The document details an ethnographic study conducted by Steelcase at Stanford University aimed at understanding student use of library spaces and improving the design of the new Huang Engineering Center. The study involved on-site observations, surveys, and focus group discussions to inform space planning, furniture selection, and the integration of library resources. Conclusions emphasize the need for flexible, functional spaces that accommodate diverse study styles and promote collaboration among students and faculty.

1. Steelcase @ Stanford
Engineering Library
July 2009
Helen B Josephine
B.
helenj@stanford.edu
1

2. Steelcase Enthnographic
Study
St d
Why we wanted to be part of the study what
study--what
was the driver for our participation?
New Engineering Library and New School of
Engineering Center
Ongoing review of other libraries on campus
Our Expectations
Logistics/ how it was to participate
Our Conclusions
2

3. Stanford U i
St f d University
it
Residential undergraduate and graduate university founded in 1891
2009 FTE: Schools, Departments,
Schools Departments &
Undergraduates: 6812 Programs:
Graduates: 8328 Business, Law, Education,
Engineering,
Engineering Earth
2009 Faculty: 1874 Sciences, Medicine,
www.stanford.edu Humanities & Sciences,
Continuing Education
3

4. Stanford University Libraries and
Academic Information Resources
(SULAIR)
SU Libraries: 8.5 million volumes
Green Library (main library) and 11 branch libraries
Stanford Auxiliary Library (onsite and remote storage)
Academic Computing:
residential computing
computer clusters
course management system
g y
Highwire Press
Stanford University Press
4

5. Understanding Student Use of
Libraries
Lib i
Bender Room, Green Library
Room
5

6. Understanding Student Use of
Libraries
Lib i
Why?
To inform study spaces and computing services
offered in the libraries
To inform furniture selection for new Engineering
Library
y
How?
In house surveys
Anecdotal observation
6

7. Steelcase Ethnographic Study
Jan 2009: Preliminary discussions with Steelcase
Team
Feb 2009: Discussion of constraints, contracts &
requirements
University Librarian’s Office
University Counsel’s Office
Human Subject s Research Office
Subject’s
Mar 9-12: On site (last week of Winter Term)
Observations in Engineering Library
Observations in Green Library
Ob ti i G Lib
Observations in Meyer Library open Computer Cluster
and Media Lab
Staff Interviews
7

8. Expectations
E t ti
High-level
High level analysis of student use of library
spaces and other study areas
Observations and analysis of i f
Ob ti d l i f information
ti
seeking behaviors
Observations and analysis of group study
Ob ti d l i f t d
and individual study patterns
Validation f t d t focus group f db k
V lid ti of student f feedback
8

9. Huang Engineering Center
(Summer 2010)
(S
School of Engineering Center (130,000 sq ft)
(130 000
Dean’s Office and support services
Auditorium, classrooms
Auditorium classrooms, conference center
Machine shop, flexible student areas
Café
Library
Aesthetic and Social focus of the Science &
Engineering Quad
9

10. School f E i
S h l of Engineering
i
Faculty: 250
Graduate Students: 3,000
Undergraduates: 700
Emeritus Faculty: 115
Research Programs Centers Laboratories
Programs, Centers, Laboratories,
Research Groups: 100+
25% of total Stanford student body is enrolled in the
School of Engineering
10

11. SoE D
S E Departments
t t
Aeronautics and Astronautics
BioEngineering
Chemical Engineering
g g
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Management Science and Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
11

12. School of Engineering
Key Priorities
Information Technology—research in
software/hardware/communications
Bioengineering—fusion of the life sciences and
engineering
Environment
En ironment and Energ
Energy—focus on water,
foc s ater
urbanization, health, global climate change
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology—advancing the
Nanotechnology advancing
science and technology of very small structures
12

