To round off the final post in this series about Universities and Libraries we wanted to share some insights we gathered along the way: Libraries recognise the importance of cohesive, well-designed spaces and services supported by clear, connected marketing and communication. They are moving away from viewing services as isolated silos and towards an integrated approach that ensures consistency and ease of access for every user. Increasingly, libraries are embracing a “hyper-local” model, creating spaces and services that prioritise people over books. Spaces are designed to be welcoming and adaptable, meeting the needs of everyone who walks through the door. While visibility and accessibility to collections remain essential, books now share space with a variety of relevant engagement opportunities. Involving the community in planning these spaces fosters authenticity, nurtures a sense of belonging, and creates places that are loved by end users. Libraries are becoming places to create and share knowledge across generations, not just to consume it. This shift has prompted libraries to expand their offerings, including maker spaces, tool libraries, co-working areas, research centres, multimedia zones, and even pop-up stalls. Spatial use is also being reimagined with sustainability in mind, placing community connection at the forefront. Libraries are creating safe, accessible community hubs that are flexible for events and activities across all age groups, adopting environmentally conscious warehousing for collections, and forming partnerships to bring library resources into community spaces. Services are also evolving with an emphasis on user experience and strategic design. Libraries are developing new service strategies focused on user experience, expanding alternative services through partnerships, and offering shared
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Libraries are becoming places to create and share knowledge across generations, not just to consume it.
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