The college library is changing the dynamics of higher education institutions. As technologies, space utilization, and institutional identities evolve at a rapid pace, college libraries are undergoing a fundamental transformation to new modalities, redefining their roles from storehouses of knowledge to vibrant community hubs.
To better understand interior design solutions that emphasize and improve student experiences, KI partnered with StudioFYNN on an extensive national research program to understand the fundamental shifts occurring in the world of higher education. Through in-depth ethnography across multiple research sites supplemented by extensive secondary research and a collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, the researchers set out to understand the experiential and evolving nature of library spaces, the communities that inhabit them, and the cultural and technological drivers of rapid change.
The resulting white paper, Temples of Knowledge & Community: The Transformation of College Libraries, focuses on the evolving purpose and mission of educational institutions and their library spaces and how to better center user needs and experiences. Researchers observed and identified eight key shifts and the associated opportunities that arise. Through a series of lenses, the study helps to understand these shifts in physical space and user experience.
As they undergo rapid change, libraries require the most innovative solutions where more diverse experiences can be housed within architectural and spatial plans increasingly defined by automation and space repurposing.
Download KI’s comprehensive white paper to learn how college libraries have evolved over the years and how to accommodate the needs of modern students and spaces.