Study On The Space Transformation Of Research University Libraries In The Digital Age

In the digital age,the space of research university libraries has undergone unprecedented changes.Grasping the changes,clarifying the dynamic factors of change and looking forward to the future trends,can provide guidance for the spatial adjustment of university libraries.This study focuses on three issues.First,what changes have taken place in the space of research university libraries in the digital age?Second,what are the driving factors driving the spatial transformation of research university libraries in the digital age?Third,what new trends will be presented in the future research university library space?Historically,the development of university libraries has undergone a polymorphic change.Based on a large number of literature studies,the development history of Western and Chinese university libraries is reviewed.In the late Middle Ages,the earliest university libraries appeared in the West.In these university libraries,the books are held on the desk with a chain.This kind of desk is very similar to the reading platform of the monastery.In the seventeenth century,the books is stored on wall shelves.From the 19th century to the 20th century,Western university libraries went modern.During this period,the United States first implemented the open stack management mode,which made the boundaries between the library and the reading room gradually disappear.The modernization of Chinese university libraries is mainly due to the introduction of Western modern library concept.From the 1920s to the 1950s,a number of modern university libraries were built in China,but they still adopted closed stack management mode.In the 1990s,Chinese university libraries widely adopted the open stack management mode and began to adopt modular design principles.Since the end of the 20th century,university libraries at home and abroad have been working together to build digital libraries.By analyzing the information collected online and in the field,it is found that there are four major spatial changes in the research university libraries in the digital age.First,space function has expanded.The traditional spatial function is collection,reading and learning,and the new spatial functions are entertainment,culture and so on.Second,the space concept has been upgraded.In the traditional reading room,readers acquire books and passively accept knowledge,and there is no interaction between readers.In the Information Commons and the Learning Commons,the readers obtain information and actively acquire knowledge.In the makerspace,readers acquire tools,and actively use knowledge and even create knowledge.In the commons and makerspace,readers interact,communicate,collaborate and share.Third,diversified learning spaces appear in university libraries.In order to meet the diverse learning needs of readers,the university library in the digital age has built many types of learning spaces,including personal learning spaces,group learning spaces,large learning spaces,informal learning spaces,multimedia learning spaces and so on.Finally,space design has become more user-friendly,which is mainly reflected in the comfort,artistry and privacy of university library space.There are many driving forces in the process of spatial transformation of research university libraries in the digital age.The library concept is the fundamental driving force for spatial change.The "people-oriented" concept promotes user demand as the direct driving force for spatial change.The "third space" concept promotes the expansion of library space functions.Emerging technologies are also the driving force for space change,which promote the upgrading of university library space concepts to a large extent.Computer technology,network technology and open access movement jointly promote the concept of Information Commons.3D printing technology,VR technology and maker movement jointly promote the wide application of makerspace concept.User needs are a direct driver of spatial change,including learning needs and usage needs.The learning needs directly promote the diversification of the learning space in university libraries.For example,the readers' demand for collaborative learning and informal learning promotes the development of group learning spaces and academic cafes in university libraries.The user's need for comfort,aesthetics and privacy when using the library space directly promotes the humanization of the university library space design.In the future,research university library space will show more changes.First of all,the collection and reading space will continue to implement the "people-oriented"concept.The emergence of the storage library is conducive to the further compression of the collection space in the main library.And most of the reading space will be used by people,not books.Secondly,the learning space will continue to focus on Commons and build specific learning spaces for teachers,graduate students and international students.Finally,the new space in the future research university library will pay more attention to creation and experience,such as creative space such as Makerspace,multimedia production space,data processing space,and experience space such as VR space and game space.