Design libraries of the future will focus on facilitating discovery, collaboration, and creativity for users beyond just research. They will optimize physical space and resources to better serve users' needs through new technologies, flexible work areas, and on-demand support from librarians via text messaging. The goal is to envision new ways for users to experience design libraries.
2. Design libraries will be structured around theuser’s
needs: beyond research, libraries will facilitate
discovery, collaboration, and creativity.
Library as Place
Something is truly useful because it is beautiful (Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince, Ch. 14)The sublime in Kantian aesthetics (physicality of book stacks, largeness of world of information)--the physical embodiment of the abstract (knowledge, information) renders us more susceptible to serendipitous discovery --as we move toward a digital age, we lose the physicality of the book stacks, but not the building—the building and use of space (electronic and physical) can still be structured to facilitate discovery --staff
Libraries will cease to simply house books. Materials within will be more abstract, as the library “space” ventures into a digital environment. Research / Reference collection will be primarily databases and shared collections (easy access to collections like the Digital Public Library of America http://dp.la/)Digital archivesPhysical archives of innovative materials (in addition to existing materials—either digital or both digital and physical)Include archive of video presentations, final projects (students), even streaming classes Access to subscriptions to online services like Lynda.com, gnomon (some sort of database that has tutorials about how to use design software) thegnomonworkshop.com
Maintain a smaller, core collection, freeing up more space for reading rooms (silent) / study rooms (quiet) / meeting space (loud). Hunt Library’s “book bot” was designed when $11 million was cut from the project budget—priority for library was space Keep small collection of physical books as objects, begin to purchase e-books for immediacy (i.e. art object books vs. reference books) Provide physical access to new and core books, digital or storage access to the restTouch-screen “virtual browsing” of stacks (Google Chrome WEBGL Bookcase) Hardware accelerated 3-D graphics
Availability of design equipment rapid prototyping machines like 3-D printerssound / digital equipment (turntables, microphones, electronics, animation visualization)fabric printers (like at Spoonflower)
Designate areas for different needs (Baylor University’s Silent, Quiet, and Active zones)have “quiet room” for reading space for reflection, reading, restingprovide tablets for digital book readingGallery space to showcase student workPop-up space (turn the whole library into a gallery for a day)Encourage students to run gallery (potential learning experience)
have designated presentation room/auditorium equipped with video capture equipmentall presentations are digitally recorded and added to ever-growing library video archive encourage students to capture lectures with phones, add to video archiveIn the collaborative space available, have:chalkboard walls or dry-erase wallshave creative space available3D software lab or 360 degree visualization room (room equipped with computer screen walls or panels)3D real-time object recognition and 3D sketching tool (CGarchitect.com; http://vimeo.com/53403722)media production / music room (for sound / visual art, podcasting, videocasting) iPad, Wacom tablet lab (filled with apps for students to try out) [ **image is of iTrend:make changes to rooms after you capture them with iPad camera. Elements on which you are able to work are floor and walls]Application hackerspace: lab for students to create new apps
Specialized librarians available digitally Texting, etc.Students encouraged to contribute to library collection Send pictures /videos of exhibits, performances that they may encounter to a collective archive (pinterest, in-house archive, etc.)Encourage development of web applications for library use, general useExample: Harvard student developed a smartphone app that sends an alert whenever a library book matching the user’s keyword search is close bycreate library “residencies” for younger staff to promote mentorship “artist in reference” position for a distinguished guest librarian to illuminate a library’s research collection in the area of her specialty.
Library staff available via text message, chat, email, etc.
Students encouraged to contribute to library collection Send pictures /videos of exhibits, performances that they may encounter to a collective archive (pinterest, in-house archive, etc.)Encourage development of web applications for library use, general useExample: Harvard student developed a smartphone app that sends an alert whenever a library book matching the user’s keyword search is close bycreate library “residencies” for younger staff to promote mentorship Labrary mission: Our goal is real-world impact inside and outside the walls of Harvard. We make things that contribute to the library discourse. We collaborate with the Harvard Library, and academic and public libraries from across the U.S. We believe positive change will grow from within the existing system.Library Test Kitchen Productions may be:» Built» Coded» Instituted as temporary policy
provide online collaborative space (digital sandbox—place for students to mess around [drawing, etc.], share files, post artwork/works-in-progress, etc.)twitter feedstart including design blogs (maybe even curate a collection of blogs)databases are searched similar to Google (i.e. integrated databases)graphic search tools (possible to search by size, format, object type)graphic interfaces (like this, for example: http://dp.la/map)lecture feedslecture / special presentation video archivelibrary app downloadscollection of available freeware (font downloads, paintbrushes for Photoshop, etc.)collection of prototypes (3-d printed furniture, sculpture, like the Met collection scanned by MakerBot)
Begin with web features (curated blog list, freeware, apps)Start utilizing students (they’re free! And full of ideas! And often technologically savvy!)Look to collaboration with IT departments (how difficult would it be to create a video archive? Etc.)Explore possibilities with existing space (can you store things? Weed things? Rearrange? Build up? Paint a wall into a chalkboard/install a whiteboard?)Begin to explore grant opportunitiesExplore local businesses (can you be a guinea pig for upcoming technologies or products?)