The library as place

Abstract

Purpose -To provide insight and practical perspectives into the needs of university students regarding places to gather, develop community, and find restoration on the college campus. This information can be used by libraries as they seek to encourage library use by students. Design/methodology/approach -About 44 students were sent into the field to document the location and physical characteristics of the "third place." The questionnaire and field notes recorded by the students addressed the central questions of what spaces constituted their third places, the location of those spaces, the activities in which they participated while there, the factors that contributed to their selection of those places, and the important design features of those third places. In addition, the research team observed students in library settings and interviewed library administrators. Findings -About 80 percent of students indicated that their favorite third place was off campus. These places were overwhelmingly coffee shops and restaurants. The major functions served by their third places included socialization and relaxation. Practical implications -These findings provide insight into the way students now study, research, and communicate. Libraries can use this information as they design spaces that encourage students to come to the library to study, as well as socialize, converse, find restoration, and simply "hang out." Originality/value -The paper brings together practical information from an interdisciplinary team that can aid libraries interested in renovating spaces to accommodate students of the twenty-first century.

Navigating User Feedback Channels to Chart an Evidence Based Course for Library Redesign

“…Although limited to space planning for an information commons, Cataldo, Freund, Ochoa, and Salcedo (2007) described the use of external site visits, surveys, focus groups, and interviews. The reports of both Waxman et al (2007) and Cataldo et al (2007) reinforced the local supposition that multiple data sources would enrich the results. Dotson and Garris (2008) documented the use of multiple data inputs of library-generated statistics from observational studies on the use of library computers, group tables, individual study desks, carrels, and stacks.…”

“…This confirmed the potential value of the LibQUAL+® survey data in making space decisions. Waxman, Clemons, Banning, and McKelfresh (2007) reported the use of questionnaires and field notes to document student behaviour and preferences for relaxation spaces to outline the specifications for the design of coffee shops within the library. Although limited to space planning for an information commons, Cataldo, Freund, Ochoa, and Salcedo (2007) described the use of external site visits, surveys, focus groups, and interviews.…”

Students as Researchers, Collaborators, & End-users: Informing Campus Design

“…It is often within the library walls where learning outside classroom takes place. Moreover, a review of literature indicates that libraries have had to evolve to remain relevant in meeting the needs of today's learners (Waxman, Clemons, Banning, & McKelfresh, 2007). As such, we challenged our students to reimagine and redesign specific areas of their campus library to accommodate the ever-changing needs of college students.…”

At Home in the Academic Library? A Study of Student Feelings of “Homeness”

“…The basics, however, also extend to the atmosphere of the library, suggesting that a mixture of both at George Green has contributed to its success. Waxman, Clemons, Banning and McKelfresh (2007) advocate the library as a place to find restoration and rejuvenation (p. 430); however the results for regeneration in this study were mixed. While eating was found to be very important to students, resting garnered less conclusive results.…”

“…DeClerq and Cranz (2014) found students valued the ability to move furniture. Similarly, Bennett (2005) Waxman, Clemons, Banning and McKelfresh (2007). However, atmosphere is considered to be more than generated by physical design (Hunter and Cox, 2013).…”