staff with individuals in the library and entering the data onto a iPad. Findings – Findings provide evidence of use across a range of users along with valuable information on who is using our library spaces and for what purpose. Originality/value – This research is a rich contribution to the evidence based around student’s learning in universities. It benefits from the expertise and knowledge of two university libraries. As university’s continue to develop learning spaces, this work will enable further investigation around what makes a successful learning space and what makes the library a destination of choice.

Hide-and-seek in Macquarie University Library: geocaching as an educational and outreach tool

Geocaching is an activity which libraries of all types can use as an educational and promotional tool. It is a variation on a scavenger hunt and allows libraries to showcase their services and facilities to people who may not be regular users of the library. Geocaching can also be used by libraries as an educational tool, and examples of educational outcomes related to geocaching are provided. The placement of a geocache within the Macquarie University Library building is used as an example of a library using geocaching as an educational and outreach tool. The geocache has received a very positive response from the local geocaching community. This article provides some background to geocaching, as well as examples of library-related geocaches from around the world.

Energy Efficiency Renovation Study of a University Library Building in Ningbo

A university library building in Ningbo is taken as an example for energy efficiency renovation analysis based on the software PBECA. Five kinds of energy efficiency reforming schemes are proposed and compared, and the best effect of energy efficiency renovation is external sunshade. Moreover, the largest energy consumption is the ground. Although all reforming schemes failed to meet the target of 65% energy efficiency, scheme five is close to 65% energy efficiency target considering the actual usage of the library building.

Accessibility and facilities for the disabled in public and university library buildings in Iran

The study examines the views of architect experts and physically disabled users on the accessibility status of 14 public and university library buildings in Iran. The respondents rated on the availability of items listed in a checklist grouped under five categories: parking, ramps, interior layout, exclusive space and public space for the disabled. The checklist was based on the American Disability Act and International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions checklist for libraries for the disabled. The results indicate that the point of view of both disabled users and architects on all criteria is similar except for the ratings on the ramp and the interior layout for the disabled in library buildings. Based on the architects’ responses, 53.8 percent of libraries did not provide ramps and 63.0 percent had no exclusive space for the disabled. Disabled users who rated higher on library accessibility were frequent visitors to the library. The provision of access and equipment met minimum compliant standards on the standard checklist, but there is room for improvements.

Thinking about Architectural Design of University Library

University library is the academic research center of modern university, known as "the heart of a university". So it should not only be in eye-catching appearance, but also has rich cultural connotation. In addition, university library also has to meet the people-oriented management idea in architectural design and layout. In this article, the author explore the design features of the university library building in new century from aspects of design concept, general plan planning, function, flow line, shape and characteristic.

Renewable Energy Technologies for University Library Building

The library is the information center and the major energy consumer in universities. Based on the trend of social development and the actual situation of universities, this thesis puts forward "solar"" heat" and" wind", the renewable energies suitable for university library construction and methods of their utilization, and meanwhile draws such conclusions as “giving full play to the role of Architects"," strengthening the professional cooperation" and" designing from the overall perspective".

Evaluation of University Library Buildings in France, the Second Survey (2000–2007)

After having described the historic perspective in which French university buildings and academic libraries were constructed or reconstructed since the middle of the 1950s, the author describes the survey she conducted in 2007 among colleagues who had opened 22 new or restructured library buildings. She presents the first results of the survey and compares them with the results of the earlier survey (1999–2000) she conducted, which concerned 30 library buildings. She tries to determine which changes have taken place in the past eight to ten years and focuses on the continuous training effort geared to improve head librarians' knowledge in the field of library buildings. And this training effort works!

User involvement in the Open University library building project

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to show that the Open University library building project was particularly successful for its inclusion of library staff. This was mainly due to the emphasis on a partnering ethos with integrated workshops. The paper identifies the value of such approaches in all building projects and highlights additional factors that enabled a full contribution from the Library.Design/methodology/approachThe Open University project is used as a case study of user involvement in a building project.FindingsThe paper finds that making partnering work is dependent on putting in place a structured approach that incorporates all the elements included in the definition: delivering better value for partners; reducing duplication and waste of resources; identifying and evaluating progress towards mutual objectives; developing an issue resolution process; and measuring through the use of performance indicators.Originality/valueThis is the only example of a partnering project used for a library building known to the author. Promoting the advantages of partnering and integrated teamworking is of value to the construction industry as well as to clients (Estates departments) and building users (library staff and customers).

