W H A T I S C H A N G I N G S P A C E S ?

T H E L O U N G E P R O J E C T

T H E I M P L E M E N T A T I O N P H A S E

T H E D E S I G N P H A S E

T H E C O L L E C T I O N C H A N G E P R O J E C T

T H E R E V I E W P H A S E

F U T U R E D I R E C T I O N S

Changing Spaces: an enterprise programme to

re-imagine and re-design

library spaces.

THE LOUNGE

T h e f l a g s h i p p r o j e c t t o k i c k s t a r t t h e c h a n g i n g s p a c e s p r o g r a m m e .

E L L E N B R E E N M I R I A M C O R C O R A N

P E T E R D U D L E Y

S I O B H Á N D U N N E A M A N D A H A L P I N

M I C H A E L A H O L L Y W O O D

P R O J E C T L E A D S

J A C K H Y L A N D

C H R I S P R E S S L E R

J A N I C E H I L L

P R O J E C T T E A M

M A R Y K I E L Y

T H E J O H N A N D A I L E E N O ’ R E I L LY L I B R A R Y

Reference Collection –

Quiet Study Area – Front Entrance

The Ground Floor

T H E R E F E R E N C E C O L L E C T I O N H O M E T O :

D I S S E R T AT I O N S

G O V E R N M E N T P U B L I C AT I O N S

T R A D I T I O N A L R E F E R E N C E M AT E R I A L S

T H E Q U I E T S T U D Y A R E A

T H E L O U N G E P R O J E C T

1

2

Underutilised reference collection.

Additional group study spaces.

3 A more welcoming entrance.

O U R I N I T I A L M O T I V A T I O N S :

4 Ground floor as a social space.

Project partners:

A N A L L - S T A F F W O R K S H O P W A S O R G A N I S E D T O

B R A I N S T O R M I D E A S

T H E L I B R A R Y ’ S M A I N S T R E N G T H S

- a m p l e s p a c e

c o h e s i v e d e s i g n

g r e a t n a t u r a l l i g h t

+

c o m f o r t a b l e & f u n c t i o n a l

T h e l i b ra r y ’s m a i n w e a k n e s s e s :

L A R G E T R A N S I T I O N Z O N E S

REGIMENTED

A U S T E R E

C L A S S I C A L

IMPOSING

NOT WELCOMING L I M I T E D C O L O U R P A L E T T E

P U R P O S E N O T S I G N A L L E D C L E A R LY

G E N E R I C D E S I G N

C O L L E C T I O N S N O T S H O W C A S E D

L I M I T E D E M O T I O N A L A P P E A L

Some outcomes from the all-staff workshop:

Younger students are used to modern retail outlets that provide a very stimulating environment.

Silent library spaces can be unsettling for these students, even reminding some of mass!

The library’s “product” should be up front and visible, which means showcasing collections, technologies and services.

Don’t be afraid of a little colour!

O U R G U I D I N G P R I N C I P L E S , I N A N U T S H E L L A N I M A T E T H E L I B R A R Y S P A C E E N C O U R A G E M O R E S O C I A L L E A R N I N G T A R G E T S P E C I F I C A U D I E N C E S I N C E N T I V I S E I M P U L S E V I S I T S

R I S K S

C H A L L E N G E

A S S U M P T I O N S

R U M P U S

R O O M N O I S E

P O L L U T I O N

N O I S E

M A N A G I N G

W A S T E

P O W E R

Y O U

T U B E

S P I L L A G E S

A bright, colourful, open-plan space with comfy modern furniture designed to encourage a casual atmosphere conducive to informal group study and other forms of non-traditional learning. “ ”

T H E L O U N G E

T H E C O L L E C T I O N C H A N G E P R O J E C T

O U R C O L L E C T I O N S D E P A R T M E N T A N D

S U B J E C T L I B R A R I A N T E A M C O N D U C T E D A

R E V I E W O F T H E E N T I R E R E F E R E N C E

C O L L E C T I O N

W E U S E D A B R I T I S H C O M P A N Y C A L L E D

D E M C O T O D I S M A N T L E A N D

R E - L O C A T E T H E S H E L V E S .

