As hands-on instruction becomes essential in the information literacy curriculum, librarians and library administrators must plan spaces that support their instructional needs and nurture those needs through responsive design decisions. To be effective, libraries must move toward locating, designing, equipping, and furnishing functional, flexible, and comfortable electronic classrooms. Whether or not an architect is available for assistance, essential criteria must be considered. The process often begins with anxious questions: What is the right space for library instruction? How do we propose a project of that magnitude? What happens if the architect doesn't listen to us? Can we do this on our own, without an architect? Do we want fixed seating? What type of equipment is needed? What should the capacity be? These and other questions need to be addressed in creating dedicated instructional spaces within or near a library. With the increasing demand for electronic classrooms and the measurable benefits smart classrooms have in effective information literacy instruction, librarians are being asked to provide improved learning environments for their students. This session will illustrate prototypes for shaping learning spaces to respond to changing learning needs. Discover how to get started and what questions to ask for a plan that insures success. Panelists, who will include an academic library instructional services coordinator, a library building consultant, and a library architect, will address the design process from multiple perspectives.
