Student Needs and Expectations of Academic Library Spaces. North Carolina State University Libraries, May 2012.

2. • About the study
• Methodology
• Results
• Recommendations

3. • Research Questions
• Changes in library spaces
• Students and Technology

4.  How are students using the group study
rooms?
› Are they using the rooms to collaborate?
› How are they using technology?
 What does the Libraries need to improve?

5. 1950 2012

6.  They are accustomed to integration of
modern technology into their everyday
lives.
› Technology is an expected service.
 Multitasking is habitual.
› Students use multiple technologies at once.
 Students prefer to work together in
groups rather than alone, even if they
are not working on the same projects.

7. • Data Collection
• Observations
• Surveys

8.  13 group study rooms
 Weekdays 5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
 Surveys and Observations
› Data available in the Libraries’ Survey
Monkey account.
› 50 groups observed, total of 123 students
› 29 surveys, 111 students
› 234 total students

9.  Does the activity seem
academic or social?
 Are students interacting
with each other or working
silently?
 How many students are
using laptops?
 Have students used the
whiteboard markers or
writable surfaces?
 What other materials or
technologies are students
using?
 Charging equipment?
 How many students are using headphones?
 Are students using the projectors?

10.  How do you know the
students in the room with
you?
 What kind of
project/assignment were
you working on?
 What kind of technology or
equipment would you like
in the room that is not
already present, and how
would you use it?
 Did you use the projectors?
Why?
 Why did you choose to use
the library group study
room?
 What do you like best
about this room?
 What would you change?

11. • Group Size
• Activity in Rooms
• Writable Walls
• Projection Screens
• Lacking Technology
• Collaboration
• Student preferences and
suggestions

12.  1-6 students per
room, except 1
group of 11
 Average = 3
 Most common group
size = 2
11
1%
6
6% 5
6%
4
15%
3
23%
2
36%
1
13%
Figure 2. Students per Room
Combined Observations and Surveys
(Number of rooms/Total rooms)

13. 78.0%
14.6%
7.3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Academic Social Unsure
Figure 7. Academic vs. Social Activity,
Combined Observations and Surveys

14.  More often than not they were not used.
 Complaints:
› Not enough markers in room.
› Didn’t like colored walls. Liked the color in
the room, but not as writable surfaces.
 However, 31% indicated that the dry-
erase walls were one of the things they
liked best about the rooms or why they
chose to study there

15.  70% of the time not in use.
 Only 2% of observed students were using
the screens to full capacity, with different
content on each screen
 Complaints:
› Mac adaptors not available in rooms.
› Many unable to get the screens to work.
 Also cited as a reason for using the room
or one of the most desirable features.

16.  Bean bag chairs
 More soundproof
 Audio
› Speakers
 In table iPads
 SMART Boards
 Hawaii Five-0
Other
10%
Markers
14%
Mac Adaptor
14%
Audio
24%
Visual
Technology
38%
Figure 12. Suggestions for New Technology

17. Hawaii Five-0 “Surface Table”

18. Unsure
10%
Non-
collaborative
35%Collaborative
55%
Figure 13. Collaborative Work: Combined
Observations and Surveys

19. 55%
38% 38%
34% 34%
31%
28%
21%
10% 10%
3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Figure 14. Common Themes: S6 and S7

20. Wall color
21%
Room Configuration/Furniture
17%
Markers
10%Size
10%
Cleanliness
7%
Lighting
7%
Temperature
7%
Windows
7%
Technology problem
7%
Sound
4%
Availability
3%
Figure 15. Suggested Changes

21. • How NCSU students study
• Future studies for the
Libraries
• Suggestions for D.H. Hill
• Suggestions for Future
Spaces

22.  Social aspect
 Control
 Variety
 Large spaces
 Simplicity
 Instant gratification

23.  Interviews with students
 Further explore projection use. Are two
screens really necessary?
 Explore non-academic use of rooms
› Why were they in the library, and not
somewhere else on campus? Shortage of
campus space for groups to hold meetings?
› Does library have access to technology or
resources other campus locations lack?
› Does the library want to encourage non-
academic use of the rooms?

24.  Consider adding additional rooms to fit more than 6
people.
 Replace colored writable walls with white walls, and
paint a non-writable surface a different color.
 Speakers
 Install clearer directions for using projection screens.
 Hang more permanent signs directing students to
Learning Commons Service Desks for assistance or
materials.
 Install Mac adaptors?
 Better website content

25.  Large tables.
 Comfortable, flexible furniture.
 White writable walls, color on other walls.
 Mac adaptors for screens.
 Permanent signs directing students to help.
 Speakers built into monitors or installed
separately.
 Lights that can be dimmed or adjusted.
 Temperature control.