Evaluating Library and Learning Commons

www.lib.monash.edu.au

Evaluating Library and Learning Commons

Janette Burke


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“ Monash University Library advances

scholarship by enabling the effective

discovery and use of information for

education and research”

Mission statement


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• Eight libraries in Victoria, two overseas

– 34,000 sq. m + Malaysia, South Africa

• 292 staff EFT (includes 19 casuals EFT)

• University Librarian

– reports to Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education)

• 4 Directors

• $40.0 mill ($50.2 mill incl. overheads)

– Staff 36.19%

– Collection 30.7%

– Other 9.08%

– Overheads 24.03%

Monash University Library


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Monash University Library

• Over 3 million items

• Over 750 online databases

• 33,991 e-serials

• 8,491 current print serials

• 243,838 e-books

• 3,465,626 visitors

• 1,035,593 loans

• 652,607 renewals

• 126,987 inquiries

• 148,944 inter-campus

loans


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Key strategic initiatives

• To improve the user experience by upgrading facilities

in accordance with the Facilities Master Plan


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Learning Commons Vision

To provide an integrated high quality,

cost effective, and centralised precinct

with services and resources that

support students’ learning needs and

inspire them to actively participate in

the learning process.

“ “


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What is a Learning Commons?

Functionality of a Learning Commons

Benefits of a Learning Commons


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Seeking to create student-centred

libraries that are welcoming, easy to

use and professionally presented

• Hargrave-Andrew refurbished 2006

• Berwick Library and Learning Commons

expanded and refurbished 2006

• South Africa built 2007

• Malaysia built 2007

• Pharmacy expanded and refurbished

2008

• Sir Louis Matheson, Caulfield and Law

yet to be done

Facilities development: 2007


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Facilities Master Plan

• Create an identity and way finding manual for all Monash libraries

• Achieve a consistent brand

• Support commonality of purpose and service

• Acknowledging the unique character of each library

• Development of a collection management strategy

Demonstrate a commitment to scholarship, lifelong

learning, innovation and community engagement


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• Unconscious navigation

• Neutral base palette with two

highlight palettes

• Green to indicate Information

• Red to indicate Service

• Use space not partitions

Design features


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• Optimise opportunities for unconscious navigation

• Maximise self help in the library through spatial organisation:

- use the same elements/colours to give similar information

- align similar functions vertically - same place on each floor

- identify location and service by design in preference to signage

Design features


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• Cost effective

• Easy to communicate

• Consistent message

• Colour coded

• Synergies

• One library

Benefits of a Facilities Master Plan


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• Undertook a user centred approach to evaluating the success of refurbished spaces

• As experienced by:

– library users

– library staff

– academics

To make changes where it was fundamentally flawed or impractical in a working library environment

Evaluating our libraries and learning

commons


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• Individual interviews of users

• Online survey of academics

• Focus group with staff

• Secondary survey of users at a different library

• Assessment

• Outcomes

Methodology


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Individual interviews


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What the academics said


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Findings


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Aim to evaluate:

• Combined service – ITS and the Library (in 2007 Learning Skills was included)

• Roaming help

• Facilities – printing

• Furniture and signage

Another survey at another library


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Distributed by:

• Leaving copies on computer desk and quiet study desks

• Handing to students during visits to the information desk

• Staff circulating through the area and individually selecting students to complete the survey

Methodology


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• Visited the library more than 3 times a week – 44%

• Combined IT and library was an improvement – 85%

• Software meets my needs – 91%

• Printing was easy to use – 63%

• Sought assistance from roaming helpers – 49%

• Satisfied with information service – 97%

• Signage helpful – 88%

• Furniture meets my needs – 87%

Results


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Highlighted the need to:

• Combine printing and photocopying systems

• Improve the quiet study spaces

• Reduce the noise

• Provide flexible group study rooms

• Improve communication of services

• Improve help

Areas for improvement


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User satisfaction survey highlighted:

• Quiet study and group study areas can be in conflict

• Still not enough computers despite the increase in the number of laptops

• Even more demand for power

And yet another survey


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• Removed mixed furniture styles

• Added partitions between quiet study tables

• Reviewed policies

• Improved communication

– Drop flyers during exam time

– Study areas monitored

– Increased free standing signs

What have we done


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• Improved the font size on signage

• Use movable signage on stands as required

What have we done


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http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/reports/fmp/

Web sites

http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/

http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/reports/fmp/

Documents

Evaluating Library and Learning Commons