When the "Library as Place" Matters: A Case Study of an Academic Library

Authors

Retno Sayekti, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara Medan, IndonesiaFollow
Abdul Karim Batubara, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara Medan, IndonesiaFollow
Achiriah Achiriah, Department of History of Islamic Civilization, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara Medan, IndonesiaFollow
Muhammad Aditya, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara Medan, IndonesiaFollow
Franindya Purwaningtyas, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara Medan, IndonesiaFollow
Abdi Mubarak Syam, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara Medan, IndonesiaFollow
Nur’aini Nur’aini, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Cultural Studies, Universitas Sumatera Utara, IndonesiaFollow

Date of this Version

2-14-2021

Comments

This article is a collaborative work.

Abstract

Changes in learning pattern, collection, technology and use have encouraged academic libraries to be reinvented in accordance with users’ needs. Therefore, an assessment of how users perceive and expect for library as place to accommodate learning is necessary. This study aims at measuring the gap between the minimum perception, and desired levels of library as place dimension. This is a quantitative research with data obtained from the library of the State Islamic University of North Sumatra (UINSU), through descriptive survey techniques. The result showed that the utilitarian space and symbol aspects of the library met the minimum expectations of users, however in terms of accommodation, their expectations were not met. Therefore, this research suggests that institutions need to ensure their libraries have adequate rooms for users, encouraging the learning activities and creativity. Librarians need to consider providing space that allows collaborative works while supports flexibility for social meeting. Our findings confirm that the role of the library as a space for users, for individual and collaborative work, and as a space for social activity, will become increasingly important even in this digital era.