Library space renovation in a narrow sense mainly refers to changes in the physical performance of the library's physical building space, while renovation in a broad sense also includes the improvement and transformation of the library's virtual space.
Background of space transformation of university libraries
The library is a gathering place for human knowledge, thoughts and wisdom, and is also an important place for providing public and cultural services. Its social value and importance Sex speaks for itself. "If there is a paradise in this world, it should be like a library." This famous saying by the famous Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges unabashedly expresses his yearning for libraries and is a symbol of books. The highest praise from the museum.
Libraries have long been an indispensable part of universities. The library’s learning space and information resources are what university teachers and students rely on for their work and study, and the library building is basically the most important part of the campus. One of the most important and striking buildings. "The library is the heart of the university" is a famous saying by Charles William Eliot, the former president of Harvard University, which more appropriately illustrates the importance of libraries to universities.
However, in the past 20 years, with the development of the Internet, network information resources have been continuously enriched. People have gradually adapted to and preferred to obtain various information resources through search engines and electronic resource libraries. Electronic resources have gradually replaced paper resources. , whether it is a public library or a university library, the number of books borrowed and the number of people entering the library are shrinking, and the status of traditional libraries is also declining.
The emergence of the "library death theory" is by no means alarmist, and the article "Autopsy Report of University Libraries in 2050" published by Sullivan, an instructor librarian at Alfred University in the United States in 2011 is more direct. It clarified the situation of academic libraries and shocked the library community.
In this context, the university library community has also begun to "self-rescue" and explore the transformation of library business and services. Space transformation is the most effective path taken by each library. Many university libraries have changed people's stereotypes about libraries with comfortable environments and innovative services by building information sharing spaces, learning sharing spaces, and knowledge sharing spaces, and have successfully "drained traffic." Space transformation is like a powerful medicine, which has changed the decline of university libraries to a certain extent.
The concept of space renovation of university libraries
The industry generally believes that library space renovation can be traced back to the construction of the "Information Arcade" of the University of Iowa Library in the United States in 1992. The research and practice of space transformation in libraries appeared after 2005. The landmark event was that Wu Jianzhong, the director of Shanghai Library at that time, introduced the concept of library space into the country.
The concept of "space" was originally based on various human sensory experiences, and later transformed into a perceptual view of space. It covers a relatively wide range, and the universe, cyberspace, digital space, physical space, etc. all belong to the category of space. Space has two meanings: virtual and real. The space surrounded and limited by form is real space, and the other parts are called virtual space. The existence of virtual space depends on real space.
The concept of library space is developed from the concept of space. It has some characteristics and connotations of space, and can also be divided into physical space and virtual space. The physical space of the library mainly includes the library's physical building, building structure, space layout, tables, chairs and furniture, decoration, physical collections and related equipment, etc. The virtual space of the library mainly refers to the library's digital resources and application systems. and the software and hardware environment that supports system operation.
The concept of "space transformation" originates from architecture. Its original intention is to transform and reshape the internal and external spaces of the original building so that the old building space has new functions. By summarizing the practical experience of space renovation in university libraries, it is found that library space renovation in a narrow sense mainly refers to changes in the physical performance of the library's physical building space, while renovation in a broad sense also includes the improvement and transformation of the library's virtual space.
The purpose of library space renovation is to meet the diverse material and spiritual needs of users under the current social environment and technological conditions. Obviously, it is difficult to meet the needs of users by relying solely on physical space renovation. While each library is transforming its physical space, it is also basically supporting the transformation of library service content and business systems, that is, the transformation of virtual space. Therefore, this article believes that the generalized library space transformation is more in line with the reality.
The main content and characteristics of library space renovation
1
Physical space renovation
The physical space renovation mainly includes the renovation of the building. Renovation of water, electricity and heating infrastructure, adjustment of the overall layout of the space, re-division of functional areas according to user needs and collection requirements, and distinctive decoration (lighting, sound insulation and noise reduction, temperature and humidity, color scheme, etc.) in each area, configuration Appropriate tables, chairs, furniture and sockets, deployment of wired and wireless networks, and installation of supporting access control systems, self-service borrowing and returning equipment, electronic reading equipment, self-service printing and copying machines, etc., to create a scientific and comfortable learning, communication, practice, and working environment to satisfy teachers and students Diverse needs for libraries.
Although the overall goals of space renovation are basically the same, and the direction and content of the renovation are basically similar, due to different basic conditions, strategic positioning, and capital investment, the space renovation of different university libraries has its own characteristics.
