Rethinking Contemporary Library Environment as a Social Learning Centre

ABSTRACT: In the era of digitalization and dominance of Internet search, student needs related to contemporary academic library spaces have changed. In search of ways for answering these changing needs of students, most universities have started to transform their spaces. Architects and interior architects/designers have done little research to guide such a transformation. This study aims to overcome this gap by thoroughly examining and analysing existing literature and providing an in-depth investigation on Eastern Mediterranean University main library as a case. The research design is a “mixed methods” one, involving the combination of qualitative and quantitative research and data in the study. It starts as a qualitative one with onsite observations and informal interviews. The outcomes from this phase are used to construct the second quantitative phase at which the data are collected through structured questionnaires. The results reveal that, EMU main library does not fully coincide with the essential characteristics for contemporary academic libraries. The criteria of this research could be used as guidance for evaluating academic libraries, which need a transformation. As a conclusion, the study provides some suggestions to help EMU main library re-define its spaces and to reclaim its place on the campus. Keywords: Contemporary academic libraries, transformation, interior space characteristics, social learning space characteristics.