MOCI : Museum of contemporary information

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2009.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 78).As the internet is becoming the primary point of access to information, we are confronted with new issues related to information retrieval. These include who has access to information, credibility of sources, and most importantly, how to sift through the massive quantities of available information. Traditionally the library has been the point of public access to information, but in light of the effects of new technologies the typology of the library needs to be rethought. Where historically the dissemination of information has been fairly low and access has been primarily in a public realm, in recent years this relationship has reversed. This results in a situation where the issue is no longer access but one of critical engagement. The built environment should not only respond, but it should play an active role in guiding the way that communities adopt and employ new technologies. There is an opportunity to provide a context which promotes personal interaction and civic engagement. The library has the potential to become the center of a new civic space; a space that encourages active engagement with information and civic agency.by Michelle Petersen.M.Arch