Categories Library Spaces

206 posts

Posts highlighting cool or unusual (or not so great) things that people are doing in libraries

Library Spaces

Buildings need to Inspire

http://education.guardian.co.uk/librariesunleashed/story/0,,2274826,00.html Colleges and universities are on a similar learning curve. Today’s student population is more diverse, it demands e-learning and online resources including Web 2.0 technologies, and has higher expectations of physical space. Meanwhile, researchers and academics are calling for better access to digital resources. With so much information coming to students online through various fixed and mobile devices, universities and colleges need well-designed work and study spaces. Libraries are leading the way in developing innovative learning spaces in which people can make productive use of powerful combinations of information and technologies on their desktop – including communication and collaborative […]

Library Spaces

Library Fail

Chris Harris writes: http://schoolof.info/infomancy/?p=530 Imagine our surprise, however, when we entered the manga library to be welcomed with this sign that fails on so many levels.Leaving aside the quite horrific fail, we still have to deal with the unfortunate fact that this sign maker’s perception of libraries is that they are mainly quiet. What made this more sad was that the day before I had been one floor up in the same hotel talking about the fact that libraries are not just about being quiet anymore. That we have learned to change and meet user expectations; that we have adopted […]

Library Spaces Web 2.0 & Library 2.0

Reference Areas at CML

Reference Areas at CML, originally uploaded by mstephens7. ONE MORE from Columbus Metropolitan Library. The other thing that knocked me out was this reference area where the library staffer and patron would stand together on the same side and look up information. The desk as “fortress” was nowhere to be seen in this area. I spoke with Jack who told me that both staff and patrons like this new set up. NICE!

Library Spaces

Laptop locks

Laptop locks, originally uploaded by Musebrarian. Musebrarian writes: Laptops are always being stolen from students at the Grainger Engineering Library. This has to be one of the more brilliant solutions to the problem that I’ve seen. I used to have a lock, but didn’t always carry it with me. Posted for Michael Stephens, who apparently collects library signage.

Library Spaces

Not For Children

Not For Children, originally uploaded by herzogbr. Brian Herzog writes: These are the signs next to the button that automatically opens the Library’s front doors, to provide easy entrance to people who have trouble opening the door. As the comment mentioned, it of course is a great play thing for children. I don’t know how effective our signs are, but I have a feeling that the big arrow is probably irresistible to kids – even those who can’t read. But I think signs, in general, are band-aids, and a real solution (or the real problem) lies in the very design. […]