On October 27-29, the NC State University Libraries hosts Designing Libraries XI, an annual conference that gathers librarians, architects, planners, designers, and information technologists to discuss the challenges and achievements of designing libraries and learning centers for the twenty-first century. This will be the fourth time that the Libraries has hosted the conference.

Register soon! The special room rate at the Sheraton Raleigh is available through September 26.

The program features two preconferences on “Creating Cross-Disciplinary Platforms for Experiential Learning in the Library” and “Designing Your Library's Service Offerings, Organization, and Operations.” 

A keynote will be delivered by NC State’s Rob Dunn, Applied Ecology Professor, noted author, and Senior Vice Provost for University Interdisciplinary Programs. Dunn will speak about the library as an interdisciplinary center.

Designing Libraries sessions will feature an array of topics including:

• Community-connected libraries
• Innovative spaces
• Lightning talks and experiential learning
• Designing inclusive learning spaces
• Libraries as accelerators of teaching and research creativity
• Designing for an interdisciplinary landscape
• Libraries as social infrastructure: community building and student success

Visit the conference site to see the agenda and speakers.

As a testament to the constant cycle of evaluating needs and constructing new spaces to meet those needs, the Libraries has created many new and reimagined spaces since it last hosted the conference in 2017.

The Hill Library underwent a major renovation completed in 2020, including a comprehensive renovation of the second and third floors and the addition of an open stairwell that connects those floors with the Ask Us lobby and floods the spaces with natural light. The renovation features the Academic Success Center and technology-rich Libraries spaces such as the iPearl Innovation Studio, the Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery, and the Data Experience Lab, making the Hill Library a one-stop hub for learning, teaching, research, collaboration, and experimentation.

This January, the NC State Gaming and Esports Lab opened at the Hunt Library, providing a state-of-the-art outlet for students and faculty interested in gaming and supporting the university’s new Esports Program. In 2018, the Hunt Library also added the Dataspace, a community space for students, faculty, and researchers to work, collaborate, and learn about data science, meet with knowledgeable consultants, and access tools and training needed to develop critical data science and visualization skills.

In-depth tours of both the Hunt and Hill Libraries will be offered.

Along with the Libraries, the conference co-sponsors are the Coalition for Networked Information and Tom Hickerson, Conference Founder. The conference location rotates among university locations.