“The library is my everything”: Mapping the meaning of university library spaces in Uganda

Abstract

The growing interconnectedness with the internet and the availability of digital materials threaten the historical importance of physical library spaces. This increase in Information Communication and Technologies (ICTs) and improved digital access to information may explain the decline in university library circulation figures. Consequently, many universities might consider physical libraries outdated and, in some cases, face closure if library management fails to demonstrate its value. Motivated by this argument, this ethnographic study explored how library users interact with physical environments in the digital age through a multi-site ethnographic research design. Data were gathered via observations (such as seating sweeps and participant observation), follow-up semi-structured individual interviews, and focus group discussions from four selected university libraries. The study found that users' perceptions of library spaces were shaped by their behaviour and experiences, and therefore, users' intentions were constructed through five lenses: personal, productive, social, knowledge hubs, “dead,” and through previous experiences. The study concludes that physical university libraries remain a popular ‘bedrock’ and a networked environment for academic purposes—addressing design challenges, spatial practices, and lived experiences. This research highlights that users' perceptions influence their usage patterns, preferences, and the meaning they assign, leading to an inefficient use of library resources, and builds upon studies that have regarded library spaces as both physical and symbolic.