Library Space: Its Role in Research

As librarians reflect upon their role in supporting research, they should seriously consider the issue of library space allocation. Because they serve the entire educational community through planned programs of services and resources within a structured learning space, libraries constitute a pivotal site for self-directed intentional learning and research. How collections are arranged and accessed influences which resources are used. Reference services, both for just-in-time guidance and subject or process guides, can facilitate research progress. The mix of flexible and dedicated spaces offers opportunities for concentrated work. Especially as libraries try to the increase their value, one area of concentration should be space to support research, assessing their current effectiveness as perceived by a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Several studies demonstrated ways to conduct needs assessment that can drive renovations and reallocation of library space.