Ifla Buildings

October 2007

Ruth A. Pagell, University Librarian,Singapore Management University

Building for the Future: National and Academic Libraries from around the Globe

Li Ka Shing LibraryA New Kind of Library

Designing Your Library

FORM follows FUNCTIONFUNCTIONFORM follows FUNCTIONFUNCTION

FUNCTION FUNCTION follows STRATEGYFUNCTION FUNCTION follows STRATEGY

STRATEGY follows VISIONVISIONSTRATEGY follows VISIONVISION

SMU CASE STUDYChronology

1997 Singapore government conceives SMU

1999 SMU signs agreement with Wharton School

2000 SMU opens to 300 students in Buket Timah

2000 SMU signs 5 year contract with NLB to run the library (May)

2000 SMU appoints architect, Edward Cullinan (Dec)

2005 SMU hires a librarian to start in June

2005 SMU moves into its Bras Basah campus with four

school building and a library (end June)

2005 SMU opens new campus to 3500 students (July)

CAMPUS DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Connections to the historical buildings surrounding the campus,

Open courtyards at street level which allow for access across campus by the public

Landscaping at the concourse, street and balcony levels

CAMPUS DESIGN FEATURES

Sheltered courts, breezeways, overhanging facades and strengthened shading to improve microclimate conditions

Similar look and feel of the buildings, with individual features to meet each one’s unique needs

SMU CASE STUDYVision

To be a premier university, internationally recognised for its world class research and distinguished teaching.

To be the

intellectual

and learning

center for

the

University

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

MISSION

SMU aspires to generate leading edge research with global impact as well as to produce broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy. SMU is committed to an interactive, participative and technologically-enabled learning experience.

.. the connector to the information resources that are necessary for the growth of research… The focus will be on providing services and access to information more than on providing access to large collections of hard materials… The relationship between information technology and the Library is… critical.

President Howard Hunter, August 2005

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Place for the Physical Library in the Future University President

“The placement of the Library at the middle of the campus makes an architectural point about the centrality of ideas to the life of a university.

Students and scholars have varying habits and preferences. Some prefer to work online from home or from their offices. Others prefer a more public space.  Others prefer a mixture.

When in the library they need comfortable spaces in which to do collaborative work where they also have ready access to research materials.

In our future, there always will be a need for some hard materials and a central accessible location for them.”

President Howard Hunter, August 2007

Pre-DesignLIBRARY CONCEPT STATEMENT

The Library should hold a central and critical place in the learning environment, where students not only acquire knowledge and skills but also emerge as leaders and lifelong learners. The new library must be open, friendly and fundamentally flexible in its design to accommodate continuous change. It must embody the highest aesthetic and environmental values to encourage curiosity, creativity, scholarship, learning and a rich culture

Business Development Division National Library Board September 2001

Critical Concerns

• Designing in flexibility• Planning user space• Providing for future technology• Creating a diversity of appropriate

environments for learning• Providing security for library

collections and patrons

BDD/NLB 9/2001

Critical Concerns

• Allowing for collection growth and collection shrink

• Storing collections effectively• Accommodating users with

disabilities• Building appropriate working

environments for staff’• Anticipating environmental

concerns• Anticipating the relationship of the library with other campus elements

BDD/NLB 9/2001

Disconnect Between University Vision and Library Design

“The library design was very staid much at odds with our supposed cherished value of innovativeness as the first business school launched in the 21st century. What a major opportunity we have here in terms of location for a modern business/ management library located in the heart of one of Asia’s great cities! With some creative thought, we could well aim to have at least the best business library in Asia…”

Faculty member on design committee, LKS 2002

Li Ka Shing Library’s Goals

Research and Scholarship

Teaching and Learning

Community and Place

Technology and Access

Li Ka Shing Library, November 2005, with revisions

Impact of Research Services on Building

• Expanded ejournal collection

• Addition of Schools of Law and Social Sciences

• Specialized research staff

• Balance of access vs ownership

• Support for graduate students

• Less need for periodical shelves

• More demand for print in these areas; Law Library

• Special use computers• Creation of new unit

(Course Support Services)

• Need for different work areas

Impact of Teaching Services on the Building

Library Instruction Need for second classroom

Reference and Customer Service

Two service desks

Move toward electronic reserves

Too much space in

Course Reserves

Student Spaces / Learning SpacesLooking for Change

• Norwegian School of Management (BI) Oslo

• Cox Hall Class Room in

Computing Center, Emory University

Library / Learning SpacesThe NEW Reading Room

Matheson Reading Room, Emory University, 2003

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

• Interactive learning space• Open project rooms• Comfortable furniture• Suitable for monitoring

extended hours usage• Corporate color scheme

PLANNING PRINCIPLES

• Use a professional design firm

• Involve the Dean of Students Office

• Use student focus groups• Prototype furniture design• Publicize through “grand

opening”

Collaborative Study Area

Prototype

FinalDesign

University President OpensCollaborative Study Area

Importance of Library Building Dean of Students

• Teaching place – all of us working with students should be in the teaching business

