Check out this TED talk on the new Seattle Public Library by the architect Joshua Prince-Ramus.I particularly like two points he makes: the importance of the book (minute 2:30), and the percentage of library programs that require social space (minute 5:22).
The library as public space has three functions, as proposed by Jan Gehl of the Royal Danish Academy which Seattle Public Library has honoured in its' new building:
1. Meeting space;
2. Marketplace - (the trade being ideas and artifacts rather than money);
3. Connection space.
Been to Amsterdam lately ? I was stunned to see the new Amsterdam Central Library has a special floor with MACs dedicated for music when I was there in December ! What a great idea to mix and match pc/non pc systems.
You can really feel that they have considered the 'Net Gen' and believe they have a role to play in selecting excellent quality resources, not just providing free access to information - the Internet does that. In order for the Graduate Resource Centre to flourish there must be a similar devotion to supporting the teaching, learning and research needs of the faculty.
