Building a better un-bunker

i2c2, 6/7 march.

Hugh Murphy@hughtweet

New Library Extension

• On the agenda for 14 year +• Significant development from 4,000 –

10,000 sqm• Enormous challenge to meet the needs of

a wide variety of stakeholders at every stage

• Research vital• Expert-led (?)• Amazing opportunity for success OR…..

€20 million or €20...

Principles are the same

Lessons we learned can be applied for anyone in almost any context..

"Mr. Ness, everybody knows where the booze is. The problem

isn't finding it, the problem is who wants to cross Capone."

What do we know?

• Collections• Prepare for death of print?• Prepare staff for death of print?!• Prominence to special collections• Ensure access to electronic

• Technology• Facilitate Electronic• Wi-Fi• Mobile

‘Hard’

‘Soft’

Research & Pedagogy

• Dedicated areas• Training rooms• Flexibility• Groups• Use space to help

teach and inform

Everybody knows what libraries need, the problem is getting it done?

Flexible spaces

Design Principles Bingo

Different learning styles

Environmental

Choice of seating

Flexible space

Easy circulation

Noise zones

UNLIMITED POWER!!!

Students’ needsFrom this: To this:

We want our library to be..

• Alive!• Used & Useful• Popular• Intuitive• Suitable• Flexible• Innovate• Learning centred• Research conducive• Centre of the

campus

We want our library to..

• Address issues with existing (1984) building

• Reflect development in libraries in the intervening 25 years

• Deliver a building representative of our values (student-centred, flexible and innovative)

• Address needs of students, staff (internal and external) and wider stakeholders

• Use the building as a catalyst for wider change (internal and external)

Lessons

• Do not compromise• Remember what you’re doing (and

why)• Take a risk• Staff and students inform design• Don't forget the staff!

You can always

• Communicate• Review• Risk take

Can’t you?

Communicate

Users

StakeholdersStaff

Social MediaTraditional Channels

Formal Committees

Librarian Updates

Regular updatesRegular meetings

Consistent message

Library website

With Chat box

Review• Entry statistics• Usage – physical and electronic• Enquiries – roving down, desk up• Project planned to tie together book

borrowing, PC usage, library entries and consider how these impact on student experience

• Feedback• Can we trust our feedback?

More study spaces, less printed books?

Learning has changed

Know your audience

Group Study

Respect what works...

...Old school has its place...

...Don't pre judge...

Follow your (collective) vision

You might be right!

Let things evolve

Let go

Left to do

• Signage• Libqual 2 (“the revenge”)• Normalise?• Stand back

Conclusions

• Change is hard, but worth it • Good space + good staff = good job!• Use evidence• Use instinct too• Use what you learn elsewhere – it’s

applicable

“never stop fighting till the fight is done”

Thank youhugh.murphy@nuim.ie

@hughtweet