Flexible learning environment : A study of a university library's re-planning of space, based on perspectives on knowledge production and learning

The aim of the study is to examine how different factors,such as views on how knowledge is produced and howlearning takes place, effect the way an academic librarymanages space. This is done by looking into how a specificlibrary, namely Library & Learning Resources (LLR) at theUniversity of Borås, by re-planning the building’s structure,design and functions, can support the students’ differentstudying habits. The analysis is performed by using a theoreticalperspective built by a model first created by thearchitect Daniel Koch. The model is designed to look uponhow space produces meaning and knowledge. To this I haveadded a socio-cultural perspective on learning.Koch’s theoretical model is used as a method with the aim tostudy how the library is structured and designed. The modelis used to analyse three types of space distribution; in space,by space and through space. After analysing the materialwith these different ways of distribution the results processedonce more to obtain an approach to how knowledge isproduced and to see how that corresponds with a socioculturallearning perspective.It is concluded that the LLR has an open approach to howknowledge is produced and that the library supports thesocio-cultural way in which the students learn and conducttheir studies in. The Library has an open and flexible viewon how different functions in the library can be used and theaim is to support the many different ways in which studiesare conducted.Program: Bibliotekari