Utilizing Library Space for Learning Opportunities

Kathy Crowe

Associate Dean for Public Services

Mike Crumpton

Assistant Dean for Administrative Services

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Jackson Library - UNCG

Developing Learning Spaces

Environmental Scan Assessment of how students use space Assessment of what students need Changes and updates Renovation process and planning Challenges of developing and protecting

learning spaces in the facility

Status of Space Situation

Library consists of 3 story main building built in 1950 and a 9 story book tower added in 1970’s

131,705 sq ft of space at capacity Seating for 849 reduced by 50% last 5 years Collection runs full, incoming acquisitions

outpacing withdrawals Student requests are for group study areas

with tools for collaborative work Quality of instruction affected by small space

Updating and Improving Space

Information Commons Group floors/quiet floors Collaboratories 24/5 space Food/drink allowed Connector in 2006

Changes in Learning/Studying

Active vs. Reflective Group vs. Individual Technology

Enhancements Environmental

influence Access to resources

Needs for Future Learning Opportunities

Create a larger instruction lab Expand collaboratories and group spaces Develop a Learning Commons Expand service areas to include newsroom,

in-house vending, expanded copy center Expand Archives space Reduce and relocate Government Documents Reduce size of Reference collection

First Assess!

Objective view of space attributes and abilities matched to requested needs

Considered adjacencies, traffic flow, accessibility, functions and use of space

Programming expressed in user’s voice based on experience and tasks

Schematic design put concepts into visual format for better understanding

Addressed the price of re-purposing

Why assess?

Gain hard data to present to consultant for programming ideas related to renovations

Gain data on how students’ satisfaction and use of the building

Gain data to present to University Administration for funding requests

Consider changes to technology policies and actions to library space

Determine future needs

Changes in Functionality

• SuperLab – needed for convenience• Wireless – highly used, but need more space• Instruction – class and individual, grown

significantly but needs more space• Food and Drink – keeps students in library to

work• Increase in student population (16% over last

5 years) – natural facility on campus to feel the increase

• Increase in higher degree level research needs

Ray Oldenburg’s Third Place

Public places on neutral ground where people can gather and interact. In contrast to first places (home) and second places (work), third places allow people to put aside their concerns and simply enjoy the company and conversation around them.

They promote social equality by leveling the status of guests, provide a setting for grassroots politics, create habits of public association, and offer psychological support to individuals and communities.

Where do they study?

Which areas Comfy furniture or tables

How do they study?

Groups Alone

What are they using?

Library materials or their own

Library computers or laptops

Three Assessment Activities

In-house surveyObservational

studiesFocus groups

In-house Survey

November 2007 Jackson and Music Recruitment Set up table in Library Staffed with students Giveaways 600 responses!

What they do

Used a computer in the library

(other than the Superlab)

Studied or worked on a

project by myself

Used a quiet space to study

Just walked through

Met a group to study or work on

a project

328

275

227

178

143

Top 5 Activities (not mutually exclusive)

How often they come

Once per week 2-3 times per week 4 or more times per week

No answer

89

213

269

25

Visits per week

How long they stay

In and out 10-15 minutes An hour 2-3 hours More than 3 hours

63

102

184174

103

How much time is spent in library?

When they come

Mornings Afternoons Evenings Late Night Weekends

238

363

260

103 95

What time of day?

Observational Study

22 observations with checklist One week in March 2008 Various times of day and evening LIS student used it as a practicum project

When they’re here

Mon

. 8am

Mon

. 10a

m

Mon

. 2pm

Mon

. 5pm

Mon

. 9pm

Tues.

8am

Tues.

10a

m

Tues.

2pm

Tues.

5pm

Tues.

9pm

Wed

. 8am

Wed

. 10a

m

Wed

. 2pm

Wed

. 5pm

Wed

. 9pm

Thurs

. 8am

Thurs

. 10a

m

Thurs

. 2pm

Thurs

. 5pm

Sun. 3

pm

Sun. 7

pm

2

12

19

23 22

1113

23

32

19

3

17

29

13

16

8

12

15

28 28

15

Reading Room Totals

Reading Room Totals

Days and times of week

Furniture preferences

Group Floor

64%

14%

22%

Using tablesUsing carrelsUsing comfortable chairs

Quiet Floor

31%

23%

46%

Using tablesUsing carrelsUsing comfortable chairs

Alone vs. Groups

Group floor

32%

46%

23%

Working aloneWorking in small groupsWorking in large groups

Quiet Floor

79%

21%

Working aloneWorking in small groupsWorking in large groups

Alone vs. Groups

Information Commons

36%

51%

13%

Working aloneWorking in small groupsWorking in large groups

Reading Room

61%

35%

3%

Working aloneWorking in small groupsWorking in large groups

Computer usage

Information Commons

76%

24%

Library computers vs. lap-tops

Using library computerUsing laptop

Reference Room

36%

31%

33%

Computer Usage

Using login computerUsing open computerUsing laptop

Using Materials

Reference Room

24%

60%

16%

Using reference bookUsing own materialsUsing reference and own materials

Reading Room

12%

71%

17%

Using magazines or newspapersUsing own materialsUsing library and own materials

Focus Groups

Recruitment emails to student groups, posters, flyers

Offered itunes card as gift Offered refreshments

Focus Groups

Six sessions in April 2008 Good mix of undergraduates, graduate

students and subject areas, ages, off-campus and on-campus

Took notes and transcribed Used LIS practicum student again Part of discussion was showing space

consultant’s first concept drawing

Questions Asked

How often they come and when? Entrance they use? What do they do? What’s good, what needs improvement? Role of the Library? Concept drawing

Indentify major changes for feedback Esthetics of specific areas, i.e. circ desk,

basement, SuperLab

Concept Drawings

Student Feedback

Library is an important place to study and learn

Both group space and quiet space important Most students use their own materials Don’t want to carry their laptops around A variety of furniture and spaces are needed Not getting instruction at freshman level Online resources particularly important to

grad student

Summarized Responses

Circ Desk not

easily assessable

Basement creepy and dark

Food and drink important for using library

Love collaboratories… Need more!

