Designing Library Space to Facilitate Learning: A Review of the UK Higher Education Sector

This paper analyses the complex and sometimes competing issues involved in designing library space to facilitate student-centred learning within the UK Higher Education sector. Encompassing a critical review of the subject literature, this paper describes and explains the profound effects that pedagogical and technological change together have for library space design and management. The changing role of academic libraries in student learning is explored, as are the qualities and features of academic libraries that facilitate traditional and digital forms of student learning. The literature review established that academic libraries must cater for an increasing range of learning activities, and provide space conducive for independent and collaborative learning using traditional materials either separately from, or in association with, electronic resources. New modes of learning and changes in student working practices were identified, especially resource-based learning and digital literacy developments. Modern academic libraries must rationalise and respond to pedagogical and technological changes and foster changing and continuing forms of student learning to enable students to achieve their best work and ready them for their post-qualification vocation. To achieve this, librarians must consider remodelling existing library space and, in concert with architects and institution administrators, design new libraries fit for twenty-first century learning, teaching and research.