Research into the blending on Online and physical space.

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"• People respond positively to faces and other indications of community member identity, including names and contact information;
• People are attracted to large central displays as a focus of attention; • People respond positively to having an overall sense of the content in the display;
• People respond positively to the poster-board format and the poster genre of information presentation; and
• People respond positively to changing content and are sensitive to the rate of that change; too quick is distracting or disturbing; too slow makes it appear static and less interesting."


Possibly have a live feed in the physical space of what is happening online (i.e, trending books, online conversations, etc.)

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Learner-based approaches, the increased availability of learning management systems tailored to individual use, the importance of group learning, and the growth of social networks have led to fundamental re-thinking of all spaces provided in libraries and learning institutions. The increasing use of mobile technology is causing further re-examination of space design. Common themes have developed which emphasize the need for flexibility, the importance of accommodating e-learning and m-learning, spaces for groups and areas for individual quiet study, and the emergence of self-service points, as well as those providing assistance. High tech still requires the high personal touch.

Perspectives from Australian, Canadian, European and Turkish experience.

Picon's statement “An illusion must be first discarded: the notion that cyberspace entails the collapse of physical space........ this notion of a collapse of space caused by the development of telecommunication is one of the oldest myths of the industrial modernity” at the University and Cyberspace Conference elegantly sums up the naivety of some of the claims about the disappearance of libraries with the growth of online access to information (Picon, 2010).

Physical space can help make cyber life richer and more productive. Physical space can be designed as an extension of the virtual space and vice versa. If the two spaces are perceived 3 as complementary and interconnected, the design will bear this out and allow users of libraries to make the most of each seamlessly.
The Information Commons concept when first introduced in libraries was conceived as “glorified computer labs” with rows of computers and related hardware and software, unwieldy chairs, and library and/or IT staff on duty to provide some help and assistance. Such facilities were usually open for longer hours. Today‟s version is the Learning Commons and involves hybrid spaces facilitating communication and interactive group and individual activity. These spaces are conducive to learning, social networking, peer and project work and community activities, and often include food and drink facilities.

All library physical space must be equipped to access cyberspace. Easy navigation without obstacles is required, e.g. power and cable connectivity. Too many clicks, too much intermediated activity, time spent physically going from one place to another will irritate the user. Increasingly, the front door of the Library is not the physical entrance but the home page of the Library‟s website. The design of websites must match the physical provision. Website design is challenging and many libraries employ professional web agencies and use sophisticated and expensive content management systems with an army of graphic designers and content creators to ensure their cyberspace is user friendly, easy to navigate and contains relevant and rich information to cater for all.

It is well known both from previous studies (e.g. OCLC, Pew Research, JISC etc.) and from local research done at various universities that most people prefer Google as their first point of call to search and access information. The library catalogue often plays a minor role during the research process. Users undertake many activities in libraries using social networking media with smart hand-held devices, watching movies, listening to music or podcasts, reviewing resources available from a wide range of sites (including YouTube), chatting with friends, family, teaching staff,or even complete strangers using any number of media. Users collaborate on projects, research problems, upload photos, videos, multimedia, create presentations individually or with others, use specialist tools e.g. Mathlab, Mathematica, SPSS, Adobe software etc. They play games. Physical space design must accommodate this wide-ranging variety of uses.

The final new space must not be launched as a complete surprise to its users. The users are and will remain the ultimate owners of the library and learning spaces. Web 2.0 social networking tools are increasingly used to engage students in space planning activities. For example at San Jose University, students representing a variety of groups on campus were invited to complete a learning spaces survey, which they undertook with a disposable camera to identify their favourite spaces. They then identified the least and most favourite campus places and interpreted peer responses resulting in a dialogue amongst the students and planners (Somerville & Collins, 2008). The outcome yielded the following student priorities:  Open unconfined environment  Comfortable, reconfigurable furniture  Functional, inspiring space; and  Ubiquitous mobile technology




Summary:

• Some sort of live feed within the space to connect it to the online environment
• There is a need for flexibility to accommodate for different people's needs (i.e. individual and group spaces)
• "Physical space can help make cyber life richer and more productive. Physical space can be designed as an extension of the virtual space and vice versa. If the two spaces are perceived 3 as complementary and interconnected, the design will bear this out and allow users of libraries to make the most of each seamlessly." (p.2)
• "Too many clicks, too much intermediated activity, time spent physically going from one place to another will irritate the user." (p.3)
• The final new space must not be launched as a complete surprise to its users.
• The outcome yielded the following student priorities (San Jose University students): 

1. Open unconfined environment 
2. Comfortable, reconfigurable furniture 
3. Functional, inspiring space; and  
4. Ubiquitous mobile technology