Space, use and university libraries – the future?

The chapters in this book have reflected various developments, trends, issues, and opportunities relating to university academic libraries’ physical space up until 2012. This chapter will attempt to give an insight into what will shape university libraries and their physical space in the future. Whilst predicting the future is difficult, the importance of having at least some idea of future trends has been pointed out by several authors (Stahl 1987, Caldwell 2006): it allows head librarians and managers to plan their buildings accordingly. There is also a somewhat woolly idea of what ‘the future’ means in many predictions. Whilst some of the literature predicting the future suggests a specific date or period of time by which their suggestions could become reality (Line 1993, Raitt 1993), many are unclear whether ‘the future’ means five years, 15 years, or 50 years (Orne 1977, Kapp 1987). This has begun to change with projects such as the recent JISC Libraries of the Future Project (JISC 2009), which looks at trends over the next ten years, and the 2010 report from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) which is interested in developments over the next fifteen years (Staley and Malenfant 2010). Nevertheless, what is missing from the literature is an in-depth look at how physical space may be used in the future

Space in the university library – an introduction

The university library has been described as being ‘at the heart of the university’ (Urquhart 1977: 2). In recent years, however, the purpose and very existence of the building itself has been questioned (Campbell 2006). A number of trends have influenced this discussion, including technological changes such as the growth in e-resources, the changing student population, developments in learning and teaching, and diminishing budgets. At the same time, there has been a great investment in university library space both before and since the millennium, with major projects in England such as, for example, Lanchester Library, the University of Coventry (Noon 2008), the Information Commons at the University of Sheffield (Lewis 2010), the David Wilson Library, and the University of Leicester (Fyfe 2010) attracting attention and awards. The same is happening elsewhere in the world as can be seen from chapters elsewhere in the book [...continues]

Public libraries, museums and physical convergence. Context, issues, opportunities: a literature review. Part 2

There has recently been a growth in physical convergence in cultural heritage domains. The second of a two-part article that considers this trend with particular regard to public libraries and museums provides an overview of factors to be considered by those planning or developing physically converged services. This has been achieved through thematic analysis of a review of international literature from both domains. It begins with consideration of obstacles to convergence, ethical challenges, organisational and strategic complexity, organisational culture and resistance. It moves on to discuss factors, general and physical, that can lead to success in convergence: vision, strategy and planning, communication and trust, for example, and, how these can be led and managed. It also considers the role of professional education and training, the benefits of convergence, for example, improved cultural offer and visibility, financial savings, with viewpoints from around the world. Part 2 ends with a critical note on the ‘convergence narrative’, and a conclusion that focuses on physical convergence which draws on both Parts

Public libraries, museums and physical convergence: Context, issues, opportunities: A literature review Part 1

There has recently been a growth in physical convergence in cultural heritage domains. Part 1 examines this ‘trend’, its drivers and related issues, with particular focus on public libraries and museums. It offers an overview of practice, challenges and opportunities. Through thematic analysis of a comprehensive, literature review of both domains that looked at the wider aspects of collaboration, cooperation, partnerships and integration in the sector as well as physical convergence, it provides insight into background, theory and activities worldwide. It presents discussion on the meaning of convergence, the concept of ‘memory institutions’, the relationship between public libraries and museums in the context of convergence, shared mission and values, convergence and re-convergence, and professionalism and divergence. It concludes with consideration of practical aspects such as motivations for convergence, including digital technology, changing user expectations and culture, and economic and political challenges that impact on physical convergence in a dynamic local government environment

The size of NGC 4151 at 11.2 µm

The size of the emission region of NGC 4151 at 11.2 µm has been measured to be 0.16" + 0.04" (lσ). This size is in agreement with that expected from thermal emission from dust grains heated by a central luminosity source, but is inconsistent with nonthermal emission

Stakeholders in the selection of digital material for preservation: relationships, responsibilities, and influence

Selecting digital material for preservation in libraries, archives, and museums is a necessary task but has not been widely examined, although the nature of digital material challenges traditional methods of selecting. This article examines the social context of selection in institutions, in which the responsibilities of stakeholders and relationships between them can affect the material chosen for preservation by practitioners. A range of stakeholders is identified; relationships between practitioners, information technology staff, and sources of material are found to be crucial. The influence of senior managers is important in providing a mandate and encouraging shared working and networks of expertise

The development of UK Government policy on citizens' access to Public Sector Information

This paper describes research to investigate the development of United Kingdom government policy on citizens’ access to public sector information from 1996 to 2010, the first such significant project from an information science perspective. In addition to mapping UK policy documents, the main research method was the undertaking of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders from both inside and outside government. Main findings are: uneven progress in the development of citizen-centric services; the continuing need for intermediaries; and a lack of information literacy policy. The paper also charts the increase in the opening up of government data for re-use during 2009 and 2010. It is considered significant that this increase in transparency, by both main political parties, should come at a time when trust in government was low, citizens’ expectations of electronic access to information were rising and the technology was enabling new channels for engagement. The influence of individuals was found to be considerable, for example by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Professor Nigel Shadbolt and Tom Steinberg. Principles for citizens’ right of access to information are presented