PROPOSED UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
FOR
OGUN STATE UNIVERSITY, AGO IWOYE
ENHANCING LEARNING THROUGH EFFECTIVE NATURAL LIGHTING LIBRARIES
A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
PREPARED BY:
AWODEIN OMOSANYA TUNDE
(ARC/00/4958)
SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE
COURSE TITLE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
(ARC 805)
LECTURER: PROF. O.O. OGUNSOTEAPRIL. 2008
ABSTRACT
The basic philosophy of a library is the encouragement of learning .The library is anenvironment where leaning takes place as well as a place where learning materials are stored and used. The purpose of any library is that of preservation, conservation and service. Over the years, it has grown from storage and retrieval of information to audio and videocassettes usage, non-expanding contents, many kinds of libraries have developed, ranging from material to personal libraries to serve the different needs of the scholars and the general public, with the material of each selected to meet the need of the specific group of users. For these libraries to perform their function effectively, they must be conducive for use and comfortable to the users. The comforts required by the users of the library include; Visual comfort, acoustic quality (Low noise), proper ventilation and thermal comfort.
This thesis is an attempt to design a befitting university library for the Ogun state university, Ago Iwoye, which will ensure that visual comfort of the usersis not compromised by providing adequate natural lighting. The two major means to be used are the active and passive methods. A detailed review of literature as well as field research is to be harnessed in arriving at functional design solutions for the project. At the end, the various means of achieving workable and visually comfortable university libraries will be made known.
INTRODUCTION
The word library comes from liber, the Latin word for “book.” However, library collections have almost always contained a variety of materials. Contemporary libraries maintain collections that include not only printed materials such as manuscripts, books, newspapers, and magazines, but also art reproductions, films, sound and video recordings, maps, photographs, microfiches, CD-ROMs, computer software, online databases, and other media. In addition to maintaining collections within library buildings, modern libraries often feature telecommunications links that provide users with access to information at remote sites.Thecentralmissionof a library is to collect, organize, preserve, and provide access to knowledge and information. In fulfilling this mission, libraries preserve a valuable record of culture and knowledge that can be passed down to succeeding generations. Libraries are an essential link in this communication between the past, present, and future. Whether the record is contained in books or in electronic formats, libraries ensure that the record is preserved and made available for later use. Libraries provide people with access to the information they need to work, learn, governand improve almost all spheres of existence. The library can thus be tagged the most important resource of an institution of higher education.
Apart from the pursuit of aesthetics and grandeur in such a building as the university library, adequate attention must be paid to the creation of healthy quality interior spaces that will boost the quest for acquisition of knowledge. A major determinant of this quality is light.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
In recent years the issues that deal with the level of comfort of the end users of the building have most frequently been addressed in the design process after the building form has been fixed, and most often designers have been contented with the act of making up for daylight requirements with artificial light. While this may be a pragmatic or convenient approach, it diminishes the opportunity to design, at a more holistic level, buildings which can harness the free gift of nature by virtue of their form and the intelligent use of materials with minimal reliance on machinery. Rediscovery of this design skill adds a dimension to the design process which offers sound parameters as generators or architectural form.
To achieve this calls for knowledge of behaviournatural light and the way it can be employed in lighting up a building in such a way that glare is eliminated.An understanding of what constitutes comfort and discomfort and how these conditions can be affected by changes in amount of daylight provided will result in an architectural response of high quality which is in harmony with its purpose of creation.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the research work is to create exposure on the ideal approach to the design of a university library in the south western part of the country, Ogun state precisely, with emphasis on the use of daylight in creating a suitable learning environment.
To achieve this aim, the objectives of this research work are:
- To investigate theperceived visual comforts ofexisting libraries through personal observation and administration of questionnaire.
- To carry out case studies in which there will be a consideration of the methods employed in providing natural lighting in the libraries.
- To gain knowledge from review of authoritative literature on the subject matter with the intention of recommending the means of creating an ideal solution to the problems of inadequate lighting for the performance of visual tasks.
SCOPE OF STUDY
There are various parameters for measuring the quality of spaces in buildings. Some of these are natural light, ventilation and circulation. This study is restricted to the use of natural light as an indicator of quality interior space to be used in enhancing learning in a university library. The intrinsic characters of natural light and the ways of making the best use of it for illumination without any detriment to both the users and materials will be covered.
JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY
Libraries are often considered the most important resource of an institution of higher education because students and faculty at colleges and universities have the need to conduct research within any conceivable academic discipline at any given time in a conducive environment. In the Ogun state university, there is pressing need to create a standard facility to cater for this need. The current library in the institution is not large enough to cater for the needs of the academic staff and the students, hence the need for provision of a standard facility to cater for this deficiency.
EXPECTED CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE
The thesis is expected to create exposure to the importance of natural light in the interior spaces. It shall also educate on the effective utilization of this kind of light in creating functional spaces as well as the functional use of the light itself in such a way that glare is` eliminated.
A guide to design for effective day lighting in this part of the country will be developed from the knowledge gathered through the various review of literature and field work.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research entails the process of arriving at dependable solutions to problem through planned and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data,henceresourceful means will be employed in obtaining data for the research.
The two basic methods to be adopted are:
(i)The Primary method / source
(ii)The Secondary method / source
(i)The Primary method / Source:
This method involves data collection by questionnaire administration and observation by personal interaction with professionals in related fields.
(ii)The Secondary Method / Source:
This involves literature review through the use of resources in the library, relevant textbooks, journals, magazine, lecture notes and past project. The internet will also be used in carrying out this research.
RESEARCH DURATION
The duration of intended research is a period of 10 – 12 weeks to give room proper data collection, analysis and interpretation. This time will also be utilized to interact with the authorities of the university to ascertain their policies regarding the project.
REFERENCES
Halsey, Richard S., et al. "Library (institution)." Microsoft® Student 2007 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2006.
Prof O. O Ogunsote, Arc 805 (Research Methodology) Lecture notes, pg 1-1
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