| Abstract |
A library is a functional building. The designing of an academic library should serve and support the needs of the users and the goals of the institute. To identify the needs of the users would be the most important topic of architecture designing. Previously, the functions of an academic library were mainly to fulfill three purposes: housing for the collections, service to readers, and space for staff activities. Recently the library architecture designing has been challenged by the growth of library collections as well as the rapid changes of technology, politics, economics, and society. The purpose of this study is to analyze the users' needs for the space of an academic library building. To achieve the goal, the investigator collected literature on the designing of academic library buildings and surveys of users' needs. Furthermore, I used the library of NCYU as a case study to do empirical investigation of the faculty, students and librarians' needs for library space. The methodology of the study include literature analysis, focus groups interview, and questionnaire survey. Based on the findings of the study, the investigator provides seven conclusions for overall users' needs of an academic library in the following: 1.Collection space is the most important for faculty, students and librarians.2.There are many differences in information and library space user behavior among faculty, graduate and undergraduate students.3.There is significant difference in users of different academic areas on the use of information and library space.4. It is an important requirement that an academic library should provide space and facility to support teaching and learning.5.The influence of e-resources is the main factor to the users needs of a library space.6.Librarian devoted to studying users' needs is valuable for the designing of a library building.The information and space using behavior of the users are subject to change and so should the library space continue to meet the challenge.
|
