Welcome

[ Summary ]

Input From the Academic Community

Concerted efforts have been made to seek input from the academic community about their space needs and their expectations for a renovated library. In March 2010, Ayers Saint Gross Architects and a library consultant were on site to conduct several workshops to prepare librarians and staff for the project. In April 2010, separate surveys for students and faculty/staff were undertaken. In addition, two student focus group meetings were conducted and two open forums were held for faculty and staff to express their views on library renovation. Below are highlights of all these efforts.

• Faculty/Staff Survey Results

• Student Survey Results

• Faculty/Staff Forum Discussion: A Summary

• Student Focus Group Meetings: Theme Analysis From Student Floor Plan Drawing and Conversations

Faculty/Staff Survey Results

• No. of responses: 276 (157 full-time faculty, 18 part-time faculty, and 103 professional staff).

• Pattern of library visits:


• 50% use the library at least several times a month.
• 80% stay between under 30 minutes and about two hours.
• 35% typically use the library in the afternoon, 13% early evening until 8 pm, 12% in the morning, and 38% vary by the week.


• Usage of the library:

• Respondents make the greatest use of reference services and the reference collection, the stacks, the circulation desk, interlibrary loan, and the expertise of the librarians.
• They are least likely to read newspapers and magazines, or make extensive use computers, printers, MediaSpace, and the Special Collections.



• Cafe: 59% consider the café important for themselves and 81% for their students.

• If there were a dedicated space for faculty/staff use:

• 52% would be much or somewhat more likely to use the library.
• 43% would be neither more or less like the use the library.
• 4% would not use the library building under any circumstances.



What improvements to the library are essential or highly desirable to you:




Natural and better lighting, improving the collection, space for groups with technology, space for meeting with students and colleagues, quiet/private space, faculty space/lounge, gallery area, space with window views, and enhancing the aesthetics of the library building.

What improvements to the library are essential or highly desirable to your students:

Space for groups to work with technology, comfortable seating, more computers and printers, natural and better lighting, quiet study space, café, longer library hours, more electrical outlets, textbooks on reserve, and more aesthetically pleasing layout.

Student Survey Results

• No. of responses: 1,130.

• Pattern of library visits:

• 60% visit the library almost every day or a few times a week.
• 36% visit the library from a few times a month to few times a semester.
• 53% typically use the library in the afternoon or the early evening (4-8 pm), 7% in the morning, 12% in the late evening (8 pm - 12 am), and 26% vary by the week.


• Working with groups at the library: 57% work with 2-3 other people, 29% with one other person, and 12% with 4-5 people.


• Rating of library facilities:


• Wireless: 87% rated as good or excellent.
• Printing and computer stations: More than 70% rated as good or excellent.
• Individual study space, group study space, and media viewing space: More than 60% rated as good or excellent.
• Wireless printing and comfortable seating: About 50% rated as good or excellent.


• Usage of the library:


• Over 90% use the library to work on assignments, find information, do research, read journals, and study by myself.
• More than 80% use the Internet, meet friends/classmates, study in groups, and buy food at Jazzman's.
• 63% come to the library to get help.
• About 40% view multimedia and read magazines and newspapers in the library.


• Frequency of using library spaces:


• 96% use public computers frequently.
• 80% use the main floor reading room often or sometimes.
• 59% use group study rooms.
• About 40% use the Late Night Study Room, MediaSpace, and individual study rooms.


• Preferred library facilities after renovation:



• Most valued features in library redesign:

Faculty Forum Discussions on Library Renovation:
A Summary

April 6 & April 7, 2010

Faculty Space

• Most faculty preferred to have a private space in the library to conduct research, though recognizing that the existing faculty rooms are too small and claustrophobic.


• The creation of a faculty lounge, modeled after the graduate student study room at the University of Rochester, was discussed. It was generally agreed that this faculty lounge will have two to three individual study carrels divided by frosted glass, lockers, soft and comfortable seating, modular tables, and ample work space. Emeriti faculty will be welcome, but there will be no phones and no visitors.

Group Study Rooms

• More group study rooms in various sizes (4 to 6 people is a good size), equipped with technology (e.g., smart board, projectors, etc.) and ergonomic and movable furniture. Faculty will assign more collaborative projects if these spaces are available.


• A seminar room is desirable.

Technology & Electrical Power

• More electrical outlets.


• Provide various types of lighting.


• Improve/expand the wireless network.


• Reduce the number of desktops and encourage students to bring their own laptops to the library. Also extend the loan period of library laptops.


• Create a Tech/Help desk. Academic Computing presence may be helpful.


• Reposition of printers & scanners to improve accessibility.


• Need movable smart boards, digital signage & video conference capability.

Structure/Building Issues

• Replace ceiling & furniture.


• Provide more views to the west.


• More natural light and better artificial light, particularly in the stacks.


• Accessibility - location of the main elevator is hidden from the public.


• HVAC - very uneven conditions.


• Create an entrance from the parking lot (west)?

Collections

• Keep most bound periodicals that support special disciplines (e.g., art, humanities, etc.).


• Arrange current periodicals by call number to facilitate browsing.


