Library café or elsewhere: usage of study space by different majors under contemporary technological environment

Abstract

PurposeAs current university students may access information for their study anytime, anywhere with ubiquitous mobile technologies, this research re-examines the roles of study space in students' learning and campus life.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted to collect students' opinions and habits regarding the usage of different study spaces. Results in three different academic majors (science and engineering, arts and business) of a comprehensive international university were compared.FindingsThe authors’ findings showed a more diversified space usage among students, with the library café increasingly important in students' learning and life while learning commons remain important. However, there were only minor differences among these three study majors towards the learning and entertaining spaces, as these students generally apply inquiry-based learning.Originality/valueWhile some researches have investigated students' usage of university and library learning spaces, few studies have focused on the study space issue in Hong Kong or other metropolises in the East under the current mobile learning environment. This study's insights could help libraries and universities improve the management of their physical spaces to meet student needs.

User perceptions, academic library usage and social capital: a correlation analysis under COVID-19 after library renovation

“…The present findings provide essential foundations for suggesting various strategies for redesign library places to meet diversified student needs under the fast-changing globalized technological knowledge economy. The present findings also provide further insight on how the COVID-19 pandemic has re-defined academic libraries on space planning (Zhou et al , 2021), on top of the existing findings on their roles and services (Fasae et al , 2021; Meng et al , 2021), mobile apps designs (Fung et al , 2016) and on developing a higher level of social capital (Fong et al , 2020).…”

“…on space planning (Zhou et al, 2021), on top of the existing findings on their roles and services (Fasae et al, 2021;Meng et al, 2021), mobile apps designs (Fung et al, 2016) and on developing a higher level of social capital (Fong et al, 2020).…”

Editorial: 40th anniversary: contemporary library research

“…Noh (2022) investigated the library as a complex cultural space and showed that library users participated and enjoyed its services and programs. On the other hand, Zhou et al (2022) investigated the library caf e as a study space. They showed that the library caf e is essential for students' learning and life.…”

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“…They noted that library users adjusted themselves to use these facilities with social distancing in their minds. Concerning this, readers may compare the results of their findings with those done before COVID-19 under the same context (Zhou et al , 2021; Chan et al , 2020), as well as the study on cultural library spaces by Noh (2021). Yu et al (2022) also summarized some pragmatic operation management measures of libraries in Hong Kong under COVID-19.…”