University Library Buildings in Turkey: A Survey and a Case Study of Yildiz Technical University Main Library Building

Higher education in Turkey has an ancient heritage, beginning in the ‘medrese’ or ‘madrasah’, schools for young men attached to a mosque, which date back to the tenth century and earlier throughout the Islamic world. The first university in Turkey, now known as Istanbul Universitesi, grew out of the Istanbul Medrese, founded as early as 1453, which gradually established itself as a pre-eminent science and technology school throughout the nineteenth century, taking the name Istanbul Darulfunun (House of Multiple Sciences) in 1912, and Istanbul Universitesi in 1933. Its former Schools, based on the schools of the former Medrese, have become Faculties in the modern university. There are now more than ninety-seven universities and academies in Turkey, of which approximately two thirds are state owned, the others are funded by foundations, or are military or police academies. Yildiz Technical University, founded in 1911, is one of the largest and most prominent state universities in Istanbul, and one of two technical universities, the other being Istanbul Technical University (founded 1773). YTU offers programs within eight faculties (covering literature, languages, fine arts and design, engineering and architecture) across three campuses, and advanced research degrees in dedicated research institutes. Although not the oldest university in Istanbul, many of its buildings, especially on the historic Davutpasa campus, date from the first half of the twentieth century and are ill-equipped to provide for the needs of a modern university, let alone a modern university library.

Archaeological Reminiscences: From The Plains and Back Again

My initial interest in Plains archaeology can be attributed to my father's general interest in ev erything related to history. He was born and grew up in Hamilton County, Nebraska, near the Platte River. There he picked up Indian artifacts on the farm and remembered Omaha Indians asking his mother for coffee grounds while moving west on their buffalo hunts. He liked visiting museums and archaeological excavations, taking me along. At the age of about five, I was taken to the University of Nebraska State Museum, then in its third home just south of the present Hamilton Shortly thereafter it was moved into Morrill Hall, now com monly called Elephant Hall. My first visit to the Nebraska State Historical Society Museum was when it was still housed in the university library building, now Architecture When this mu seum moved to the first floor of the state capitol building in 1932, Father helped as a volunteer. Father's interest in museums and history led him to found the Hamilton County Historical Society Museum in Aurora, Nebraska, my hometown. The year 1933 was influential in the shaping of my future career, although I did not realize it at the time since I was only 10 years old. My father had been elected to the Nebraska State Legisla ture, and we moved to Lincoln in January where we rented a small apartment near the capitol build ing. My father was conscientious about visiting the state institutions in and near Lincoln and often took

Working places, furniture and technology: Strategies of flexibility of university library buildings - the case of Bozen/Bolzano

For centuries people have visited libraries to find information, and the practical needs of housing collections and accommodating readers have been the driving force behind library design. As technology advances of the past 20 years have made it possible for people to find information without entering a library building, some have even asked whether the bricks-and-mortar library is doomed to extinction. But today we know that this (bad) vision hasn't come true. Of course, it was imperative to rethink library services fundamentally and in this context also to rethink completely the functions of library buildings. In this ongoing process one term became more and more a magic word - "flexibility"! When Gerhard Liebers, the doyen of building libraries in Germany, came back from a study tour to the United States in the early fifties, his experiences condensed in the term "flexibility". He was absolutely enchanted by the in those days modern and in Germany, at least in the field of library construction, still unknown modular construction principle (Liebers, 2002). Over the years the requirement of flexibility as an important aspect in the planning and briefing of new library buildings became more and more important. Today it is regarded as one of the most decisive, perhaps the basic principle of modern library buildings and in particular it got a new quality.

The influence of personal computer processing modes on line current harmonics

The influence of the personal computer processing mode on the generation of line current harmonics has been investigated using a university library building containing over 370 PCs. The harmonics were monitored from the building switchboard using purpose-designed hardware. The PCs were set to execute four types of processing mode: idle, numerical processing, floppy, and hard disk accesses. The results recorded were indicative of harmonics caused by the PC box only, and secondary effects of harmonic production caused by distorted supply voltages were avoided. The results show that hard disk accesses cause the highest level of harmonic production affecting the 3rd and 5th components. Harmonic attenuation was very apparent when comparing the results between a single PC and 124 PCs connected to the same supply phase. However, attenuation and diversity effects due to changes in loading level on the PC power supply were not as predicted, showing an increase in harmonic generation with line current RMS level.

An Assessment of New University Library Building in France during the Period 1990-1999

Following implementation of two governmental programs a third such plan, referred to as the „ Third Millennium University”(„U3M” ) was considered, with an initial work phase stretching from 2000 to 2006. In view of implementing the latest plan, and given the objectives outlined just now, the Ministry of Education, as the authority responsible for university libraries, thought fit to undertake an assessment of at least one part of those buildings newly opened to the public. The aim of this assessment was to ensure that future library construction and refurbishment programs would incorporate the changes achieved, both as regards pedagogical methods employed in university teaching, and the development of information technologies. I should now like to describe the methodology of this assessment, then present some data regarding the results obtained. In April 1998 a think-tank was set up under my responsibility, comprising around fifteen project managers, university library managers or document-section heads in charge of the building or restructuring project for their particular libraries.

