The Language of Space: Rhetorical Insights into Academic Library Design and Redesign

Spaces are arguably an academic library’s most important physical resource. As more coursework and published materials move online, students are seeking out academic libraries for where they can study and be successful, not only for what concrete resources the library can offer them. With that knowledge in mind, academic librarians are called to, as Spencer & Watstein (2017) write, “understand and appreciate that spaces not only inspire creativity, reflection, exploration and innovation but also impact learning” (p. 389). It is with this thought in mind that a couple of academic library professionals in southeast Georgia sought to research what our students thought of our spaces and how the spaces spoke to them after a first floor redesign that sought to create a more open and welcoming environment for patrons. This paper will discuss the administration of a short research survey on students’ perceptions of library spaces, and how this can be applied to larger, more long-term efforts to create engaging and welcoming spaces for students in the academic library.