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Incorporating information literacy into the building plan The American University of Sharjah experience

Incorporating information literacy into the building plan The American University of Sharjah... Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how, in planning and building a new library at a US‐style higher education institution in the Middle East, special attention was paid to the need to encourage and enhance student information literacy competencies. This was a core purpose behind the building design, activity zones and Information Commons layout. Design/methodology/approach – Librarians visited a wide range of academic libraries in the USA and Canada as a means of benchmarking best practice in space and building design. Extensive feedback was also gathered from the campus community and their desires reflected in the final design. Findings – The library classrooms and adjacent Information Commons are key components in facilitating student information literacy skills. Practical implications – Student attainment of core information literacy skills can be facilitated and enhanced through library facility design, particularly through the careful placement of instruction classrooms and a central computing or information commons area. Originality/value – The paper shows how planning a new library at a US‐style higher education institution in the Middle East incorporated the need to encourage and enhance student information literacy competencies http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Reference Services Review Emerald Publishing

Incorporating information literacy into the building plan The American University of Sharjah experience

Lorin Ritchie; Kathlin Ray
Reference Services Review , Volume 36 (2): 13 – May 16, 2008
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13 pages

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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN
0090-7324
DOI
10.1108/00907320810873039
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how, in planning and building a new library at a US‐style higher education institution in the Middle East, special attention was paid to the need to encourage and enhance student information literacy competencies. This was a core purpose behind the building design, activity zones and Information Commons layout. Design/methodology/approach – Librarians visited a wide range of academic libraries in the USA and Canada as a means of benchmarking best practice in space and building design. Extensive feedback was also gathered from the campus community and their desires reflected in the final design. Findings – The library classrooms and adjacent Information Commons are key components in facilitating student information literacy skills. Practical implications – Student attainment of core information literacy skills can be facilitated and enhanced through library facility design, particularly through the careful placement of instruction classrooms and a central computing or information commons area. Originality/value – The paper shows how planning a new library at a US‐style higher education institution in the Middle East incorporated the need to encourage and enhance student information literacy competencies

Journal

Reference Services Review – Emerald Publishing

Published: May 16, 2008

Keywords: Library buildings; Building specifications; Information literacy

References

  • New Library Project Program
    American University of Sharjah
  • Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education
    Middle States Commission on Higher Education