School libraries without walls: Preserving the library's sense of place

LIBRARIES AS PHYSICAL SPACES HAVE LONG BEEN THE OBJECT OF FASCINATION, REVERENCE, AFFECTION, AND EVEN OBSESSION, so it’s a curious thing to see so many of the old standards are fading away. Trending now is a new architectural phenomenon in which forward-thinking school districts are building libraries as the literal “hub” of the school, physically speaking. These modern learning commons reside in the center of the building as open spaces without walls, the goal being that at long last the library can function with no barriers to its patrons, who are free to come and go at any time as the library melds as one with the rest of the building. This eliminates the separation of the library from the classrooms and faculty, making resources more accessible and creating a culture of deeper research and increased learning. The Texas Administrative Code, Section 239.55, Standard IV, commissions certified school librarians to “develop and maintain a flexible, functional, and barrier-free library facility that conforms to national and state library standards”. In light of this, a library with no walls sounds like the perfect solution. Or does it?