P-01 Aligning Academic Library Space with Millenials' Learning Styles

Buller Hall

Technology has resulted in more modernization than transformation. There is an apparent disconnect between the culture of library organizations and that of Net Gen Students. Since much of the learning in higher education institutions takes place outside the classroom, the library can play a critical role in students’ learning outcomes. It is well reported that intensive technology use has affected how millennials learn and how they interact. Due to millennials’ characteristics, this generation demands a new learning and pedagogical paradigm. Thus, faculty are realizing that traditional classroom teaching is no longer effective with millennials – they require a learner-centered pedagogy, a constructivist learning paradigm. Learning and the space in which it takes place are of utmost importance. We must design library learning spaces that optimize the convergence of the Net Generation, current learning theories, and information technology. This paper describes who are the millennials, their learning styles, and the types of library spaces most appropriate for promoting and enhancing millennials’ learning outcomes.