The purpose of this essay was to explore how library staff work with the creation of a teen space. We have taken into consideration teen’s spatial needs and how the library staff have worked to satisfy these needs, as well as how the space can be designed to minimize conflicts that can occur between different library attendees. The method that’s been used was semi-structured interviews with library staff from four different libraries who’ve worked with creating or renovating a teen space. The results show that young library patrons use the examined teen spaces both as a retreat- and interaction space. Results show that teens are in need of a free zone where they can be themselves, express their opinions, be creative and explore. To satisfy this need the library staff have worked with the room’s placement and spatial barriers, furniture and equipment. Despite this the analyzed teen spaces cannot be fully considered free zones because they are not completely free from adult supervision. At the libraries where conflict arose between teens and other visitors, the teen space was set apart and screened off from the rest of the library spaces. These actions demonstrate that spatial solutions are not enough to solve conflicts, but rather the staff at these libraries would have to work with their own attitude towards teens as well as with the library visitors´. Results imply that it is not impossible to create a free zone for teens and at the same time design a space that encourages low-intensity meetings. Two of the examined libraries have in fact managed to create a low-intensity meeting place on a smaller scale. Results also indicate that good human and social conditions are just as important as the teen space to make the library into a functioning meeting place. The study demonstrates that teens' participation is an important requirement in the procedures if a library is going to be successful with their renovation. Teens contribute in fact with meaningful information of how their own room should be designed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:lnu-100737 |
| Date | January 2021 |
| Creators | Lundin, Lotta, Ingargiola, Gemma |
| Publisher | Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för kulturvetenskaper (KV), Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för kulturvetenskaper (KV) |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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