Develop an evolving hub for learning and research through community engagement..
The research library, once conceived primarily as a warehouse of knowledge, is undergoing a profound transformation. This isn't merely a matter of updating furniture or adding more computers; it’s a fundamental shift in purpose, driven by the evolving needs of scholarship, pedagogy, and the very nature of learning itself.
To understand where we are going, we must first acknowledge where we have been. It is a whole system approach that engages librarians and appreciates library staff. We work with architecture teams, government officials, private foundations and management to improve projects outcomes.
If you need to start rethinking of space, start with the collections. The traditional stacks, while still important, are no longer sufficient. We see a growing demand for flexible, adaptable spaces that support a range of activities: collaborative projects, individual research, digital creation, and even informal social interaction.
The “learning commons” model – a concept gaining traction across institutions – embodies this shift, offering a blend of technology-rich environments, quiet study areas, and spaces designed for group work. It's not just about having space, but about creating a learning ecosystem that fosters intellectual curiosity and innovation.
A compelling, modern library interior..
Studies may include:
- Library Master Plans.
- Collection layout and retention.
- Staffing strategies.
- Learning space design.
- Budgets and cost analysis.
- Fundraising.
- LEED.
- Organizational Development.
- Trends research - future of libraries, space planning, IT management, automation technologies, materials management and sorting technology and library service challenges.
- Digital campus.
- Digital asset management.
- PC Management.
- Digitization.
- Technical services.
- IT Services.
- Compact storage.
- Preservation and Archive Design.
- Distance learning systems.
- Barrier-free and mobile circulation functions.
- Mobile technology.
- Sustainable designs.
- Flexible furnishings.
- RFID technology and sorting integration.
- New construction.
- Historic renovations.
- Interior design and reorganization.