1. Form Follows Function: New Roles, New
Spaces for 21st Century Academic Libraries
2nd Congress of University & Research Libraries, University of Chile
Mary Ann Mavrinac, Vice Provost and Neilly Dean,
River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
June 5, 2015

2. Harvard College 1636
Photo Credit: Library of Congress

4. Robarts Library, University of Toronto
Photo Credit: Gordon Belray

5. Harvard Depository
Photo Credit: Stephanie Mitchell

6. Information Commons, Robart Library, University of Toronto
Photo Credit: Gordon Belray

7. PACE OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE
Writing to codex – 4,300 years
Codex to movable type – 1,150 years
Movable type to Internet – 524 years
Internet to search engines – 19 years
Search engines to Google – 7 years

9. Do we need a library in the
21st century?
Isn’t everything on the
Internet?
Isn’t the physical book
going away?
5

10. It’s never been about the book!
6

11. THE ENVIRONMENT. THE NEED.
• Information technology has fundamentally changed the
ways in which we communicate and transfer
knowledge.
• Learning, teaching, and research require different,
more dynamic, technologically rich and experiential
services, programs and spaces.
• 21st century workplaces and the nature of work are
more mobile, transitory, project-based, collaborative.
• Need to transform the library from solely a repository
of books to a center of innovation and knowledge
creation.

12. 21st CENTURY FACULTY
 Data and computationally intensive
 Global
 Team-based (even humanities)
 Technologically-rich; multi-media
 Digital scholarship & publishing
 New modes of pedagogy: online/hybrid
 Print/manuscript-based research

13. 21st CENTURY STUDENTS
 Experiential, project-based learning
 Collaborative, team-based learning; social
 Undergraduate research
 Online/hybrid learning
 Technologically-focused
 Global
 Create/apply ideas to make a difference in
the world

14. 21st CENTURY WORK ENVIRONMENT
 Fast paced
 Technologically rich
 Highly collaborative
 Mobile
 Project-based, short-term contracts
 Many jobs; different careers
 Entrepreneurial
 Global

15. Facebook Headquarters
Menlo Park, CA

16. Comcast Corporate Headquarters
Philadelphia

17. Comcast Corporate Headquarters
Philadelphia

18. “Oasis Zones” RBC Centre Toronto

19. Google Offices, Dublin Ireland

20. WELD: Collaborative Work & Studio Space
Dallas

21. What role can libraries play to
respond to the 21st century needs of
students and faculty?

23. +
New Skills & Competencies
 Agility
 Deep subject expertise
 Deep IT skills
 Intellectual property / rights management
 Dramatically enhanced cultural and linguistic
diversity, cultural sensitivities
ARL Fall Forum
October 11,2012
Jon E.Cawthorne (Boston College) Vivian Lewis (McMaster University)
XuemaoWang (University of Cincinnati)
Transforming the Research Library Workforce: A
Scenario Approach

24. +
New Skills & Competencies
 Entrepreneurialism (creativity,project management,
leadership,fundraising,competitive intelligence
 New literacies (geospatial literacies,data visualization)
 Capacity for supporting deep collaboration with faculty
ARL Fall Forum
October 11,2012
Jon E.Cawthorne (Boston College) Vivian Lewis (McMaster University)
XuemaoWang (University of Cincinnati)
Transforming the Research Library Workforce: A
Scenario Approach

27. LIBRARY ROLES: FOUNDATIONAL
 Acquire, organize and make accessible
scholarly content for discovery and use
 Quiet contemplative spaces
 Subject/domain expertise to connect research
need to scholarly content
 Neutral, interdisciplinary crossroads
 Dynamic intersection of scholarly content,
technology, expertise, tools and spaces
 Center of scholarly inquiry
 Preserve knowledge for future generations

28. LIBRARY ROLES: 21ST CENTURY
 Experiential learning and support for teaching
 Digital humanities
 Scholarly publishing
 Data management, curation, visualization
 New literacies and skills development:
information literacy, data, digital media, etc.
 Digitization of content for global access
 New and emerging technologies
 Support life-cycle of scholarly research

30. James B. Hunt Library Bookbot

32. VISION
The River Campus Libraries will become a
collaborative hub of innovation in support of
the teaching, learning and research mission
of the Schools we support.

