a€?A Really Nice Spota€?: Evaluating Place, Space, and Technology in Academic Libraries

摘要

This article describes a qualitative mixed-method study of studentsa€? perceptions of place and space in an academic library. The approach is informed by Scott Bennetta€?s model of library design, which posits a shift from a a€?book-centereda€? to a technology supported a€?learning centereda€? paradigm of library space. Two surveys gathered data on (a) studentsa€? perceptions of places in an academic library, and (b) on occupancy rates in the same library. When triangulated, the results identified two distinct and contrasting models of place: a more traditional model based on individual study near stacks of books, and an emergent technologically-supported group study model. The results suggest that academic libraries should develop new metrics to measure library place and space in settings of technologically-supported group work.