Reallocating Paper Space to People Space ACRL/NY Symposium December 2, 2005 James Benson Vice Provost Dean of Information Resources & Libraries.

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.