33. Specialized Learning Spaces
for the 21st Century
Supporting Research and Scholarship

34. James B. Hunt Library, North Carolina State University

35. Game Lab, Hunt Library, NCSU

37. Taylor Family Digital Library
Photo Credit: Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.

38. Taylor Family Digital Library, University of Calgary

39. Technical University of the Netherlands

40. Photo courtesy of University of Rochester
Information Technology

41. CARLSON - VISION AND MISSION
Vision:
The Carlson Research Space* will be a
collaborative hub for aspiring
researchers that supports and showcases
work in all phases of research.
Mission:
The Carlson Research Space* brings
together students, researchers, librarians,
and resources in a flexible, technology-rich
environment with targeted programming to
help students build the foundational skills,
knowledge, and network necessary to
bridge curriculum-based, and independent,
faculty-directed research.
Illustration of what the new space might look like. Subject to
change as project moves forward. Rendering by Perkins+Will
.
brightspot

42. Carlson Student Research Space

43. Carlson Student Research Space

44. Specialized Learning Spaces
for the 21st Century
Supporting Study and Learning

45. Ask Us,
Hunt Library
North Carolina
State University

46. D. H. Hill Library,
North Carolina
State University

47. The Link, Duke University
Photo Credit: Shepley Bullfinch

48. University of Pennsylvania’s Weigle Information Commons
American Libraries got the photos directly from
Anu Vedantham at Penn and Kim Duckett at NCSU

49. Taylor Family Digital Library, University of Calgary

50. Ryerson University
Student Learning
Centre

51. The Beach, Student Learning Centre, Ryerson University

52. Photo Credit: Jason Smith
Reading Room, Mansueto Library, University of Chicago

53. Reading Room, Hunt Library, NCSU
Photo Credit: Mark Herboth

54. Martin E. Messinger Periodical Reading Room

55. Specialized Learning Spaces
for the 21st Century
Supporting Innovation & Experiential
Learning

56. iZONE – VISION AND MISSION
Vision:
The iZone is a pre-incubator for
students to explore and
imagine ideas for social,
community, cultural and
economic impact.
Mission:
The iZone helps students build skills,
access tools and resources, get
advice, and connect with a
community of collaborators to
generate, refine, and communicate
ideas. The vibrant environment will
provide programs, services, and
experts focused on supporting ideas,
imagination, and innovators.
I
Rendering by Perkins+Will
brightspot

57. WHY A LIBRARY? WHY OUR LIBRARY?
 Interdisciplinary - Any student. Any program
 Neutral
 Research support
 Scholarly resources
 Build and manage databases
 Collaborative, technology-rich learning spaces
 Exhibit/showcase outcomes of research
 Familiar, accessible entry point
 Aligns with vision: collaborative hub of innovation

58. iZone

59. iZone

60. iZone

61. Digital Media Experience Lab
Student Learning Centre, Ryerson University
Phot Credit: Christopher Manson

62. Seward Family Archive Project

63. Seward Family Archive
Project
Working on the Seward
Project has really opened
doors for me-- I am a
computer scientist with a
passion for history. I hope to
continue with the project
until I graduate as it has truly
redefined my college
experience.
Getting to work with these
priceless documents as an
undergraduate intern is very
rare and I am incredibly
grateful for this unique
experience.
Luke Kortepeter ‘15

64. Makerspace,Hunt Library American Libraries got the photos directly from
Anu Vedantham at Penn and Kim Duckett at NCSU

65. Vision
The Library can play a unique role in humanizing
technology by providing a welcoming,
comfortable, safe and environmentally friendly
space….The new library must shift from an
emphasis on collections space to people space. It
must be a place to which users are drawn. A place
where they want to spend countless hours. A
place that supports their academic pursuits. A
place that supports their sense of community,
both within UTM and with the broader
community.
Mary Ann Mavrinac, University of Toronto Mississauga, August 2001

66. University of Toronto Mississauga Library
2003-2010
 Geographic Information
Systems and Data
 Instructional Technologies
 Emerging Technologies
 Finance Learning Center
Director
 Scholarly communications
and publishing
 Digital humanities
 Metadata
 Visual resources
 Social media
 Communications and
public relations
 Increased IT staff

67. Photo Credit: Ben Rahn, A-Frame, Inc.

68. Photo Credit: Ben Rahn, A-Frame, Inc.

69. Photo Credit: June Seel

71. Questions and comments?
maryann.mavrinac@rochester.edu
585-275-4461