New Mexico State University

Assessing and Improving Student Spaces on a

Shoestring BudgetNM HEAR Conference, 2010

reinventing the library• academic libraries - past

New Mexico State University

reinventing the library• academic libraries - present

New Mexico State University

project settings:branson & zuhl libraries

New Mexico State University

directives:

1. relocate low-use collections

2. shelving expansion

3. create new user spaces

4. with limited funds $

5. short timeframe

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spaces & learning

• 3 traditional approaches:–service/instruction–marketing–mission-based

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assessing learning spaces

• asking the right questions • impact of spaces on learning & student

engagement• space design

– Informal spaces• methodology

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questions and methods

questions

• how do people use our current public spaces?

• what seems to work? what doesn’t?

• what would users like to see in an ideal library space?

methods

observation / photosuse over time

commentary

surveys / commentssurveys

flipcharts

New Mexico State University

triangulated study

flip chart feedback

surveys of building usersphoto surveys

observational/photo research

we used photos to:

– gather data on use of the same spaces over time (9am/1pm/4pm/7pm/10pm)

– capture images that told a story about space and space use (good/bad/ugly)

New Mexico State University

time series @ 9am/4pm/10pm

New Mexico State University

commentary / pictures that tell a story

“I’m not sure if we get funding for having these in our library, but do we really need six of them?”

New Mexico State University

commentary / pictures that tell a storyMORE COMPUTERS Perhaps along with more computers, we could give the students a little more room to work?

building use surveys

we used surveys to:

• learn about our building users (imperfect)• gain consistent quantifiable data through

fixed questions/answers• gain richer qualitative data through open-

ended questions/answers

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analyzing building use surveys

• print/electronic options

• quantitative data analyzed with SurveyMonkey

• text comments analyzed, categorized for themes

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flip chart feedback

we used flip charts to:

• offer a visible, social feedback tool

• gather rich (textual) data on our spaces

• used in initial study and in follow-up to “close the loop”

New Mexico State University

analyzing flip chart feedback

• standardized common concepts (e.g., noise, noisy, loud, deafening)

• used text cloud generator to show results

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putting the pieces together

photo research

• Themes that correlate with surveys/flipcharts

• Time series data that shows use patterns

user surveys

• “…what’s wrong with Zoo library…people who snack and gab on their phones”

• “Branson…looks like a prison”

flip chart feedback

• Zuhl – “it’s too noisy to think here!”

• Branson – “more comfy furniture”

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what we did

New Mexico State University

• make space available• add warmth and light• help individuals and groups• focus on flexibility• recycle and repurpose

making space available

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creating warmth

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creating warmth

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creating space and flexibility

New Mexico State University

helping groups

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helping individuals

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cool tools for flexibility

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recycling and repurposing

New Mexico State University

follow-up assessments reveal…

• LIKES = computers, space• DISLIKES = noise, not enough computers• SURPRISES = privacy

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future hopes

• spaces for faculty/student interaction• group study/presentation rooms• individual research studies• event spaces

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thank you! questions?

New Mexico State University

http://nmsu.libguides.com/nmhearpresentation