reallocating paper space to people space acrl/ny symposium december 2, 2005 james benson vice...
TRANSCRIPT
Reallocating Paper Space to People Space
ACRL/NY SymposiumDecember 2, 2005
James BensonVice ProvostDean of Information Resources & Libraries
Structure of the Presentation
• The thesis• The basic consequences of the thesis• More detailed arguments
The Thesis
• The use of physical space in libraries has changed. • Virtual library space is rapidly becoming the primary
location for individual information seeking by library users – in many fields of study, but not all
• In consequence, many physical libraries in higher education are under used.
Physical Libraries Need to be Redesigned
• The result of the change is the potential for a profound transformation in the use of information in physical libraries. – The use of physical space in libraries is changing to
collaborative information use. We must, therefore,• transform storage space for paper-based library
materials to collaboration enabling space for people.
• bring users of paper-based resources closer to the paper that they use
Then!
• In the past, many library users visited the library to identify, locate, and retrieve information for study or research. – Most worked alone, occasionally seeking
assistance. – Most users wanted to get their stuff and leave,
unless it wasn’t permitted outside of the library.– Study groups often use textbooks and class notes
rather than library materials. – Commuters also read and studied in the library
because it was available space, away from home, before, between, and after class.
Now!
• These uses have not disappeared, – but the anytime, anywhere access to digital library
materials have decreased substantially the frequency of these uses in the physical library.
• Individual information seeking can be a lonely business whether in the physical library or the digital library, – but it seems a particularly lonely enterprise in the
virtual space of a digital library.
Virtual Space Preferred for Individual Information Seeking
• The availability of information in virtual space, whether– “free” content on the internet and/or – information paid for by the library
• has eliminated the need for the physical library as a preferred space
–for individual information seeking.
Any Time, Any Where Access is Expected
• Where ever you are, when ever you are, – if you have a computer and an internet connection
you can probably access the information • that you need or • that has been assigned for class.
– If you can’t, you will probably pass on retrieving it
Ubiquitous Computing
• The student with a wireless laptop has the world’s libraries at his or her beck and call. – As a result, some university libraries are emptying
out. There are many fewer people using their physical space.
Not Just Libraries
• Virtual space is not only transforming libraries. • More and more of our
– work, – study, and – play
• has become virtual.
Privacy?
• For many of us, – virtual space can be a much desired form of
privacy, – even when we and our computer are in a crowded
room. • we can often ignore everyone else.
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Computer
• For others virtual space is a lonely cave.
Seeking Contact
• Whether we respond positively or negatively to virtual space, for many of us, – Face-to-face human contact becomes more
precious as we spend more of our time in virtual space.
– When not there, we may expect and need human contact.
– But we may not cope well with face-to-face contact
Collaborative Information Use
• As the problems experienced in the world of work have become more complex – [requiring effective team work in order to solve
those problems] and• as work, study, and play have become more and
more virtual – [providing less direct human contact], – employers have begun to prize workers able to
work together effectively.
Collaboration Required
• Universities are advised by their alumni and employers – to teach students how to collaborate.
• In response, – Universities have begun to emphasize
assignments that require collaboration.
Collaborative Work
• These assignments often require that students collectively – evaluate, – analyze, and – present information.
Seeking Faces
• These tasks too can be accomplished virtually, – But since face-to-face contact can be precious – these assignments can become a reason to
• meet and • work together. • But more than work happens!
Seamlessness
• Play, • work, and • study become
– seamless, – undifferentiated.
Why the library?
• Library space for such collaboration is sought frequently by students. – The technology is there. – The space is there. – Assistance with information problems is
there.
Why not the library?
• Some libraries provide environments that encourage work and social interaction. – Remember, for the virtual generation,
• work, • study, and • play
–are seamless.
Balancing the needs of the group and the individual seeking more contemplative space is difficult
• Some libraries make group work unwelcome. – [with its noise, its mixture of social and work
elements, its pre-emption of quiet study space]• Many libraries overbalance to one approach or the
other. • Those University Libraries that overbalance to the
individual are today – often essentially empty for large portions of the
semester.
The Ideal
• Ideally, we serve both – the individual seeking a space for quiet
study, and – the group seeking space to use information
collaboratively.
Competing Needs
• Any library built before 1995 [and some built after] probably does not have people space balanced between these needs.
• Most libraries dedicate most of their square footage to the storage of paper-based information resources.
• In order to rebalance their people space more effectively, libraries need to create more people space.
• That people space needs to accommodate the competing needs of the individual and the group.
Change the Balance
• That typically means a radical change in the balance of use of people space.
• We need lots of group space and less individual study space, and
• The individual study space needed must be of better quality than that provided by a large reading room with dingy tables, chairs, walls, and lighting.
People Space in Libraries
• The group space must accommodate differing sizes of groups, differing collective purposes, and some of it must be outright social.
• We must signal to students a changed orientation. • Spaces that notably signal the approval of social
interaction in the library are essential – To signal that the seamless pattern of work, study,
and play is understood, • Spaces like cafes send such a signal.
Leveling the Information Use Playing Field for Users of Paper-based Information Resources
• While university libraries are in the midst of a transformation, the change is not complete. – Many fields of study still need to use paper-based
information resources. – These faculty and students are at a distinct disadvantage to
their brethren in more digitally oriented fields. • Their access to information is constrained by distance
and time. – They must go to the library. – They are limited by library hours.
Accomodations are needed
• The virtual user of digital information can access their library resources any time, any where.
• To level the playing field for users who mostly use paper-based and micro-film based information resources, – university libraries may need to make special
accommodations for these users. – we must begin integrating these users’ work
homes into the library.
What do users of paper need
• Such a move is more than simply bringing faculty offices into the library.
• It means – placing their most used materials adjacent to their
work homes. • planning for many of these resources to be
become virtual– providing information assistance adjacent to their
work homes. – creating collaborative spaces that facilitate the
shared use of paper-based materials.
How!
• We can replace paper space with people space, • Tactics include:
– Moving underutilized materials to remote storage– Using compact shelving– Weeding.
• We need the people space! It is essential for our future.