Open plan offices and enclosed private offices have their own pros and cons; and they both serve useful purposes. The question is
how to achieve the right balance between open plan offices and enclosed private offices so that libraries can, on the one hand, create a
workplace that helps attract and retain high-quality staff and enables them to work to their fullest potential, and on the other hand,
balance the competing goals of capital and operating costs. How to address the spectrum of various requirements for focus work,collaborative work, different workflows and different types of communication in technical services with scalable and efficient solutions
that libraries canmanage froma cost and operational standpointswill require further studies. Gensler offered somegeneral directions on
this issue: “To enhance both collaboration and concentration, we are seeking to invent a workplace that provides a spectrum of
individual choices of primary workplaces, supported by places to collaborate, socialize and learn. This newhybrid could unlock untapped
value through a more equitable balance of concentration and collaboration in the workplace: a new approach that could create a fresh
level of success for organizations” (Gensler, 2012). Knoll (2007) also pointed out the key issues that should be addressed in the physical
office environment design: “(1) flexibility that supports and enhances organizational change; (2) creating work environments that
enhance employee satisfaction for attract and retain purposes. “Open plan” does not automatically translate into low panel partitions
that do not provide adequate worker privacy; (3) ability to innovate while maintaining installed base; (4) technology accommodation
and integration; (5) ergonomic adjustability and adaptability to unique worker requirements” (Knoll, 2007).