C A R P E T S W E R E P R O F E S S I O N A L L Y C L E A N E D W O O D P A N E L L I N G W A S R E - V A R N I S H E D E X I S T I N G F U R N I T U R E W A S R E M O V E D E L E C T R I C A L W I R E S W E R E P L A C E D U N D E R T H E F A L S E F L O O R

T H E D E S I G N P H A S E

A S E C O N D C O N S U LTAT I O N W A S

O R G A N I S E D W I T H O P E N I N G T H E B O O K

Our main design objectives:

1

2

C R E AT E A Z O N E D S PA C E

3

4

M A K E U S E O F B I G F U R N I T U R E

A V O I D C R E AT I N G A R U M P U S R O O M

O F F E R F L E X I B I L I T Y, B U T W I T H A N C H O R S

TA S K A R E A

L I V I N G S E T S

S O F T S E A T I N G Our initial floor plan

B R I G H T

C O L O U R P A L E T T E

V A R I E T Y

O F F A B R I C S

D E S I G N E R

F U R N I T U R E

S T Y L E G U I D E L I N E S

O U R C O L O U R P A L E T T E

F A B R I C S & F U R N I T U R E

Task chair

Task table

T H E I M P L E M E N TAT I O N P H A S E

L I B R A R Y S T A F F P I T C H E D I N T O U N P A C K A N D A R R A N G E T H E F U R N I T U R E

We decided to postpone installing sockets and power points to observe how the area would actually be used.

This was useful in helping to avoid trip hazards, but also highlighted the huge demand for power/charge points.

L O W L E V E L C O N V E R S AT I O N

L I B R A R Y P O L I C I E S

C O N S I D E R AT E U S A G E O F M O B I L E P H O N E S D R I N K S I N N O N - S P I L L C O N T A I N E R S N O F O O D P E R M I T T E D

T H E R E V I E W P H A S E

ON THE SERVICE SIDE, NEW WASTE MANAGEMENT PRODECURES WERE INTRODUCED

W E W A N T E D F E E D B A C K ,

B U T N O T T H R O U G H A D E T A I L E D Q U E S T I O N N A I R E .

We opted in the end for a one question survey.

Let us know what you think of our new Lounge area?

“It’s amazing! Looks great, so

bright, optimistic, light, it really lifts

the spirit up!”

“I think it's great. If I have 30

minutes to spare, it's my go-to spot for a quick read.”

“I like it, it's just what DCU needed. People

can discuss group assignments over a

coffee without waiting days for a free study

room.. Finally :)”

“Brilliant idea – the library isn't

as boring as before.” “Absolutely love

it... Clearly everyone else

does too because it's always packed!”

“It’s a lovely space in which to 'hang out' but it can get

loud (considering its a library).”

C H A N G I N G S P A C E S

M A T H S L E A R N I N G C E N T R E :

L A U N C H E D W I T H O U R F R I E N D S F R O M T H E

S C H O O L O F M A T H E M A T I C A L

S C I E N C E S

The Writing Centre

Now open in the library. Free, friendly, non-judgmental support.

Email student.learning@dcu.ie

Web www.dcu.ie/studentlearning

A S T A F F L E D I N I T I A T I V E T O C R E A T E

B O O K D I S P L A Y T A B L E S

S H O W C A S I N G “ H I G H L Y

R E C O M M E N D E D ” I T E M S

Library Guides

F U T U R E D I R E C T I O N S

W E ’ D L I K E T O G L A S S T H E A R E A I N

T O R E D U C E N O I S E L E V E L S O N T H E

G R O U N D F L O O R .

We have drawn up floor plans for additional power points and hope to have these in place in the near future.

Changing spaces has gained traction. We’re excited to see where it leads us.