What does a modern academic library look like? This collection of case studies showcases technology-enabled library spaces across the UK and Ireland, helping to answer that question. The spaces highlighted here are innovative in design and execution, providing access to the latest equipment, hardware and software including green screens, 3D printing, photogrammetry and AR and VR equipment within media labs and makerspaces. 

The development of these spaces is aligned with the pedagogical mission of the host institutions, providing new approaches to knowledge creation, nurturing creativity, supporting the digital humanities, and fostering the development of digital literacy skills to support studies, research and future employability. 

These case studies were commissioned by the SCONUL Technology and Markets Group as part of its mission to develop and articulate a shared understanding of the development of library infrastructure, with the library community and stakeholders, based on member needs. We hope that the spaces highlighted here will inspire those within and beyond the library community to consider supporting the development of such spaces to maximise the value that the library can bring to the life of the institution. We are very grateful to all those who contributed to their development. 

The modern library: technology-enhanced library spaces case studies