Superlab is needed but as convenience,

would go further to use

Librarians helpful but group instruction

suffers from lack of space

Other Useful Info

Lack of awareness of some services Software on Library computers Printing options Copy center type services Carrels and lockers IM assistance

Materials not as important to undergrads Two entrances create traffic flow and

communication opportunity Students expect us to be there

Effect on Space Planning

Feedback and ideas carried into second concept drawing and final report

Evidence of library more important for space rather than materials

Comforts and conveniences important for ownership of space

Library can be host to other service points with expectations of compliance

Library is important to total educational experience and should be presented as such

Actions Taken (2008)

Expanded collaboratories Increased popular furniture options Began laptop checkout in Fall 2008 Opened carrel checkout to all students Added vending options Expanded 24/5 available space Targeted marketing of IM, collaboratories and

other services Added Messaging Board

Furniture and Service

Addressing Multiple Learning Space Needs

Summary of Process

Space needs and problems identified Space consultant hired Survey of student space needs conducted Observation studies of behavioral related

traits conducted Focus group activity conducted with space

consultant’s first concept drawing Space consultant’s revised second drawing

compared to assessment data

Summary of Process “continued”

Staff feedback gathered from each concept presentation including assessment data

Space consultant issued final report and recommendations

Changes identified that were affordable outside of remodel executed summer ’08

Proposal presented to Dean’s Council with request for funding assistance for major work and changes

Assessment data summarized for staff

Next steps?

Phase One of renovation started Programming, schematic design, design

development Renovate Archives space Renovate Basement to service space Collaborate with IT to develop Learning

Commons Continue assessment activities to evaluate

and plan for learning spaces

LibQual+ 2008 more assessment!

Administered for 3 weeks in October and November 2008

1,986 total responses 18% response rate Library as Place important to undergraduates Library space that inspires study and learning

identified as an “opportunity” in quantitative results

LibQual + Overall mean

Affect of Service Information Control Library as Place6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

Perceived Mean 2008

All (exluding Library staff)

Comparison to other UNC schools

Affect of Service Information Control Library as Place6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

UNCGOther UNC 1Other UNC 2Other UNC 3

LibQual+ qualitative responses

Over 700 comments Analyzed with Atlas TI Enthused over 24/5, collaboratories,

improved physical spaces Lack of quiet individual study space a major

concern especially with graduate students Some dissatisfaction over general

environment

Institutional Effectiveness

Measuring outcomes 2009 vs. 2008 24/5 increased on average 154% Laptop lending increased 85% Streamlined public computer use Increase in other services

Vending Study carrels Copy services

Redesign of website Gate counts increased 42% 2005-09

Follow-up focus groups

Nine focus groups in April 2009 with 53 participants

Recruited by emails to student organizations, flyers around campus, student advisory group

Offered $10 food services card

Focus Groups 2009

Sought feedback on improvements Focused on learning environment and space

attributes Asked them to identify future needs Used LIS students to take notes Used Atlas TI to code transcripts

Focus group results

24/5 expansion very popular Like café booths on group floors Collaboratories and group areas very popular Vending appreciated Many found the Library’s environment

conducive to study Destination point for undergraduates Laptop checkout popular

Focus group results

Confirmed that quiet space needed-especially by graduate students

Professors don’t always recommend library space

Concern over differing policies in Superlab Don’t notice message board Lack of awareness about carrels and lockers Desire for more up-to-date appearance

Communicating to Staff

Keeping in the loop Don’t underestimate

staff interest in project

Involve at all levels Make sure actions

are transparent Share ownership of

results and feedback

Campus Priorities and Plans

Library Addition

UNCG has identified the expansion of Jackson Library as one of its top priorities. The proposed design:

Expanding the tower for book stacks. Create a new center of academic and student life. Secondary transit hub will be adjacent to Jackson

Library addition reinforcing the critical role of the building to the life of the campus.

Public spaces of the library should be located in conjunction with the transit hub.

Proposed Library Addition

Existing Main and Tower

Planned Learning Spaces

Phase one in construction design phase Phase two in schematic design phase

Programming completed with user groups Partnership established with IT department Internal committee establishing timeline and

work plan for staff based activities Communication and protection of services

important during planning stages

Basement Schematic Design

Newsroom conceptCentral Service Point

Larger Inst Lab

Collaborative Service Desk

Summary of Activities

Identify changes in learning space needs Analyze space situation

Develop options and improvement needs Assessment is important

Survey Observations Focus groups LibQUAL+

Design Process

Closing Comments

Budget concerns Looking at partners/options Information literacy skills in UNCG strategic

planning General Education revision Evidence-based campus goals

Questions and discussion

Notes