Der Neubau der Universitätsbibliothek Greifswald und digitale Informationsversorgung

In July 2001 in Greifswald, the Science Council (Wissenschaftsrat) published the Recommendations for the Provision of Digital Informations through University Library Systems ( Empfehlungen zur digitalen Informationsversorgung durch Hochschulbibliotheken). Many library building projects in the former GDR have just been completed or are soon to be completed. The aforementioned projects were planned long before the recommendations have been published. Now it is interesting to view the building projects in the light of the new recommendations for an up-to-date digital library. After a survey of the new Greifswald university library building, the author compares the goals of the recently completed digital library recommendations to the actual functions of the completed building today.

Library furniture: Selection and acquisition

Highlights the necessity for the provision of adequate, comfortable and utility based library furniture for its users in a well planned university library building. Says that it should be durable, functional, attractive and should be built according to accepted standards. Various types of furniture required in the libraries with their specifications, namely Book Racks, Catalogue Cabinets. Library Chairs, Reading Room Tables, Circulation Counter, Charging Trays, Periodical Display Racks, Book Trolleys and Atlas Stands have been studied in detail. Concludes with the suggestion that durability, sturdiness, design and comfort factors should be borne in mind for furnishing a university library.

Five Decades of Nigerian University Library Buildings

This paper discusses Nigerian university library buildings from 1948, when the first university institution was established, up to 1998. Through the use of a questionnaire, study visits to 12 of the 31 university libraries, interviews with library staff and review of the literature, it was found that all Nigerian university libraries started from temporary sites. While all five first generation universities had their first permanent library buildings erected within the first decade of their establishment, only five of the eight second generation universities have moved into their permanent library buildings after over 25 years of existence. Of the 15 third generation universities established in the 1980s, only five have erected and occupied their permanent buildings. Library buildings of the first generation universities were found to be very standard and grand in design while the same cannot be said of most of their second and third generation counterparts. For libraries with permanent structures, the designs were mostly modular. The paper recommends that library buildings be given priority in universities' physical development plans and that realistic library building standards be formulated with the co-operation of the National Universities Commission, the Nigerian Library Association and the Committee of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities (CULNU).

Five Decades of Nigerian University Library Buildings

This paper discusses Nigerian university library buildings from 1948, when the first university institution was established, up to 1998. Through the use of a questionnaire, study visits to 12 of the 31 university libraries, interviews with library staff and review of the literature, it was found that all Nigerian university libraries started from temporary sites. While all five first generation universities had their first permanent library buildings erected within the first decade of their establishment, only five of the eight second generation universities have moved into their permanent library buildings after over 25 years of existence. Of the 15 third generation universities established in the 1980s, only five have erected and occupied their permanent buildings. Library buildings of the first generation universities were found to be very standard and grand in design while the same cannot be said of most of their second and third generation counterparts. For libraries with permanent structures, the designs were mostly modular. The paper recommends that library buildings be given priority in universities' physical development plans and that realistic library building standards be formulated with the co-operation of the National Universities Commission, the Nigerian Library Association and the Committee of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities (CULNU).

The Usmanu Danfodiyo University Library Building: problems and prospects

Perhaps one of the most important considerations in library management the world over is the suitability and conduciveness of the library environment. Absence of these will curtail, to a certain extent, the efficiency of the services and operations, as well as a comfortable reading atmosphere. Undoubtedly, it is against these odds that some university libraries operate in Nigeria. It is in this context that the article reviews the library building situation of Nigerian universities with particular reference to the experience of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Library, Sokoto.

Planning library buildings for the information age

Many new university library buildings, extensions and refurbishments have been constructed around the world in which making flexible provision for information technology is one of the important challenges. New space must be capable of delivering electronic services and technology‐enhanced learning and research services, ideally providing access to fully networked machines throughout the building, and should be capable of absorbing changes in technology. The paper outlines the issues and problems involved, including planning for an uncertain future, the need for flexibility and costs. Decisions have to be made about the topology of the network and the number, variety and design of IT workstations. Computer clusters are now common and self‐services are developing. The importance of lighting, environmental conditions, noise control, provision for disability, security and green issues arc considered in relation to information technology. The library manager must influence the planning process to ensure the ne...

The Energy Performance Of A University Library Building

The energy performance of a four-storey library (PSZ) building of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has been simulated using a microcomputer-based building energy simulation program, SHEAP. The simulation results give a comparative estimate of the potential annual savings for nine parameters. Significant savings (greater than 3.7% of RM 815,680 in operating cost) can result from the use of a Variable Air Volume (VAV) system, reduced air-conditioning times and reduced electrical lighting intensity. A 25% glazed-facade can contribute about 1% in saving,while the other parameters contribute less than 0.2% in savings to be of any significance.