Lang Linfang et al. summarized the award-winning practical cases of space transformation in the China University Library Development Forum from 2015 to 2019. According to the content and characteristics of the space transformation results, they were divided into learning and sharing spaces, innovative and creative spaces, and special collections. There are four categories: exhibition space and audio-visual leisure space, as shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Contents and characteristics of university library space transformation results
In the past two years, some libraries have also established digital humanities laboratories to provide space and software for digital humanities teaching and research. Hardware devices.
2
Virtual space transformation
Virtual space transformation mainly includes two major aspects of content transformation. One is the transformation of the library’s digital resource library and its access channels and service channels, etc. The second is to transform various business systems of the library.
At present, colleges and universities have basically purchased a large number of digital resource libraries based on the needs of teachers and students, and have built various characteristic digital resource libraries. The procurement funds for digital resource libraries basically exceed that of paper documents. The transformation in this area is mainly to continuously optimize the types of digital resource libraries under limited funding conditions, seek the optimal solution to funding and needs, build and improve a unified digital resource access portal, provide good consulting services, and improve the quality of resources. Usage rate.
For example, some libraries have built a one-stop digital resource retrieval platform, a unified access entrance inside and outside the school, and provided service channels based on telephone, WeChat, automatic question and answer robots, etc. In terms of business system transformation, the library management business system, portal website, subject service platform, access control system, space reservation system, RFID system, data analysis system, etc. are becoming increasingly perfect, and the operating software and hardware environment is also more secure and reliable.
The combination of physical space transformation and virtual space transformation enables the space services and knowledge services provided by the library to keep up with the development of the times, and promotes the transformation and development of university libraries.
Experience summary of the space renovation of university libraries
The space renovation of university libraries has achieved good results and maintained the "heart" status of the library. After summarizing, the industry has drawn some useful experiences in renovation:
1
People-oriented, demand-oriented
The starting point of library space renovation is to provide readers with Provide a better space experience, attract users to use various resources of the library, and also provide a good working environment for librarians. Therefore, the needs and suggestions of readers, users and librarians must be fully considered. In the early, middle and late stages of the transformation, needs research and opinions and suggestions collection of various user groups should be carried out. When dividing functional areas, we should also consider the long-term collection development needs and consider ways to build dense library to solve the shortage of book collection space.
2
Follow scientific and professional principles
Space renovation is a systematic project with great influence, which requires both long-term planning and attention. All kinds of details, involving all aspects, are by no means a simple decoration project. From changes in the building body, functional area planning, wall decoration, air conditioning equipment, overall color matching, to socket locations, sound insulation effects, light intensity, network signals, etc., all should be designed and controlled by various professionals and follow reasonable science. principle, choose a professional team.
3
Reflect the characteristics of the school
Each university library has a different physical space, but also has the cultural characteristics and subject background of the school. Transformation These characteristics should be reflected in the plan; certain specific space categories in the construction of learning and sharing spaces, innovative and creative spaces, special collections exhibition spaces, and audio-visual leisure spaces should be properly selected. Plans of other universities should not be completely copied to avoid The blind pursuit of innovation and perfection leads to the embarrassment of insufficient space utilization.
4
Focus on evaluation optimization and operation and maintenance management
Space is a service, and services require frequent evaluation and optimization. After the library space is renovated, there will inevitably be major changes in related places, processes, time, systems, etc. On the one hand, these changes and advantages must be vigorously publicized to teachers and students, on the other hand, user opinions must be widely received and investigated, and service levels must be evaluated in a timely manner. , timely adjustment and optimization of deficiencies. It is necessary to consider the convenience of facility and equipment maintenance in the early design, strengthen operation and maintenance management in the later daily use, and understand the space usage through the comprehensive management system.
5
Reasonable use of intelligent technology
Library space transformation is an important means to build a smart library. Whether it is a physical space or a virtual space, it should Make rational use of information technology to improve the library’s intelligent management service level. For example, in terms of physical space, automatic temperature, humidity, and lighting control can be realized, automatic borrowing and inventory of books, self-service printing, space reservation, etc.; in terms of virtual space, unified retrieval of resources, unified management and analysis of various business data can be further strengthened, Construction and application of subject consultation and self-service customer service Q&A systems.
References (swipe up and down to view all content)
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[2] Shen Qingqing, Shi Jing, Wu Yuwei, Huakang. Knowledge of old university libraries under the boom of new library construction** *Research on sharing space transformation[J/OL]. Library construction: 1-13[2022-11-25].
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Author: He Xiuquan (Shanghai International Studies University Library)
Editor: Xiang Yang
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