13. School f E i
S h l of Engineering Quad
i Q d
13

14. Environment and Energy Building
Y2E2
Dedicated March 4, 2008
14

15. Huang E i
H Engineering Center
i C t
The Jen-Hsun Huang Engineering Center
15

16. Student Space
Huang E i
H Engineering Center
i C t
• Programmatic Needs (based on student
focus groups):
f )
• Private meeting rooms for 4-10 with projection
• Informal meeting spaces for groups of 4-6, 12+
• Informal meeting space for presentations accommodating 50 60
presentations, 50-60
• Computers with software for class work
• Space for short sessions of quiet group work
• Space for focused quiet work
• Storage closets for student groups (6-10)
• Work tables and storage for shop space
• Space for messy projects
• Quiet space and interactive space to sit with food/drinks
• Signboard/information wall or large monitor for event information
• Game area (ping pong, foosball, other fun activities)
• Bean bag area/very informal lounge area
• Inviting f
feature, i.e. fireplace, distinctive lounge area, etc?
f ?
16

17. Student Space
Huang E i
H Engineering Center
i C t
Space Should Be:
Intuitively understood
Friendly, inviting, not sterile
Flexible, easily re-configurable
Easy to maintain
Divided as to not feel too vast
Properly lit and acoustically separated by function
Design Constraints:
The open nature of these spaces pose difficulties in providing
acoustic and visual privacy
p y
Furniture can only provide a minimal amount of acoustic and visual
privacy
Walls/Lighting/Power/Data are fixed and cannot be modified
Atria will "bleed" noise into rest of building
bleed
17

18. Huang Engineering Center
18

19. Library Space
Huang E i
H Engineering Center
i C t
Programmatic Needs:
Areas for individual study and group work
Lounge seating
Reduced stack space for print materials
Ability to host group event or small group teaching
Computers with software for class work
p
Kiosks for quick catalog look ups, journal articles
Librarian offices and work space
Library workroom and processing area
Circulation/information/checkout desk
Digital bulletin board/large screen display
19

20. Engineering Library Mission
E i i Lib Mi i
Library space and services designed to foster
collaboration among students and faculty,
and to support discovery retrieval and
discovery,
integration of print and digital information.
SEQ2 Library Vision: The Information Collaboratory
20

21. Engineering Library Objectives
E i i Lib Obj ti
Reduce print collection and increase digital
Redesign web presence to highlight access
to digital content
Create physical environment for both private
individual study and collaborative spaces
Integrate library and librarians into student
spaces throughout the Huang Engineering
p g g g g
Center and the Science and Engineering
Quad
21

22. Library Design—zone diagram
Design zone
22

23. Floor Plan
23

24. Space and Staff Comparison
S d St ff C i
Current
C rrent (ENG onl )
only) Planned (*ENG + CS + Physics)
Ph sics)
16,000 ft2 6,000 ft2
15 study tables 8 study tables
56 study carrels 10 study carrels
12 soft seating 20 soft seating
12 public kiosks 4 public kiosks
6 photocopiers 1 photocopier
40,000 print books 20,000 print books* + 50,000 e-books
print reference (3,000 vol) e-reference and web tools
print journals (27 000 vol)
(27,000 e journals
e-journals (only); 100 print browsing
Theses on site (8,000 vol) Theses off site (current 2yrs on site)
2 Subject Specialists 5 Subject Specialists
4.5
4 5 Library Assistants 2.5
2 5 Library Assistants
24

25. Challenges
Ch ll
Think outside the Octagon—provide service
throughout the Engineering Center and the Science
& Engineering Quad
Library focused on user access and management of
online resources & services
Deliver immediate access to materials stored off-site
off site
Use web technologies to deliver point of use
instruction and research guides
Integrate e content into course management
systems and websites
Retain the “library as destination both physical and
library destination”
virtual 25

26. Construction Time Line
Spring 2008: Construction started
Spring 2010: Construction complete
Summer 2010: Move to new library
26

27. Conclusions
C l i
Review of student focus group feedback on
student space in Huang Engineering Center
Steelcase Study validated our observations
Make spaces more functional
Allow for private areas and social areas
p
Accommodate multiple study styles
Promote awareness of spaces and resources
Test sample furnishings (Summer 2009)
Be prepared for constant change
27