In an effort to retain relevancy in an ever changing world, libraries must adapt to user expectations. This applies to the physical spaces of libraries as well as the many services and resources they provide. Areas that have long been devoted to the stacks are now being re-purposed for various uses in an effort to meet patron needs. While overall trends exist in how library spaces are being used, libraries should actively seek out input from their own patrons before making any drastic changes.
An example of a library that has recently undergone drastic changes to meet user needs is the Health Sciences Library at the University of Calgary. The Health Sciences Library is used by faculty and students in medicine, veterinary medicine, and nursing (University of Calgary, 2010). Initially, the idea for this renovation developed from a space reallocation request by the medical school to use portions of the library for undergraduate instruction (Vaska, Chan, & Powelson, 2009). The Health Sciences Library decided to use this reallocation as an opportunity to renovate the entire library space to meet current user needs. The library sought user feedback through the use of surveys. Survey questions asked for patrons to explain their preferences regarding the types of study areas, potential changes to physical spaces, technological needs, and the types of information sources they find most useful (Vaska et al., 2009). From the survey results, several themes emerged. These include increasing group and individual study areas, enhancing the number of electrical outlets for personal electronics, and using new technologies to improve patron research potentials (Vaska et al., 2009). While these themes are not unique to patrons at the University of Calgary, the Health Sciences Library found ways to incorporate these themes in their renovations to meet specific needs of their patrons. In general, I was impressed with how this library addressed these concerns by seeking feedback from patrons before any changes were made. In my next entry, I will discuss some of the specific changes that occurred in the library and how these changes address these patron identified themes.
References
Vaska, M., Chan, R., & Powelson, S. (2009). Results of a user survey to determine needs for a health sciences library renovation. New Review of Academic Librarianship, 15(2), 219-234. doi:10.1080/13614530903240635
University of Calgary. (2010). Health Sciences Library. Retrieved from http://library.ucalgary.ca/branches/hsl
I wonder why charging stations don't come up as a patron suggestion more often - the demand certainly has to be there. We have plenty of demand for the plugs in our department, I know. People try to hook devices up to computers sometimes (though not always to charge them, especially with iPods). I guess the main problem is having to sit there and babysit your device while it charges - you don't want someone strolling off with it.
ReplyDelete-G Streeter
This is another example of a trend I noticed when I was looking for libraries that had updated their space, namely, medical libraries that were losing space because it was being taken over by the medical school or hospital. The UT San Antonio library was another one that made use of the opportunity to upgrade the space that it would still occupy.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a small thing, but the addition of outlets is a HUGE deal. I'm surprised when renovations don't include it. I know that in some of the older classrooms on campus, students regularly bring a power strip so that they can share the outlet with other students, as the classroom is severely short on outlet space. Getting user input on renovations can ensure that small but important ideas like this are not overlooked.
ReplyDeleteOutlets are very crucial to the succes of any added area in a library. People will not utilize an area if regardless how nice the amenties are without adequate powesouces...good point Jet.
ReplyDelete