Reading the Academic Library: an exploration of the conceived, perceived and lived spaces of the Brynmor Jones Library at the University of Hull

Fallin, Lee

Abstract

Focusing on the perspectives of ‘library users’, this paper argues for a reconsideration of dominant conceptions of academic libraries as dusty repositories of books and restrictive study spaces. Using the Brynmor Jones Library (BJL) at the University of Hull as a case study and drawing on Henri Lefebvre’s concepts as of space as conceived, perceived and lived, it asks: How do library users experience library space(s) in the neoliberal university?

Analysis of the research data has led to the identification of five themes that represent the different facets of academic library space: physical spaces, imagined spaces, social spaces, engagement spaces and discovery spaces. These themes challenge traditional definitions of libraries and redefine them from the perspective of those who use and work within them.

Citation

Fallin, L. (2021, December). Reading the Academic Library: an exploration of the conceived, perceived and lived spaces of the Brynmor Jones Library at the University of Hull. Paper presented at Society for Research into Higher Education. International Research Conference 2021: (Re)connecting, (Re)building: Higher Education in Transformative Times

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: Society for Research into Higher Education. International Research Conference 2021: (Re)connecting, (Re)building: Higher Education in Transformative Times
• Start Date: Dec 6, 2021
• End Date: Dec 10, 2021
• Deposit Date: Dec 2, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 8, 2022
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3888751
• Publisher URL: https://srhe.ac.uk/conference-2021/
• Additional Information: Video recording of session: https://srhe.ac.uk/conference-2021/v-21/?vID=hGRRxpcn3hA