In joining over 200 worldwide attendees at the third YSL Virtual Conference focusing on Library Design in the Fall of 2009, I was struck by the essential interconnectedness of the considerations for design for the spaces dedicated to learning and new designs for learning. The impetus for upgrading, changing, or re-building school libraries comes not only from a “building” or Facilities perspective but also from an educational one. While here in BC we know that some of our buildings are not seismically up to standards, for example, we also know that the nature of learning is being changed seismically by the impact of technology even as we lag behind in social and economic policy that addresses the needs for education to create an engaged citizenry capable of keeping pace with change. Are we meeting the standards set by our students for learning that engages, motivates, and inspires? .... read more.
