Li Zhang
University of Saskatchewan
@lizhang95
[email protected]
Tasha Maddison
University of Saskatchewan
@tmmaddison
[email protected]
Agenda
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


User feedback survey –TELL US
Face-to-face interview – JUST ASK
Actions
Collaborations: library assistants and librarians
User Feedback Survey
TELL US
Reasons for the Survey


University of Saskatchewan Library’s strategic
action item: develop mechanisms to hear and
respond to the student voice
Interest from the College of Engineering on the
library space
Concept Plan: Student Centre and Leaning Commons
Collaboration
Workroom
Seminar
Room
Drop-in
Computer
Workstations
(200 stns)
Print
Collection
Sciences Learning
Commons
Boardroom
Bookable
Computer
Lab
Reasons for the Survey (cont’d)



Addressing the accreditation requirements of
the College of Engineering
Trends in science and technology libraries
LibQual 2013 results
About the Engineering Library





Serves ~2100 students in
the College of Engineering
Serves ~230 faculty and
staff
2.5 library assistants
.8 librarian
Shared branch head
Survey Design


Survey using online Google Forms or in print
Questions asked:
a)
b)
c)

What do you want more of at the library?
What do you want less of at the library?
What do you love about the library?
November 17 – December 5, 2014
http://tiny.cc/morelesslove
Incentives


Library bag for all participants
Entry into a draw for 1 of 3 grand prizes
Advertising

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
Posters
Tent Cards
Announcements
Computers
Hours
- Hours - Later
- Hours - Weekend
- Hours - Earlier
Power outlets/plugins
Space
- Study space
- Study space - Group
- Study space Individual
- Workspace
- Quiet space
designated
Tables
Study rooms
- Study rooms - Group
Seating
Chairs - Rolling office
Chairs
Study cubicles
Chem Books
Coffee machine
Couches/Comfy chairs
Extension cords
Food nearby
Journals
Lighting
Nothing
Plants
Printers
Printing cost - Lowered
Scanners
Snacks
Temperature - Lowered
Workshops
16
13
4
2
1
13
12
5
2
1
3
2
11
5
2
4
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Books
Nothing
Noise
Couches/Comfy chairs
Bookshelves
Tables
Chairs
People
Study cubicles
14
10
7
3
3
2
1
1
1
Staff
Environment
Space
12
12
5
- Workspace
2
2
- Study space
Books
Shape (Architecture)
Location
Noise level
Quiet
Resources
Computers
Lighting
Seating
Snacks
Chairs
Everything
Hours
No food restrictions
No noise restrictions
Oranges
Printers
Scanners
Students
Meeting place
Best library on campus
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Category
Computers
Hours
- Hours - Later
- Hours - Weekend
- Hours - Earlier
Power outlets/plugins
Space
- Study space
- Study space - Group
- Study space Individual
- Workspace
- Quiet space
designated
Tables
Study rooms
- Study rooms - Group
Seating
Chairs - Rolling office
Chairs
Study cubicles
Chem Books
Coffee machine
Couches/Comfy chairs
Extension cords
Food nearby
Journals
Lighting
Nothing
Plants
Printers
Printing cost - Lowered
Scanners
Snacks
Temperature - Lowered
Workshops
16
13
4
2
1
13
12
5
2
Space/furniture
1
3
2
11
5
2
4
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
More
55
Group Study Space
9
Individual Study Space
8
Quiet Space
2
Chairs
6
Hours
20
Technology
32
Computers
16
Power outlets / extension cord
14
Printer
1
Scanner
1
Food
3
Collection
2
Others
4
Category
Less
Collection/Stack
17
Nothing
10
Noise
7
Chairs/tables
6
People
1
Study cubicles
1
Category
Staff
Environment
Space
12
12
5
- Workspace
2
2
- Study space
Books
Shape (Architecture)
Location
Noise level
Quiet
Resources
Computers
Lighting
Seating
Snacks
Chairs
Everything
Hours
No food restrictions
No noise restrictions
Oranges
Printers
Scanners
Students
Meeting place
Best library on campus
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Love
Staff
12
Environment
21
Shape
4
Location
3
Technology
4
Computer
2
Printer
1
Scanner
1
Collection
7
Books
4
Resources
3
Food
4
Space/furniture
12
Noise Level
7
Noise level
4
Quiet
3
Others
3
Best Library on Campus
1
Actions Completed
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2 Power towers were purchased to
solve some of the issues
surrounding plug-ins
2 tables were added along with 12
seats
Multi Function Machine (printer /
scanner / photocopier)
Continue to work with College of
Engineering to support extended
hours during exam times
Face-to-Face Interview
JUST ASK
2nd Survey Rationale

We wanted to hear how some of the issues
directly affected the students?
o
o
o

Noise
Space
Collections
Reach a variety of students
Structured Interview
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Total of 69 participants using an accidental
sample (15 minute tour of the library)
March 23 – March 27, 2015
Monday 3:30 (n=11)
Tuesday 10:00 (n=11)
Wednesday 1:00 (n=16)
Thursday 10:30 (n=18)
Friday 12:30 (n=13)
Question #1: How do you use the Engineering Library?
Select all that apply.
Question #2: Do you prefer collaborative spaces or quiet
study spaces?
Question #3: Noise Level in the Library? (select one)
3.a.) If it is too noisy?
• Wear Head Phones (n=32)
• Go to Another Location (n=8)
• Vary Hours of Use (n=3)
Question #4: What should we do with the print collection in
the Library? (open-ended question)
Whiteboard Results
Teamwork – 3
Study – 2
Homework – 6
Relax – 4
Collaborative – 3
Both – 4
Quiet – 2
Too Noisy – 1
Just Right – 5
Manageable – 0
Varies – 2
Quiet – 0
Actions for the summer
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Additional seating
Change to layout of library to separate
collaborative spaces from relatively quiet study
spaces
Move current journals and comfy chairs to the
space outside the librarians’ office, to encourage
more collaboration and strengthen relationship
with librarians.
Observations:

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Students felt ownership of the library and its
space
Confirmed some of our preliminary assumptions
about the use of library space and its collection
Our results were somewhat different from
LibQual 2013 results regarding the noise level
Students did not mention non-traditional library
services, e.g. 3 D printing or makerspace
Limitations
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Already library users, potentially missed others
1st survey used only open ended questions so
feedback was quite spread
Majority of participants were undergraduate
students, needs may be different from other
users
Sense of Team
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Library Assistants played a large role in the
survey from initial idea, to the creation of the
survey, to the collection of the data.
It was a team building exercise that resulted in a
stronger, more cohesive working environment.
Utilized the talents of each team member
Allowed for creativity and innovation
Take Away

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

Low cost survey ~$20
Can be implemented in other libraries with great
ease
Strengthened our relationship with our users
Results from the simple survey will provide
valuable information for future directions
Thank you!
Brenda Butler, Lexi Whitter and
Mike VanderKooi
Li Zhang
University of Saskatchewan
@lizhang95
[email protected]
Tasha Maddison
University of Saskatchewan
@tmmaddison
[email protected]