• Compact shelving and electronic resources could address the collection growth issue.


• Upgrade the climate control system in the Special Collections Room.


• Highlight items in the College History Collection in gallery area would be useful to Development and Alumni Relations.

Gallery Area

• A good space, serving as a transition zone from the public lobby to the academic space.


• A place to highlight exhibits and art work of students and faculty.


• Need to improve aesthetics & lighting.


• Instead of placing a bank of computers there as ikon.5 suggested, a pocket of small spaces equipped with outlets could be set up for students to use their laptops or study. Some comfortable chairs/benches could also be placed in the middle of the gallery.

Sojourner Truth Library Renovation

Student Focus Group April 5th and 6th 2010

Theme Analysis from Student Floor Plan Drawings and Conversation

Key theme-words:

1. Focus: create a library where we can work, focus, and avoid distraction


2. Light: add task lighting, create interest through lighting design, more natural light


3. Spaces: (Build) Dynamic, intimate, group, securable modular

"What kinds of work do you do in the library?" "When and how often do you come here?"

• Alone and Group Work: Many come to STL to work alone; fewer in groups. Some said they only work in groups when studying for midterms and finals.


• "Homework": Reading and studying. "Work that requires a lot of focus"


• "Research" i.e., online searching, using book collections, databases, library reserves


• Printing, typing

Barriers to Success when working at STL now

• Having to leave one's belongings (or pack them up) to eat or use the restroom


• STL is not open early enough, or late enough


• There are not enough power outlets


• There is not enough "good lighting"


• There are not enough spaces to eat and study at the same time


• There are not enough private spaces or group spaces designed for groups to work (e.g., converse) without bothering others

Current Favorite Spaces and features that we like in STL (and may want to see more of):

• STL was considered the only distraction-free space available to attendees. People had much more limited success working in dorms, lounges, cafes and even at home.


• VISTA ROOM: natural light, scenic view and club chairs are great


• LATE NIGHT ROOM: quiet, open late; one can spread out. It is convenient to a restroom, and one can eat there.


• LOBBY: Large circular seating configurations; "…place to meet friends, work in groups or just talk."


• LOWER FLOORS, especially by the west windows: one can spread out ("A lot of surface") and work quietly and alone with few distractions. One person said that she felt a little guilty taking up a large table by herself. In contrast, most people at the first session agreed that the ground floor was drab and unpleasant in general. Some attendees called it "dungeonlike."


• CURRICULUM MATERIALS CENTER (on concourse/middle floor): it has a computer "nook", distraction-free, printer nearby, and easy access to education materials.


• INDIVIDUAL STUDY CARRELS ON THE GROUND FLOOR: Stacks create a noise barrier

"Places and features that intimidate us or we don't like so much"

• PRIVATE STUDY ROOMS: Too few, windowless, claustrophobic, and lacking essential technology. Some attendees had no idea STL had private study rooms.


• JAZZMAN'S CAFE: nice for coffee but no place to sit and work. "Make it larger, with room to study." One person found cafes in general too noisy and distracting for extended study.


• MAIN READING ROOM (large area adjacent to library turnstiles): Good for groups but too noisy for extensive work. Distracting, with too much movement. "Loud and confused." Suggestions included partitioning the space from the rest of the Main Floor to control noise, or creating smaller spaces like it. One person said it was "a good place [only] because you can generally find a place to sit there" and talk at normal volume.

"Things we should improve or build"

• Natural light: many more windows, in both public and private study spaces. Create a better view of the Mountains. Replace fluorescent fixtures "… [they] hurt your brain." Try hanging lamps.


• "A way to lock up my stuff": when I want to go eat, or just to go to the restroom.


• Better air circulation


• A better sense of flow to the space. "There's too much sameness." Diverse spaces for leisure and serious work; "nooks and crannies"


• Quieter spaces with no distractions: Places designed for people to spend long periods. Also, group spaces where your group can be [somewhat] loud without bothering others. Suggestions included movable privacy screens. Smaller, quieter PC labs.


• More outlets, more technology. One person said she brings a six-outlet surge protector to the library; there was discussion about quick-print stations and "work-only [i.e., no facebook] workstations". Add technology to the study rooms. One person suggested an area to screen student films, as space was hard to find on campus. Current set-up in the MediaSpace was inadequate. Seating and technology that "enables greater collaboration" e.g., several people can look at a screen, and even work with the technology, at the same time.


• More comfortable furniture, and furniture. Smaller, and more modular, pieces.


• Plants and other natural elements: soothing colors and décor with some visual interest. Suggestions included water features, art installations and paintings, lighting design, display cabinets and even green carpeting. General desire for a "warmer" space.


• Open up Jazzman's: a larger space that accommodates both eating and studying


• STL should stay open later generally, and open earlier on Sundays. Some students said they stay until the library closes but do not go to the late night room as it would mean packing and unpacking their belongings. Another stays until 3am on occasion but would stay later. There was general agreement among both groups that later hours were a good idea.


• Rename the floors: one person really liked the concourse (middle) floor, but asked, "What is the second floor called?"