Cutting the Björkian Knot:

How One Library Addressed Multiple Patron Needs

Without Use of A Sword

Eric Jeitner and Christy Goodnight, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

Cutting the Bjorkian Knot:

How One Library Addressed Multiple Patron Needs

Without Use of A Sword

Eric Jeitner and Christy Goodnight, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

IntroductionOur session will outline how Björk Library responded to patron needs identified in our 2014 LibQUAL survey that, at first, seemed very conflicting.

• Some patrons wanted quiet solitude for study.

• Others wanted the ability to work in groups in a dynamic space.

We rethought our library space to address both needs.

LibQUAL+ 2014• Conducted from mid-March through mid-

April.• 629 participants

• 75% undergraduates; 10% grad students; 10% faculty; 3% library staff; 2% college staff.

• Overall, the library showed slight improvements since 2011 in all three categories (Affect of Service; Information Control; Library as Place).

• Still, a significant number of respondents voiced a need for improvements to services.

Getting students to rate the library during LibQUAL 2014 = FOOD

LibQUAL+ 2014• Library as Place:

• Undergraduates and faculty felt the library space exceeded their minimum expectations – though only marginally for quiet study spaces.

• Graduate students rated it lower than their minimum expectations as a space for study, research, and learning.

• Of all comments addressing library spaces, only 12% were positive.

• The majority of the critical comments expressed the need for:• More quiet study areas.• More group collaboration areas.• More accessible electrical outlets.

Situational Analysis• To meet patron needs, space had to be

reorganized and repurposed. • 1st Floor had two large, viable areas:

• Current periodicals room – large; not often used; many rows of shelves; has diner-like booths along one wall.

• Reference collection room – large; not often used; many rows of shelves; has some study carrels along two walls.

• Both were separate spaces with no connecting doors; both branched from a central causeway.

LibQUAL+ 2014 Conclusions

• Repurpose both areas, one for each type of need.

• Current periodicals room – converted into a Learning Commons that encouraged group work, discussion.

• Reference collection room – converted into a Quiet Study Area that encouraged solitary work and discouraged noise/talking.

Fall 2014

Spinning in an atmosphere of collaboration, two brave anthropology students enter

the maelstrom of the Learning Commons to conduct an ethnographic study and demonstrate that bending our

thoughts on what students want and need would create a gravitational pull in the

Learning Commons that our students could not resist….

Fall 2014

Students Kristen Valenti and Brianne Finley extensively observed students in our Learning Commons on 13 different occasions throughout the Fall semester.

Here is their survey and their results:

The Survey ● The survey instrument

→ ● Convenience Survey -

just asked students in the room to answer the questions. Some said yes, some refused.

● Some questions left blank

● Some people answered more than one answer per questiono Some percents will

not add up due to this (example: “I study and use the computer” so counted for “studying” and “using the computer”)

Question 3 Further Analysis

Question 4: How do you typically use this room?

misc = “chill” and “always”

Question 6: Are there any additional features you think would improve this area?

Out of the 153 responses:47 No’s - 30.7%7 N/A’s - 5% 95 suggestions - 62%

Student Recommendations ● Many responses revolve around the fact the students didn’t

know what the room was for or felt it needed to be quieter. o “There should be a sign at the entrance of the room explaining the relaxed setting so those

who are expecting silence are not misguided to this room.” o “Noise needs to be monitored”o “I feel like there MUST be more group rooms or isolated quiet areas for people to study

peacefully!”o “I haven’t been here in a group but I think no because it’s too quiet”

● Most students requested more outlets.o Suggestion of the charging stations that are in the Campus Center.

● Others that stood out were:o Boards o More computerso Better closed off areaso More tables

Our Recommendations

● Marketing what the room IS● More outlets● Ways to close off spaceo Moveable white boardso Moveable chalk boards

Thank you! ~Kristen Valenti ~Brianne Finley

Supervisor :Joseph Rubenstein Professor of Anthropology Richard Stockton College of New

Jersey

OutcomesCurrent changes:

• Additional seating to expand the Quiet Study Area for students studying alone.

• Better signage to clearly define both areas and their intended purposes.

• Investigating options for updated furniture.

OutcomesCurrent changes:

• Adding media projector stations to group tables along the outer walls of the Learning Commons

• Wifi printing

• Additional computers and additional laptops for student checkout

Wrap-up / Follow-up / Post Assessment

What’s to come:

• Kristen and Brianne will conduct user focus groups with students in Spring 2015 semester.

• Continue gathering usage statistics on both rooms (requesting gate counters for doors).

• Additional marketing of spaces and their uses.

Wrap-up / Follow-up / Post Assessment

What’s to come:

• Long term plan to relocate the Reference Desk into the Learning Commons

• Continued / expand use of student tech support

Questions?

Thank you!Eric Jeitner and Christy Goodnight, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey