Participatory Design in Redesigning an Academic Library: Capturing Users’ Work through an Artistic Lens

Abstract

In 2011 a library-led project team gathered user-based information for a total redesign of McKeldin Library, the central library serving the University of Maryland, College Park. In addition, graduate classes in anthropology and architecture provided other elements of user input. All of the above were provided to an Architecture Studio course to create actual designs for a reprogrammed library. This poster focuses on data from one of the three sets of activities. In participatory design workshops library staff (21 participants), campus faculty (20), undergraduate (20) and graduate (17) students drew their ideal library workspaces. This poster presents drawings, gathered data and conclusions about stakeholders’ ideal study, research and work spaces in the library.