ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the learning centre model as a response to the developments in teaching and learning, and in communications and information technology (C&IT). It provides the academic library into a new type of building with a distinctive vision and role within the institution. The development of the new approaches to teaching and learning needed a different kind of learning environment, which would allow students and teaching staff to work in an integrated way with a range of materials, equipment and services – and specialist staff. As more of the student learning experience takes place in virtual learning environments, dependence on C&IT facilities can only increase. Individual, group and IT study facilities are provided within an open-plan environment. The incremental approach to developing the Collegiate learning centre produces an entirely different physical space, which may not have the same degree of flexibility but does accommodate discrete spaces to support different learning styles.
