ZEMCH 2019 International Conference Proceedings April.2020 | Page 312
Academic Library’s Challenges and Opportunities:
Case Study of the United Arab Emirates University
Library
Waed Bark 1 , Kheira Tabet Aoul 2
Architectural Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al‐Ain, United Arab Emirates
1 [email protected]
2 [email protected]
Abstract: Digital technology has revolutionized the way people learn and gather new information.
This trend has challenged the role of the academic library as a physical place, as well as the interplay
of digital and physical aspects of the library. The quest for exact identification of free digital access
to information can challenge the library physical space and affects the student’s way of learning, a fact
that has driven extensive research on library perception. This paper looks into the new age and
moving function of academic libraries through exploration of the different challenges faced in an
academic university library through a case study in the United Arab Emirates University. Inadequacy
of the building spaces and limited usage were the concerns prompting this study. Therefore,
identification of the reasons and challenges and prospection of design solutions are the focus. The
study relied on field visits, observations and interviews. A critical analysis of the Library’s existing
context, the building and physical space usage, and accessibility were carried out first, along a non‐
obstructive field observation to assess users’ behavior within the main library spaces. Finally, to
explore the users’ perceptions, interviews were conducted to identify the challenges they face and
their needs. The results highlighted a number of issues related to the library visibility, functional and
space design, relationship to the outside greenery and furnishing.
Keywords: User Behavior; Social; Environmental; Sustainability; Academic Library; Biophilia.
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ZEMCH 2019 International Conference l Seoul, Korea