A Last Stroll For A Lost Cause
Most of the news emanating from university campuses these days is negative if not foolish, particularly if it issues from the administrative wing rather than the purely academic one. That is why I was pleased to see a recent positive (to me) headline that was poised over text that proved to be (to me) thoroughly depressing. The headline is “82% of Academic Libraries say Reclaiming Space is a Priority”.
I will try to keep this short since the battle has been lost. I will not repeat all the arguments endlessly made about the aesthetic beauty of books, the wonderful musty smell of the stacks as one browsed through them, etc., etc. The microfilming and microfiching of books and journals meant that less space was required and one can make the argument that with the complete digitization of print material no library space will be needed at all. That is actually an easy argument to make; I prefer to defend the more difficult case, but will not do so here. Over the years the various departmental libraries on large campuses closed and then the branch subject libraries were shuttered and then the large ones that remained moved books to storage facilities and then offered up space for purposes likely to please the ‘customers’ and a university administration always glad for adjunct spaces and instructors. Apparently the only people interested in keeping the books are accountants. I said I would keep this short.
A Herd of Independent Minds
Given the shrinking importance of libraries and the space needed for them I was pleased by the headline noted above and assumed that finally some librarians had offered the difficult defence of libraries that is required. That is not the case. The 82% are not arguing that the books need to be brought back from storage and that space occupied for various administrative operations be reclaimed for ‘traditional’ library purposes. In fact they are arguing that the space that needs to be reclaimed is the space now reserved for books! Remove the stacks and books and make room for “Makerspaces” and “Hackerspaces”.
Given the shrinking importance of libraries and the space needed for them I was pleased by the headline noted above and assumed that finally some librarians had offered the difficult defence of libraries that is required. That is not the case. The 82% are not arguing that the books need to be brought back from storage and that space occupied for various administrative operations be reclaimed for ‘traditional’ library purposes. In fact they are arguing that the space that needs to be reclaimed is the space now reserved for books! Remove the stacks and books and make room for “Makerspaces” and “Hackerspaces”.
I admit that, to me, the notion that librarians are supporting such a reclamation project is surprising. The fact that the project is being promoted by ProQuest is not. It is a company that morphed from one that originally was involved in the microfilming and microfiching of print material. They are now a major digitizer of books and journals. The company is clearly better at promotion and more adept than librarians.
I mentioned that the battle has been lost. The university libraries with which I was associated have either disappeared or been diminished in some way or another and the process continues. Recently those leading in the Sciences Library took over space (from the stack area) and marketed it as “THE BIG REVEAL” which, as you might imagine, had nothing to do with books or journals. For that matter, it had nothing to do with information resources in any form. They created what will soon be called a “Makerspace” and can be congratulated for their prescience or for the fact that they are up-to-date on what passes for wisdom in the journals for librarians. Here is what they were requesting donations for: We have created a new spatial design with a variety of learning and seating options to create an inviting, inspiring and collaborative learning and research space that will meet the expressed needs of undergraduate and graduate students and faculty. There are various seating options with new tables and chairs, improved lighting, power to all seating areas and new flooring.
As a potential donor, I responded: “I understand the request, but why couldn’t the space be in a dorm?”
I guess I have always wondered why such spaces need to be provided by libraries or located in libraries. In fact, the Social Science Faculty here just created such a “Signature Space for Social Science Students” in their building. It occupies what was originally a distinctive and attractive “Map Library” which, you guessed it, now utilizes space in the main campus library.
This week it was announced that the main library would house a “Wellness Centre” for stressed-out students although there are other places very close by where such services could be offered. That library has already given away space for activities that could have been located just across the quad, but clearly real estate over there is more valuable. This summer it was suggested that the main library, which is struggling financially, might consider "Nap Pods", like the library at BCIT. Such necessities seem to be universal since it was just reported that, even at such an august institution as the University of Edinburgh, the students have opted for “Library Nap Pods” to comfort those with mental issues. The space is relinquished, I suppose, so librarians can feel wanted and relevant. I just wish they would not be so actively complicit and realize that it is the space that is wanted, not the librarians or the library.
This week it was announced that the main library would house a “Wellness Centre” for stressed-out students although there are other places very close by where such services could be offered. That library has already given away space for activities that could have been located just across the quad, but clearly real estate over there is more valuable. This summer it was suggested that the main library, which is struggling financially, might consider "Nap Pods", like the library at BCIT. Such necessities seem to be universal since it was just reported that, even at such an august institution as the University of Edinburgh, the students have opted for “Library Nap Pods” to comfort those with mental issues. The space is relinquished, I suppose, so librarians can feel wanted and relevant. I just wish they would not be so actively complicit and realize that it is the space that is wanted, not the librarians or the library.
Over recent years the construct and concept of the “Library as Place” has become a cottage industry and attracted the attention of most librarians and you can still attend conferences and write papers about what is a rather amorphous proposition. While they were otherwise occupied, the places mostly disappeared and it is likely that by the time they finish writing and conferencing about “Makerspaces” the libraries will be totally gone.
I would rather think about the “Library as Park”, as a ‘greenspace’ where students could still wander and study among growing bushes (journals) and new trees and old ones (books). They might spot something of which they were unaware. Envision an area somewhat different from others with less formica and no fast-food chains. Otherwise all one really needs is space for a few subject specialists to act as purchasing agents to deal with companies like ProQuest, and a few IT people to make sure that what is purchased is always available wherever it may be.
I learned recently that a well-known remark by Marshal Foch could be found over a library on the campus of Indiana University, a fact that seemed odd to me. I checked and a librarian there let me know that the autographed comment by Foch was now framed and located in the Indiana Memorial Union. Librarians can still be useful. Various translations of the remark are interesting to consider in this context even if the battle has been lost:
“My left is giving way, my right is falling back; consequently I am ordering a general offensive’ a decisive attack by the center”.
“My center is giving way, my right is in retreat. Situation excellent. I shall attack!
“My center is yielding, my right is retreating. Excellent situation, I am attacking.”
Some sources:
The ProQuest press release: http://www.proquest.com/about/news/2016/ProQuest-Releases-Results-of-Its-2016-Space-Reclamation-Survey.html
The ProQuest case for “Makerspaces”:
The “Big Reveal”: http://www.lib.uwo.ca/news/2016/taylor_librarys_the_big_reveal.html
A similar “Signature Space” (not in a library):
NAP PODS @ Edinburgh:
No comments:
Post a Comment