Libraries for Children and Young Adults

• Modern library materials for children and young adults are covered in LIS 229.
• This module explores buildings, design, and spaces for libraries customized for kids and young people.
• The transformations of library spaces must reflect the increasing presence of digital technology, while also responding to changing user expectations.

Introduction

• It's essential to balance time-tested design principles with modern digital solutions when desgining a library.
• Libraries are now evolving into spaces that cater to many different needs by incorporating smart tech.
• Libraries are moving beyond being just repositories of books, and changing to hubs for learning, being creative, and community engagement.
• Public and school libraries are prioritizing interactive environments, to ensure they remain valuable to children and young people.

Key Topics Covered:

• The evolution of library spaces for children and young people

• Design practices to foster reading, creativity, and digital engagement

• The legal and ethical considerations including PD 603 (Child and Youth Welfare Code)

• The innovative technologies and global trends in future-proofing libraries

• Understanding these trends allows libraries to be dynamic, inclusive, and future-ready spaces that support literacy, creativity, and lifelong learning.

Glossary of Terms:

• Augmented Reality (AR): adds digital information to the real world to enhance a user’s perception.
• Biophilic Design: Incorporates natural elements into buildings to enhance mental clarity and reduce stress through spaces that echo natural settings.
• Community Engagement: Designs spaces to foster interaction, collaboration, and social learning through multifunctional areas.
• Digital Immigrants: Individuals who adopted digital technology later in life
• Digital Natives: Individuals who have grown up immersed in digital technology from a young age.
• Extended Reality (XR): An umbrella term that encompasses all forms of computer-altered reality.
• Interactive Mixed-Reality Environment: A physical space using MR tech where users interact through digital interfaces.
• Library Makerspace: A designated area in a library where users engage in hands-on creative projects.
• Mixed Reality (MR): Blends real and virtual worlds, and allows digital objects to interact with the physical environment in real time.
• Multifunctional Spaces: Adaptable areas designed to serve varied purposes simultaneously.
• Public Libraries: Community-based institutions providing free access to information, digital tools, and services.
• School Libraries: Cover library services for children in nursery, primary, and secondary school, and support curriculum-based learning.
• Smart Library: Integrates digital tools, interactive displays, and advanced tech to improve user experience and streamline information access.
• Thematic Library Design: A library layout centered around a specific concept, aesthetic, or educational theme to enhance engagement.
• Virtual Reality (VR): A fully immersive digital environment.

Key Design Considerations:

• Space Utilization and Layout: Design should be conducive to children and young people, with distinct areas for different age groups and activities.
• Biophilic Design: Incorporating natural elements to positively impact users.
• Functional Spaces: Multi-functional spaces should support a variety of activities
• Child-Centric Design: Consider the cognitive development and learning styles of children with the design.
• Community and Interaction: Designing spaces that support community building and positive peer interactions is crucial.

Historical Context and Evolution

• Library design for young users has shifted to integrating digital tech and user-centered design.
• A trend toward engaging users in the digital age and redefining library spaces to meet changing needs defines children’s libraries.
• Playful and Colorful Environments: Vibrant colors and playful elements in children’s libraries invite exploration and engagement
• Flexible Furniture Arrangements: Adaptable furniture supports various activities.

Modern Design Trends

• Integration of Digital Technology: Digital interfaces in library spaces create a graphical interface for querying and browsing.
• Employing participatory design methods creates learning spaces that meet user needs.
• Design Thinking: Libraries employ design thinking to revitalize spaces and remain tailored to user needs, involving collaboration with stakeholders.
• Libraries are revitalized by using design thinking ensuring relevance and tailoring spaces to user needs.

Evolving User Needs:

• Changes in technology and user behavior led to an increased demand for interactive and flexible spaces.
• “Digital natives” expect instant access to information and interactive digital interfaces.
• Smart libraries are developing via MR, AR, and other technologies to complement traditional reading areas
• Primary school libraries prepare students for research.
• Hybrid libraries blend physical collections with digital catalogs and AI search tools.

Legal Framework: PD 603 and Library Design

• Presidential Decree (PD) 603 is a law that safeguards the rights of children and establishes legal provisions for key necessities for child development.
• Libraries fulfill legal mandates by serving as accessible, inclusive, and safe learning environments for children.

Article 3, No. 6

• Article states that every child has the right to education and access to learning materials.
• Libraries ensure that all children have free and equal access to books, digital resources, and academic support.

Article 12

• Non-formal entities must assist parents in providing the best education.
• Libraries provide structured spaces for independent study, research, and creative exploration.

Article 51

• Parents are encouraged to cultivate reading habits at home.
• Libraries promote reading culture by making reading material accessible.

Article 75

• Governments provide adequate school facilities, including libraries and playgrounds, for safe environments.
• Libraries are essential infrastructure, that provides resource-rich environments for collaboration.

Article 137

• The State mandates the establishment of reading centers in every barangay for recreational spaces.
• Libraries serve as designated learning hubs to expand accessibility in rural and urban areas.

Article 170

• Article defines children with impairments.
• Libraries incorporate wheelchair-accessible spaces, Braille, and ergonomic furniture.

Article 171

• Recognizes children who require additional emotional support.
• Libraries provide sensory-friendly areas, quiet zones, and emotional support materials.

Article 174

• Calls for education and training for disabled children
• Libraries offer adaptable tech and programs for special needs to enable learning.

Article 178

• Disabled children receive appropriate care.
• Libraries remain inclusive for all children regardless of disability.

Article 71

• No child is refused access to public education.
• Libraries support access by offering resources, internet, and study spaces.

Article 72

• Government supports children through aid to public libraries.
• Public investment ensures updated books and services.

Article 76

• Families support children's learning beyond the classroom.
• Libraries promote family literacy programs.

