tation and proof of concept in relation to learning space enhancement.
As a key stakeholder in the new campus development, I seized the opportunity to engage with the Centre of Higher Edu- cation Research and Practice to be part of the institutional Learning Landscape Transition Project. The library footprint provided the ideal space to begin to under stand the dynamics between student learning preferences, space, ubiquitous technology, and emerging pedagogies. During this phase, a number of small projects were funded to introduce experi- mental social learning spaces across the campus libraries as part of the wider transition process. Much has been written in the academic literature around the value of library space and its increasing importance as a performance enhancing tool in its own right.(Miller et al, 2014), the projects provided an opportunity to evaluate this concept. A collaborative learning space was introduced in two campus libraries along with informal social meeting spaces.
The most significant project was delivered in 2019 with the redesign and refurbishment of the library space at the Derry/Londonderry campus to deliver a student-focused library space to facili- tate innovative approaches to learning and support the strategic objectives of the institution in relation to the learning landscape. This ambitious project was delivered within 16 weeks as a proof of concept for the library learning environ- ment at the new flagship Belfast campus. This design of the transformed library space at Derry/Londonderry incorporated and was informed by the new and emerg- ing pedagogic approaches to learning along with space for students to connect and collaborate. The shift from passive to active and collaborative learning spaces was addressed with the development of a wide variety of social, group and individ- ual study spaces, technology enhanced spaces and a silent reading zone. The main driver for this project was to add value to the quality of the student learning experience whilst locating the library learning environment in the context of the wider institutional Learning Environment Plan.
The onset of COVID in Spring 2020 had a significant impact on the students’ ability to benefit from the transformed spaces. However, the redesigned library space has been an unmitigated success. Footfall into the library space has increased by 40 per cent from a total of 124,206 visitors in the 2021/22 academic year to 173,486 up to the end of July 2023. The library space has made a positive contribution to the aspiration of creating a sticky campus, where students are provided with a cam- pus environment which encourages them to visit and stay for longer periods of time.
22 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
Derry/Londonderry Campus.
The new library at Belfast Based on the evidence of the success of the new library environment at Derry/ Londonderry, planning continued apace for the library learning space at the new Belfast campus. The library opened on 26 September 2022, the culmination of 10 years of planning and preparation. As a learning space, the Library Ser- vice has a central location at the heart of the campus. This is reflective of the centrality of the Library Service to the academic mission of the Institution. The space offers a variety of learning spaces to
address the learning preferences of the broad spectrum of learners to include, social, group and individual study spaces located across study zones which move progressively from social to silent. The first floor is technology-enhanced with 26 group study rooms and is available on a 24/7 basis. The library learning environment has been an immediate success with 899,608 visitors to the end of July 2023, peaking in November 2022 with over 140,000 visitors during this month.
The results of the NSS survey for September 2024
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