In the Information Age: Do Physical Spaces for

Knowledge Matter?

Or,Redesigning for the Next Generation

Libraries: challenges & critical issues Gwenda Thomas

Rhodes University Library

Rhodes UniversityEastern Cape

Highway Africa: Consider these media comments… Highway Africa began 12 years ago to help

African journalists learn about the Internet Journalists are “drivers” in the use of digital

media & the Internet Journalists are creative users of cellphones, e-

mail & the Internet & are adept at multi-skilling The future vision for Highway Africa is an

Institute for the study of the interface of journalism, media & digital technology

So what is the future vision for libraries in the Information Age…

Does the library as place have relevance

How should library space be best used

Who exactly regards academic libraries as an “institutional good”

Challenges of the new reality

Rethink assumptions about academic libraries

Reshape & revitalise library spaces

Rebrand libraries & information professionals

Rethink: does library as place have relevance Will library provide

appropriate study & learning space for next 10-15 years

What purpose & needs will space serve

Disconnect 1: Academic library practices @ crossroads

why bricks & mortar in the digital age why have academic libraries not

changed in 30 years why so many PCs in the new library

design - it’s just a vast IT lab if ‘Googlers’ don’t read – why do we

need a new library …but it is all available electronically!

Disconnect 2: Library users are no longer a captive audience

Users have alternatives to look and find information

They can by-pass the library to meet information needs

Disconnect 3: ‘Silver Surfers’ fast catching the ‘Google Generation’

Googlers born after 1993 in an Internet dominated world

1st stop is Internet & Google

…but the new reality is Older users catching the digital waves Generation differences are blurring in the

digital age transition

Google Generation information behaviour traits

Impatience in searching & navigating

Zero-tolerance for any delay in satisfying information needs

…but is this characteristic of only young information users

‘Silver Surfer’ information behaviour traits @ Symposium

Horizontal information skimming

- skim & bounce between webpages

Navigation

- spend as much time finding way as viewing

‘Silver Surfers’

Viewing - power browse for quick wins - average time on e-book/e-journal

site is 4-8 minutes Squirrelling behaviour

- downloads (especially freebies) squirrelled away- no evidence of extent to which content is read

Disconnect 4: Info savvy vs Techie savvy 2007 HESA study among SA Employers Access to technology not improved

search & evaluate skills Challenged to articulate information

needs/effective search strategies Little time spent evaluating relevance,

accuracy & authority of information Technologically more literate but not

more information literate

Redefine services: know your users

Library intensive in research & teaching

Expect intensive involvement by library & information professionals

Expect library instruction & assistance

And keep them close (and your non-users)

Independent information behaviour

rarely feeling the need to come to the library or consult information professionals

Admitted demand for physical space & study areas will increase

(And your lost users…journalists)

Expect library to maintain print collections & access

Want library to be gateway to global information resources

Expressed concern about:

- poor IL skills

- library experience for 1st generation students & young

researchers

Reshape & revitalise physical spaces as a desirable “draw” “Engage” users with

the building

Highly visible & convenient location to access

Reshape study & learning zones across the library

Inquiry service interaction

Information Commons

Chill corners Informal interaction Reflection

Reshape study & learning zones across the library Group interaction

Teaching & instruction Collections

Services

Self-service

Ranges of study seating

Rebrand perceptions

Avoid brand association of library synonymous with books

Deal with dissatisfaction expressed across a range of services

Move library mind-set from traditional content focus to dynamic user-facing orientation

Branding is about information professional skills not only services

Conclusion

Information specialists have a formidable responsibility in the Information Age

It is imperative to stay close to the user community

Respond to data about our users Really get information literacy onto the

agenda

The final word…“People want what they want when they want it. They don’t want something else, they don’t want less than they want, and they certainly don’t want it at some other time”.

H I Forsha The pursuit of quality through personal change 1992

Thank you!