Jennifer Robertson, University of Glasgow

1. CHANGING LANDSCAPES:
FAMILY STUDY LOUNGE
Jennifer Robertson
Head of Service Design

2. WhatwilI betalkingabouttoday?
• Why did we create a Family Study Lounge?
• What about others out there?
• Dispelling myths and rumours!
• Making it happen
• Perceptions, reactions and feedback

3. We wanted to create a safe and welcoming
space for parents and carers on campus
We believe that access to learning and
teaching resources and study spaceshould
be accessible to all
We listened and responded to student
needs
WhydidwecreateaFamilyStudyLounge?

4. 01 SRC Student Parents survey
highlighted the lack of
learning environments for
students with dependents
The financial barriers of using
the Library with dependents
Partnership working with the
Student Representative Council
and our Equality and Diversity
Unit.
Howdidweknowthisiswhatstudentsneeded?

5. PortlandStateUniversity
Library:
Familyfriendlystudy
room
02
UniversityofWisconsin–
EauClaire:
Welcomingchildrenand
familiesinacademic
librariesinitiatives
UCSanDiego:
Child-friendlystudy
areas
Othersoutthereatthetime?
Welcome–Accessible–Friendly-Responsible

6. 03
Will it turn into a creche?
It will just be likeIkea!
Children will be left to roam, fall down lift
shafts and destroy the collections!
This is the end of Academic study inthe
Library!

7. 04
‘The Family Study Lounge is an
excellent initiative. It represents a
hugely positive step towards
improved support for student
parents at the University. The
Family Study Lounge represents a
fundamental goal of the University
to ensure an inclusive and
supportive learning environment
for all its students and contributes
to the University’s fulfilment of its
commitments under the Athena
SWAN Charter and the PublicSector
Equality Duty.’
UofG Equality and Diversity Unit,
January 2018
Abitmoreinfo……

8. 05
Cost:£800
Timetocomplete:3months
Partnership&trust
Specifics

9. Success Challenges
-
- Student response has been very
positive
- Partnership with the Student
Representative Council and
Equality and Diversity Unit
- Developing a better
understanding of the needs of
student parents/carers on campus
Creating a positive space that
provides changing facilities,
breastfeeding space and facilities
to enable students to participate
in learning with their children
- Developing a new initiative within
an academic Library setting
- Managing staff concerns and fears
- Working with staff across
departments to develop
pragmatic solutions to enable a
safe and accessible space
- Maintaining and managing the
space, including ongoing
development
- Space issues and managing
expectations around the use of
space
Feedbackandreflections………..

10. 07
Questions?
@JenRUoG
in
linkedin.com/in/jens2jens
jennifer.robertson@glasgow.ac.uk