Design factors for the physical space of the library learning commons:
The library should be centrally located in the school, and easy to access;
• The facility should be of an adequate size to accommodate all library collections appropriately, as well as space to accommodate a variety of large group, small group, and individual learning activities;
• Specific learning spaces should be placed in close proximity to specific collections supporting that activity. For example, quiet reading areas may be surrounded by the fiction and picture book collections;
• The physical space should be designed so that technology can be seamlessly integrated into learning activities, when and where required, including adequate electrical and charging outlets to support a wide range of devices;
• Principles of universal design should guide all design decisions, so that facilities, resources and services are accessible for all learners;
• The design should include functional administrative spaces to accommodate circulation, processing of materials, and storage space for associated equipment, supplies, and materials;
• Library shelving should be designed to accommodate resources properly, but also to make those resources easy for students to access. Wherever possible, print resources should be housed on wall-mounted shelving, so that the floor area of the library can remain open and flexible to accommodate a variety of learning activities. Additional shelving should have a low profile to maintain sightlines, and on sturdy casters so that it can be moved and reconfigured as required;
• The library should include media production facilities and areas for hands-on, participatory learning;
• Library furnishings should accommodate the variety of learning activities that take place in the library, including comfortable seating for reading, and tables and chairs for collaborative tasks. All furniture should be easy to move so that the learning space can be reconfigured as required;
• The design should include display areas, and furnishings that promote individual and collaborative knowledge-building, such as whiteboards available for student use.
For full text descriptions, see CSL’s Foundations for School Library Learning Commons in Canada: A Framework for Success, appendix A.