Article 85

• The community ensures children have safe support for learning.
• Emphasizes the importance of libraries, centers, and literacy programs.

Article 87

• Encourages councils to implement child welfare programs.
• Libraries should be integrated into community programs to support learning.

Article 129

• Child welfare agencies must ensure buildings have proper ventilation, sanitation, and are child-friendly.
• Libraries are well-lit and designed to accommodate different kinds of activities.

Article 133

• The State must establish centers for child development.
• Libraries should integrate creative learning zones.

Article 166

• Calls for accessible environments.
• Libraries must provide quiet zones for all kinds of interaction.

Article 175

• Recommends pilot programs to improve services.
• Libraries must continuously integrate emerging tech and sustainable materials.

Article 137

• The government sets up reading and learning centers nationwide.
• Emphasizes community libraries.

Impact on Library Design

• The influence of library zoning, accessibility, and infrastructure ensures the safety and support of all children.
• Libraries should incorporate design and receive support for expansion.

Designing For Digital Natives

• The transformation of library spaces is a emphasis in the digital age, libraries must adapt to the needs of younger users in the digital age.
• Digital natives are individuals immersed in technology characterized by rapid and intuitive interactions.
• They value interactivity, collaboration and immersion.

Innovative Technologies

• Advanced tech libraries are adopting includes immersive mixed-reality environments using smart tech to create learning experiences.
• High-quality content and innovative services improve literacy access.
• Libraries must integrate digital tools into physical spaces such as digital assistants and AR for enhanced exploration.

Role as Social and Learning Spaces

• While libraries may not fully function as "third places", they provide a conducive environment for social interaction and engage users.
• Library makerspaces provide places where young people can engage in information seeking and use.

Initiatives

• Michael Bierut's Library Initiative transformed school libraries to visually engage students and ensure inspiring learning environments.

• The initiative incorporated visually stimulating elements that enhanced storytelling and created dynamic spaces that would encourage student engagement.

• His designs also supported collaborative learning through adaptable layouts.

• Modern library design emphasizes community engagement and designs models that blend physical collections with digital repositories.

Design Principles

• Key considerations when designing library spaces include adaptability and the layout of these spaces, and should be planned to be both functional and inviting.

• Effective reading areas should incorporate flexibility and incorporate aesthetics.

• Modern library design extends beyond books to create spaces for social interaction, as confirmed by Gemma John.

• ALIA design awards create innovative designs that enhance user experience.

StoryWall Designs

• StoryWall by FG lets libraries be built in any space and integrate sensory elements with educational needs.
• Outdoor Pods used for learning can expand accessibility.

Considerations

• Traditional reading can be enhanced via integration of new school library structures.
• Public libraries cater to a wide community via inclusive digital hubs.
• School libraries balance academic study with creative design.

Principles of Library Layout

• Guiding principles focus on a diverse and accessible spatial planning.

• Activities should cater to young patrons.

• The zones should implement quite reading centers, interactive learning, tech media and collaborative groupings.

• Modular designs give children with disabilities the ability to alter their experience.

• Accessibility and health should be implemented via non toxic furniture.

Integration

• Inclusive designs need ramps, accessible spaces and way findings.
• Libraries must select materials and safe layouts.
• Proper airflow helps indoor pollutants.
• Libraries must set clear evacuation pathways.

Aesthetic Appeal

• Libraries should implement engaging themes and be aware of users.
• Integration of nature and interaction are important for learning.

Layout

• Libraries should also take into account different layouts via open plan, and sectioned.

• Themed can turn imaginative worlds into experiential learning.

Zoning

• This spatial design ensures activities can coexist
• Enhances user experience.

Zoning benefits the library

• Noise management, way finding, supervision.

Color psychology

• Crucial in shaping learning environments.
• Different colors need to be strategically used.

Integrating Library Color Palettes

• Blue and green promote calmness.

• Blue and green can be used in quite a location.

• Enhance the atmosphere.

• Yellow and orange enhance engagement.

• Use yellow an promote in collaboration spaces.

• Nuetral and earthy promote comfort.

• Natural and earthy can be used in reading corners.

Color Use

• Color coded matching schemes should be implemented.
• Different shades should be used to light space.

Integrating Space

• Libraries can implement color by contrasting zone lighting to enable comfort.
• Integration of modular setups creates flexibility for spaces.

Zones

• Storywalls and modules allow spaces for interactive learning.

• Enhances accessibility.

• Technology-driven and weatherproof learning should be combined.

Designing Library

• Should prepare students for higher education with critical thinking skills.

• Should enable data bases skills and knowledge.

• Introducing tools ensures studies are comfortable.

• Studies should facilitate support.

Library Collab

• Students engage in group collab with learning.
• Multimedia studies should be used for third spaces.

The 21st Century Library

• Gemma John's Study showcases the importance of studies for learning. -The integration of innovation is the key point of modern libraries:

1. Libraries should be flexible so user needs can evolve.
2. Community design in plans in functionality.
3. Smart technology will give more engaging user experiences

Future Libaries

• Adapting requires the following needs:

1. The library should adapt to new environments
2. Green energy should always been used for the library
3. Accessibility will make spaces more engaging.

Challenges

• Challenges in balancing activities and needed more flexible solutions

• The integration of technology should be seamless.

• Future libraries should have:

1. Visual integration - Blend seamless with the environment
2. Response to educational shifts
3. Digital learning - integrate between physical and digital learning tools

Librarian competencies

• Transforming digital tech needs librarians with expertise.
• Librarians transform and become experts in hybrid learning.

Conclusion

• Libraries are about preserving values and must transform.

Good Design

• A reflection of a good design creates spaces that can support children.
• Flexibility should be the goal

Keys

• They support personal growth and literacy.
• Libraries must combine the new and the old to stay current in the future.