Macquarie University Library

In July 2007, Macquarie University Library launched a Create your Vision for the 21st Century Library competition for year 10 students. The students were invited to create their vision by incorporating the key design principles of the new library building.

Students could submit their entry in any medium and in one of three categories – the Library and the Environment, the Library and People, the Library and Technology.

“Students from these schools are prospective students at Macquarie University and our learners of the future. We felt it was vitally important to gain their input into what students want and need in a Library and learning environment. This helps us better gauge and understand these important needs so they can be addressed and catered to in the new facility”, says Maxine Brodie, University Librarian.

Competitions winners include:

• Library & the Environment
  Jessica Rainert, Our Lady of Mercy College - winner
  Alicja Drogomirecki, Our Lady of Mercy College - runner up
• Library & the People
  Nicky Asmus, James Banks & Richard Bourke
  St Leo’s Catholic College
• Library & Technology
  Jessica Miao, North Sydney Girls High School

Inspired by the work undertaken by Susan Gibbons and her team at the University of Rochester, the Library engaged two Sociology 300 students as interns to investigate and recommend effective strategies for involving students in the detailed design of learning spaces in the new Library.

The aim of the student internship project was to identify, test and evaluate potential methods for gaining effective student involvement in the Detailed Design & Documentation Phase of the new Library project. The students recommended using focus groups involved in creative design tasks.