Rethinking the information common
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Transcript of Rethinking the information common
Rethinking the Information Commons
J oanne Br i t ton , C i rcu la t ion and Refe rence ManagerHe lene La f rance , Head o f Ins t ruc t ion , Research , and Out reach
Santa C la ra Un ivers i ty
2008
Information Commons
Designed to serve the needs of the millennial generationOffered state-of-the-art technology and digital contentsCatered to students’ social needs as well as academic onesProvided physical space designed to encourage collaboration and sharing of informationFeatured a large service desk staffed by librarians, IT and Media Services staff
2013
Problems with the layout of the Information Commons
Changes in students’ expectations and needs
Opportunity to assess services and resources and implement changes
What we want to do today…
Take you through the process we used from evaluation to implementation
Get your input along the way on how this process could have been improved
Involve you in some of the discussions we had
Virtual Tour of the Information Commons
What do you notice?
What are your first reactions?
Photo of the computer area
Students’ Expectations:What has changed in 5 years?
How Did We Begin?
Appointment of a task force◦ Charge◦ Members
Launched a six-month long assessment project
Needed input and solid data to make a case for a renovation project
What Did We Do?
Compilation of statistics already available (use statistics for service desks, LibQual data, etc.)
Review of the literature on learning commons remodeling
Observations of the 1st floor activities at different times of day
Quick Flip Chart Student Survey to learn how students use various areas of the first floor
Staff Survey: to get their opinion first and to use their input to help us build a survey for the entire community
Student Workers Survey
Focus Groups: 2 for students, 2 for faculty
Meeting with Director of the Hub Writing Center, and with the Disabilities Resources Office staff
Campus Wide Survey
Why do you use the 1st floor Information Commons?What services do you use?How satisfied are you with services, space, and equipment on the 1st floor?What would you like to add?Comments11questions, 2 open ended
What did we learn from the campus survey?
Campus Survey Response
We received over 2,300 responses (33% response rate) with the following demographic breakdown:
◦ Undergraduate students: 55.8%◦ Graduate Students: 25.3%◦ Faculty: 7.8%◦ Staff: 11.1%
About ServicesOur users are very confused about the purpose of the four service desks located in the Information Commons.
Greeter Desk54% of our users never use the Greeter Desk
Start Here DeskMajority of users don’t know what services are offered at that desk and which part of the desk they should go to
Circulation DeskUsers don’t understand the difference between the Circulation Desk and the Library Help Desk (part of the big Start Here Desk)
About Services
52.1% said they never use the services of a reference librarian at the Start Here Desk and many comment that they did not know reference librarians were available.
48.7% never use the Media Services Desk
About SpaceStudents want more group study rooms, group study/collaborative open spaces.
Students use the IC as a space to meet and socialize with friends, so 80% would like more comfortable furniture.
52.1% rated as important (or very important) the addition of a HUB satellite (writing center) on the first floor.
Click icon to add picture
Two areas of the Information Commons are under utilized, the viewing stations area and the shelved reference collection.
About Equipment Top requests for additional equipment:
Print only computer stations (68.4%)
More computers (72.4%)
Charging stations for personal mobile devices (75%)
Document assembly area (79.1%)
Any Surprises?
Recommendations (Services)
Remove the huge Start Here desk
Consolidate all library service points (Circulation, Library Help, Greeter Desk) and move near the entrance of the building
Relocate IT Student Help Desk where the Circulation Desk currently is
Create a space for a satellite of the Hub Writing Center
Recommendations (Space)
Remove the Reference Collection and the viewing stations and replace by group collaborative spaces
Add lounge furniture
Improve signage throughout the Information Commons
Reduce noise from café; expand café hours and menu selections
Recommendations (Equipment)
◦ Add three print-only stations
◦ Add mobile device charging stations on each floor
◦ Add a document assembly counter
◦ Add computers to other floors
◦ Add vending machines
Recommendations (ADA)
Add ADA door buttons for restrooms, multimedia lab, and a few collaborative rooms
Add wheelchair accessible Smart Print release station
Need for Marketing
Self check-out machinesWayfinderViewing stationsResearch assistance serviceMedia services hours and location
What happened next?
Recommendations acceptedArchitects hired to design a new layout for the Information CommonsUniversity Librarian and CIO looked for money and found someEstimated cost: $140,000
ImplementationNew implementation team working with architects on new layout and selection of furnitureProject will be done in two phasesSmall changes already implemented:
◦ Improved café hours + vending machines◦ Removal of the reference collection (weeding project)◦ Addition of charging stations◦ Pilot project consolidating library help desk and
circulation desk
Project completion expected in summer 2015
What we learnedSuccessful change cannot happen without thorough assessment
Working with architects is not always easy
Students’ expectations are constantly changing (need for collaborative space, mobile revolution)
Combining Library Help and IT Help is not always the right thing to do
What we learnedWe need to change the way we name library services and resourcesChange impacts staff (weeding project)Communication is essentialImplementation can be delayed and plans may have to change. Nothing is set in stone.
Questions?