Rethinking the Information Commons

J oanne Br i t ton , C i rcu la t ion and Refe rence ManagerHe lene La f rance , Head o f Ins t ruc t ion , Research , and Out reach

Santa C la ra Un ivers i ty

2008

Information Commons

Designed to serve the needs of the millennial generationOffered state-of-the-art technology and digital contentsCatered to students’ social needs as well as academic onesProvided physical space designed to encourage collaboration and sharing of informationFeatured a large service desk staffed by librarians, IT and Media Services staff

2013

Problems with the layout of the Information Commons

Changes in students’ expectations and needs

Opportunity to assess services and resources and implement changes

What we want to do today…

Take you through the process we used from evaluation to implementation

Get your input along the way on how this process could have been improved

Involve you in some of the discussions we had

Virtual Tour of the Information Commons

What do you notice?

What are your first reactions?

Photo of the computer area

Students’ Expectations:What has changed in 5 years?

How Did We Begin?

Appointment of a task force◦ Charge◦ Members

Launched a six-month long assessment project

Needed input and solid data to make a case for a renovation project

What Did We Do?

Compilation of statistics already available (use statistics for service desks, LibQual data, etc.)

Review of the literature on learning commons remodeling

Observations of the 1st floor activities at different times of day

Quick Flip Chart Student Survey to learn how students use various areas of the first floor

Staff Survey: to get their opinion first and to use their input to help us build a survey for the entire community

Student Workers Survey

Focus Groups: 2 for students, 2 for faculty

Meeting with Director of the Hub Writing Center, and with the Disabilities Resources Office staff

Campus Wide Survey

Why do you use the 1st floor Information Commons?What services do you use?How satisfied are you with services, space, and equipment on the 1st floor?What would you like to add?Comments11questions, 2 open ended

What did we learn from the campus survey?

Campus Survey Response

We received over 2,300 responses (33% response rate) with the following demographic breakdown:

◦ Undergraduate students: 55.8%◦ Graduate Students: 25.3%◦ Faculty: 7.8%◦ Staff: 11.1%

About ServicesOur users are very confused about the purpose of the four service desks located in the Information Commons.

Greeter Desk54% of our users never use the Greeter Desk

Start Here DeskMajority of users don’t know what services are offered at that desk and which part of the desk they should go to

Circulation DeskUsers don’t understand the difference between the Circulation Desk and the Library Help Desk (part of the big Start Here Desk)

About Services

52.1% said they never use the services of a reference librarian at the Start Here Desk and many comment that they did not know reference librarians were available.

48.7% never use the Media Services Desk

About SpaceStudents want more group study rooms, group study/collaborative open spaces.

Students use the IC as a space to meet and socialize with friends, so 80% would like more comfortable furniture.

52.1% rated as important (or very important) the addition of a HUB satellite (writing center) on the first floor.

Click icon to add picture

Two areas of the Information Commons are under utilized, the viewing stations area and the shelved reference collection.

About Equipment Top requests for additional equipment:

Print only computer stations (68.4%)

More computers (72.4%)

Charging stations for personal mobile devices (75%)

Document assembly area (79.1%)

Any Surprises?

Recommendations (Services)

Remove the huge Start Here desk

Consolidate all library service points (Circulation, Library Help, Greeter Desk) and move near the entrance of the building

Relocate IT Student Help Desk where the Circulation Desk currently is

Create a space for a satellite of the Hub Writing Center

Recommendations (Space)

Remove the Reference Collection and the viewing stations and replace by group collaborative spaces

Add lounge furniture

Improve signage throughout the Information Commons

Reduce noise from café; expand café hours and menu selections

Recommendations (Equipment)

◦ Add three print-only stations

◦ Add mobile device charging stations on each floor

◦ Add a document assembly counter

◦ Add computers to other floors

◦ Add vending machines

Recommendations (ADA)

Add ADA door buttons for restrooms, multimedia lab, and a few collaborative rooms

Add wheelchair accessible Smart Print release station

Need for Marketing

Self check-out machinesWayfinderViewing stationsResearch assistance serviceMedia services hours and location

What happened next?

Recommendations acceptedArchitects hired to design a new layout for the Information CommonsUniversity Librarian and CIO looked for money and found someEstimated cost: $140,000

ImplementationNew implementation team working with architects on new layout and selection of furnitureProject will be done in two phasesSmall changes already implemented:

◦ Improved café hours + vending machines◦ Removal of the reference collection (weeding project)◦ Addition of charging stations◦ Pilot project consolidating library help desk and

circulation desk

Project completion expected in summer 2015

What we learnedSuccessful change cannot happen without thorough assessment

Working with architects is not always easy

Students’ expectations are constantly changing (need for collaborative space, mobile revolution)

Combining Library Help and IT Help is not always the right thing to do

What we learnedWe need to change the way we name library services and resourcesChange impacts staff (weeding project)Communication is essentialImplementation can be delayed and plans may have to change. Nothing is set in stone.

Questions?