The Lefler Lecture this year will be given by Scott Bennett, an expert on library design. At 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall on Monday, March 21st, he will explore the history of libraries and the ways that prevailing assumptions about the purpose of libraries is built into their architecture. His groundbreaking study of library design, published by the Council on Library and Information Resources in 2003, has led academic libraries around the world to reexamine their basic ideas about library design, focusing on factors that encourage learning.
In addition to the lecture, Bennett will spend two days on campus speaking with students and faculty as well as the library staff about ways our library can think about design with learning as our first principle. We encourage and welcome your participation!
Students will have an opportunity to discuss their learning styles and preferences from 1:30 – 2:30 on Monday in AVII. Students who attend will be entered into a drawing for $5.00 printing cards.
Faculty are also encouraged to share their thoughts with Bennett at 3:30 in AV II. Since the library hopes to support both student learning and faculty teaching and scholarship, faculty perspectives are invaluable.
For more of Scott Bennett’s writing, see “Righting the Balance” in Library as Place: Rethinking Roles, Rethinking Space Council on Library and Information Resources, 2005; “Designing for Uncertainty: Three Approaches” Journal of Academic Librarianship 33.2 (March 2007): 165-179; and “Libraries and Learning: A History of Paradigm Change,” portal: Libraries and the Academy. 9.2 (April 2009): 181-197.
The Lefler Lecture was established in 1993 by Mary Jane Lefler in memory of her husband, Herbert P. Lefler. The event occurs annually and carries on the Lefler family tradition of inquiry and learning. The library is grateful to the Lecture Committee and the Lefler family for this opportunity.
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