• Librarians - important in the place

• Knowledge is transferred in different ways; needs to be reflected in different spaces

• The New Library (CSA) is a link between the classroom and the workplace

LAM, DOS, August 2007

Dean of Students in the library café

Library and the Community

Hosting Campus and Community events

Reading room serves as learning

space for young entrepreneurs and

open technology space for

SMU students

Collaborative Study Area is used for Campus Blood Drive

Students Responses2007 Survey

• “I think the individual pigeon holes are a good idea” Singaporean undergrad SOA 06

• “More comfortable couches”

Dual degree Singaporean undergrad from 06

Level 2 Lounge Area

Level 4 Study Carrels

LeLevel 3 Couches

Student Responses2007 Survey

• “The library decoration design is great, of course. And, I'm so proud of SMU's library…

• Anyhow, I think you should have more open study area because I personally don’t like the 4th floor especially

when it is crowded”

Asian Bridging Student in SISLevel 4 Study Area

Level 3 Lounge Area

Library as PlaceStudent Surveys

Level 4 Study Area

Level 2 Lounge Area

REASON / TOP % 2006 n=742

% 2007 n=945

Study 95% 97%Meet with my study group 70%Use Course Reserve materials 60%

REASON / BOTTOMLibrary consultation 7% 22%Attend training in the library 7% 25%*Walk-up reference question 3% 38%

* 48% in 2007 attending orientation or training conducted by the library

Library Places Used2006

Space % 2006Project Rooms 70%

Group Tables 52%

Individual Tables 44%

Library Computer Workstations 42%

Collaborative Study Area (new at time of survey)

38.4%

Soft Seating Areas 35%

Café 34%

Reading Room 33%

Individual Carrels 32%

Course Reserve Area 31%

Student Comments2007 Survey

“For overall evaluation, the Library is a perfect place”

SESS first year student from Asia

Library as Physical Place

Physical Library

Study Space

LearningCommons

Social Space

Information Commons

Knowledge Commons

© Ruth A. Pagell, October 2007

Library as PlaceAsia Library Survey

“In China, physical will always exist for students learning and reading”

“In China, physical will always exist for students learning and reading”

“Access to information requires physical space. No matter what technology is used print is still the most reliable technology for many places in the world. Intellectual property issues still require centralized physical spaces even for electronic resources” (Kazakhstan)

“Access to information requires physical space. No matter what technology is used print is still the most reliable technology for many places in the world. Intellectual property issues still require centralized physical spaces even for electronic resources” (Kazakhstan)

“The physical library is the area where space, appropriate pedagogy and technology overlap”

(Australia)

“The physical library is the area where space, appropriate pedagogy and technology overlap”

(Australia)

Profile of LibrariesSurvey

Asia-Pac (N=72) Other (N=23)

Countries Australia/NZ 30

Singapore 9

China /HK 8

Pacific Islands 9

ASEAN/India/Misc, 16

USA and Canada 12

Europe 7

Americas 2

South Africa 2

Type of Library College / Uni * 60

National 2

Other 10

College or Uni 20

Public 2

Other 1

Construction Year After 2000 19%

Before 1971 19%

After 2000 4%

Before 1971 48%•Includes diploma Polytechs in Singapore

Profile of Asian Libraries Survey

Overall, how satisfied are you with your Library Building?

ASIA-PAC

%

OTHER

%

Satisfied 24 9

Somewhat Satisfied 44 35

Somewhat Dissatisfied 24 26

Dissatisfied 7 30

Satisfied Library Manager

University of Otago, New Zealand

LIBRARY SPACES% Who Have Different Library Spaces

Space Asia-Pac n=71 Other n=19

Group Tables 87 % 79%

Individual Carrels 83 % 74%

Soft Seating 79 % 53%

Open Collaborative Area 73 % 58%

Reading Room 68 % 63%

Library Classroom 68 % 63%

Course Reserve 66% 66%

Information Commons 56% 47%

Project Rooms 55 % 42%

Library as PlaceWhat Students Do in the Library

TOP Activities (Usually)

ASIA-PAC OTHER

Study 81% 79%

Use Library Computers 80% 84%

Borrow a book 55% * only two > 50%

Bottom (Not Often,Never, NA)

Visit the Café 66% 67%

Attend a function or exhibition

61 % 63%

Attend Library Sponsored Training/Orientation

25% 47%

Learning Hub in Singapore Library

Multi Media Area

Smart Room

The LearningHub is a 400 m2 area in the Library, designed on pedagogical principles to specifically enhance small- and large-group interactions and learning in a multimedia-rich environment. General programmes and promotional activities, functions, etc. are held here. The purpose is to provide a conducive environment to promote information sharing and dissemination, and a collaborative learning experience/culture in NIE.

KNOWLEDGE COMMONS

From Madelein van Heerden, CSIR

Contact Information

http://library.smu.edu.sg/

Email: library@smu.edu.sg

Tel: +65 6828 0355