Library as Place: Meeting
the Demands and Needs
of the Net Generation
Mrs. Lourdes T. David, Rizal
Library, Ateneo de Manila
University
Outline
Collection Centered Library
Impact of ICT on Collection
Impact of ICT on User
User Centered Library
The Library as Place
Traditional Library
The Library
Facilities
Collection Centered
Focus was on the collection Acquired,
organized, stored and preserved
information
Collection policy was to acquire as much
books and journals as possible Just in
case somebody will need them.
Collection Centered Library
Collection Centered Library:
Users are not Priority
Impact of ICT on the Collection
Print collectionTraditional library
Print + Digital collectionTraditional library
Print + Digital + Virtual collectionHybrid
library
No physical collectionVirtual library
(Matteo Ricci Hall)
Impact of ICT on the Rizal
Library User
Users use ICT in creating, disseminating and
accessing information--80% of our users use
their own laptops, some have IPads
Users socialize online through social
networking sites, chat, email, list serves,
etc.They connect to us through these
modes
They demand online searching for books, AV
and journal articles on campus or off-
campus
80% are Registered Wi-Fi Users
Rizal Library users are Online
Do Net Generation Students
need a Physical Library?
Net generation students are always
connected either online or face-to-face
They spend their off class hours
at the cafeteria, Starbucks, Jollibee, etc.
studying in groups and preparing class
presentations
In social networking sites such as
Facebook, Twitter
on the phone
The Answer: Yes
Library spaces should provide for the
traditional roles of the library but with a
vision to provide virtual access to and
sharing of information to individuals or to
groups who can interact with the library
either face-to face or in cyber space.
Paradigm Shift: From a collection centered
Library to a User centered Library. From a
Just in Case collection to a Just in Time
collection where access is key
Libraries Must
Examine those places where students
hangout and plan to provide an environment
that would engage students to come to the
library instead of those areas.
Put a cap on the size of the collection so
that spaces for the collection can be
converted into user spaces
Provide for spaces where students can
access and use print and online information
to create new information in the company of
fellow students.
Print and Online Together
New Paradigm
What is needed is acceptance of a new
basis of academic and research library
design that speaks to the needs of users,
is energy efficient, and assumes zero-
growth collection of physical
collections. Such a building will have a
future on any campus. (Loder, 2010) .
Paradigm Shift
Then Now
Physical Physical Virtual
Collection Collection Collection
Growing Diminishing Increasing
Diminishing Increasing
Space and Evolving Spaces
for Users for Users
Limited Increasing
Facilities/ and Evolving
Services Facilities/ Services
to Users
Paradigm Shift: From a Collection
Centered Library to a User
Centered Library
Services
Collection Facilities
USER
Staff
The Response of the Rizal
Library
Design considerations: Limit the collection
size, respond to space needs of users,
apply green technology principles
Apply design considerations to three
buildings
New Library Building for general
collections
Special Collections Building
Matteo Ricci Study Hall
The Rizal Library
Collection
Print: Books, serials, thesesSize limit is
500000 volumes
E-booksEbrary
40+ Databases and 20000+ E-journals
Accessible via Ebscohost Integrated
Search
Multimedia
MicroformsFor preservation
Digital Library Digitized from print for
improved access
Space needs of Users
Areas for quiet study
Areas for group discussion
Access to food
Access to online resources and friends
Facilities to produce papers and
presentations, conduct tutorials and
seminars
Facilities for multimedia presentations
Varied seating arrangements for different
bodies
New Library Building
Special Collections Building
Matteo Ricci Building
Silent Study Area
Silent Study Cubicles
Group Study Area
Discussion Area
Discussion Area
Work Area for Presentations
Print Station
Access to food
Access to the Internet
Access to the Internet
Access to the Internet
Facilities for multimedia
presentations
Options for Seating
Options for Seating
Options for Seating
Options for Seating
The Lobby Area
OPAC Stations
Green Technology
considerations
Orientation of the building to the sun
Natural Light
Window with views
Choice of lights CFL, LED lights)
Location of the buildingAccessibility
Recycling of waterDual piping
Air conditioning systems
Ventilation systems
Other
Natural Light coming in from
Windows with views
Natural Light coming in from
Windows with views
Natural Light in Central
Staircase
Have we been successful?
Number of users coming to the library
No. of printing transactions
No. of searches
Use of the Library
Location Period Total #users Monthly average
Old Building April 2005 806,935 67,244
March 2006
April 2006 807,438 67,286
March 2007
April 2007 726,246 60,520
March 2008
April 2008 661,741 55,145
March 2009
April-2009Oct. 412,295 518,945 40,114 61,444
2009
Oct. 2009March 106,650 21,330
2010
April 2010 518,011 74,001
October 2010
Use of the Library
Use of the Library
Printing Transactions
Oct2009-Mar2010 - 29,010
Apr2010-Sep 8 2010 - 54,931
Total 83941
Conclusion: Design
Considerations for Planners
The user size and behavior
Size needed for the seating
capacity and collection size needed
to meet the requirements of
accrediting bodies
User behavior (information seeking,
creation, learning behavior)
Needed for space planning for kind
of seating, access to Internet, Wi-Fi
Conclusion: Design
Considerations for Planners
The collection policy, size and profilewill
guide you in providing shelving space, and
technology requirements for access.
Green Technology principleswill save
you maintenance costs for energy, water
supply and will make building more
conducive to learning.
References
Freeman, Geoffrey (2005). The Library as Place:
Changes in Learning Patterns, Collections, Technology,
and Use in Library as Place: Rethinking Roles,
Rethinking Space. Council on Library and Information
Resources Washington, D.C. p. 1-9
Loder, Michael Wescott (2010). Libraries with futures;
How are academic library usage and green demands
changing building designs? College and research
libraries, July 2010 vol 71 #4, pp348-359.
Mulford, Sam McBane and Ned A Himmel (2010). How
green is my library? Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries
Unlimited.
Thank You!
Lourdes T. David
Director, Rizal Library, Ateneo de Manila
University
Contact Numbers
Tel: 4266001 ext 5550; telfax 4265961
Email: ltdavid@ateneo.edu;
lourdesdav@gmail,com;
lourdestenmatay@yahoo.com.ph
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