Incorporating information literacy into the building plan: The American University of Sharjah experience

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how, in planning and building a new library at a US‐style higher education institution in the Middle East, special attention was paid to the need to encourage and enhance student information literacy competencies. This was a core purpose behind the building design, activity zones and Information Commons layout.

Design/methodology/approach

Librarians visited a wide range of academic libraries in the USA and Canada as a means of benchmarking best practice in space and building design. Extensive feedback was also gathered from the campus community and their desires reflected in the final design.

Findings

The library classrooms and adjacent Information Commons are key components in facilitating student information literacy skills.

Practical implications

Student attainment of core information literacy skills can be facilitated and enhanced through library facility design, particularly through the careful placement of instruction classrooms and a central computing or information commons area.

Originality/value

The paper shows how planning a new library at a US‐style higher education institution in the Middle East incorporated the need to encourage and enhance student information literacy competencies

Citation

Ritchie, L. and Ray, K. (2008), "Incorporating information literacy into the building plan: The American University of Sharjah experience", Reference Services Review, Vol. 36 No. 2, pp. 167-179. https://doi.org/10.1108/00907320810873039