Space Repurposing for Improved Learning Experiences in Zimbabwean University Libraries

Libraries are at the centre of higher education facilities to support teaching and learning. Their facilities, resources and services of yesteryear will not continue to meet the needs of the modern user. The modern library user requires digital and virtual resources and services. Such changes have led many libraries to consider changing their physical facilities to suit these needs. While arguments on the continued need for the physical library continue among higher education authorities, librarians have been proactive in space repurposing. The new designs are being made in ways that will make library spaces attractive and supportive. Efforts to create an ambient environment with modern furnishings and technologies enable library patrons to collaborate, share and research. Through some document analysis, this chapter explores how libraries are positioning their spaces to accommodate the needs of 21st-century patrons. The chapter will document the needs of the increasingly diverse student population in higher education and the role of technology in creating all-inclusive spaces. It will also explore the challenges faced by libraries in offering modern and attractive spaces. The chapter is pertinent in that it addresses the critical issue of spaces that are facing libraries and will be of value to higher education policy-makers and library leaders in addressing the needs of the student and faculty population in equality and diversity.