Byggnader för inspiration och lärande : Högskolebibliotek som studiemiljöer: En fallstudie av Carolinabiblioteket, Frescatibiblioteket och Södertörns högskolebibliotek

Sammanfattning: The aim of this master’s thesis is to investigate how study environments in academic libraries are designed to serve the current conditions and requirements that these libraries are facing today. The study’s intention is to function as a basis on how academic libraries can plan and upgrade their physical environments to suit modern uses and needs. The main focus is to examine how three Swedish academic libraries; the Carolina Library, the Frescati Library and Södertörn University Library; have been built, renovated and improved during the last ten years while analyzing overall tendencies and trends in new study environments. The investigation was conducted as a case study based on interviews, observations and text studies. The thesis is based on a posthumanist view on environments and artefacts as co-creators of the physical setting while architecture theories about function, form and factors that affects the physical environment were used to analyse the empirical material. The study shows that the university library’s physical environment has evolved from mainly having served as a repository for documents to its current primary purpose as a work place and learning environment for university students. Today’s library environment function as a place for individual study, group work, information seeking and contemplation as well as a social space for meetings and socializing. The university library’s expanded role as a social space, the progress in information technology and changed ways of studying have all had a large impact on the university library and has thus greatly influenced the modern library environment. The need for group study spaces has increased during the last years while individual study spaces in quiet areas continue to be in high demand. Informal lounge areas are now frequently incorporated in library settings as well as open areas that creates a feeling of space and light. These spaces are also highly functional in increasing the flexibility of the premises. Flexibility, comfort and functionality are key aspects to take into account when designing new library environments. This can be done by integrating flexible solutions, such as movable walls and furniture, but also through a variation of study spaces’ furniture and placement. Comfort is found to be of major importance for a pleasant study environment and more so than external aesthetics. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.