Public Library as a Social Interactive Space

Abstract

This paper elaborates on the current condition of the public library, focusing on the one in Alor Gajah. One of the main issues faced by the public library today is the lack of visitors. Scholars suggest that it is crucial to integrate the users' perspectives into the building design as the sense of attachment of the user to a place can greatly affect their attitude towards the spaces perceived. The study aims to investigate the new approaches in the design of a library, to upgrade it as a social interactive space, particularly in Alor Gajah, Melaka. IntroductionThe public library today is the least preferable place to go for leisure time. Most of the people recognize the library as a place for borrowing books only but not a community place for social activities. The orthodox mindset of the public contributes to the underutilization of the library. The scholars consider that the library is always set in a serious and restrained environment with total silence and the visitors will automatically behave silently when visiting the library. Apart from that, the poor library space planning leads to the creation of unfriendly and uninviting spaces. The public is not given clear and direct access to the important spaces, causing the public to have less interest in visiting the place again.The study seeks to understand the locals' perceptions and preference of place in Alor Gajah in order to formulate the relevant library design strategies. The suggested strategies are based on the investigation towards the public library of Alor Gajah. The role of the library needs to be redefined as social interactive space for the community and not merely as a study place. In additional of that, the proposed library design should be able to create a safe and accessible public sphere for the community at the same time inculcating the public values among the community. Scholars suggest that it is crucial to integrate the users' perspectives into the building design as the sense of attachment of the user to a place can greatly affect their attitude towards the spaces perceived. Therefore, the study aims to investigate the new approaches in the design of a library, to upgrade it as a social interactive space, particularly in Alor Gajah, Melaka. The first objective was to clarify the reasons why the public library in Alor Gajah not popular among the locals. Secondly, to investigate the kind of activities preferred by the locals in Alor Gajah. Thirdly, to investigate the new approaches to designing a public library that suits the locals in Alor Gajah.

The effect of soundscape on sense of place in the public library of Disarpus Bandung

“…Di era digital, adaptasi perpustakaan dengan konsep ruang publik (library as a social place) dinilai sebagai upaya efektif untuk meningkatkan relevansi perpustakaan dengan tren kegiatan belajar kolaboratif dan mendukung terjadinya interaksi sosial bagi pengunjung (Ismail & Chi, 2018). Adaptasi ini juga dilihat sebagai upaya untuk meningkatkan kenyamanan dan perasaan terikat dengan tempat (Rachmadani dkk., 2022).…”

“…Pengendalian kebisingan dalam ruang dengan cara konvensional seperti penambahan sekat dan material absorber juga sering kali tidak sejalan dengan tujuan perpustakaan sebagai ruang publik yang perlu menghadirkan konektivitas pengguna melalui tata letak dan desain ruang (Xiao & Aletta, 2016). Selaras dengan berkembangnya tujuan individu mengunjungi perpustakaan daerah yang tidak lagi untuk membaca koleksi buku saja, tetapi juga untuk berdiskusi, bekerja kelompok, berwisata, dan bertemu teman secara kasual, pengunjung memiliki kebutuhan yang berbeda untuk mencapai kenyamanan dan terikat dengan perpustakaan (Ismail & Chi, 2018). Menurut Schafer dalam Sugiarto (2013).…”

Enhancing Sustainable Public Library: Spatial Relationship Implementation to Foster Optimal Social Interaction

“…However, most public libraries are still perceived as rigid, too serious, boring, and quite challenging to be a visited place for community engagement [6]. Hence, this perception raises several issues including a lack of involvement and cooperation among the people in the library, a decrease in middleclass users as the largest user group, a reduction of library studies interest [7], as well as a decrease in reading interest at the library [8].…”