Tech Library: A Model for Tomorrow
Users and Needs
The faculty is a major stakeholder in the renovation
of Tech Library because they use the library, for two main purposes: (1)
to conduct research and (2) to place documents and books on reserve as
supplementary reading for the classes that they teach (See Appendix
A).
The library contains more than 250,000 volumes on the physical and life sciences,
which act as both a historical record as well as a source of useful information
that both faculty and students can access. The reserve service provided by
Tech Library allows a professor to give students access to books, documents
or files that complement what they are learning in class. Reserve accounts
for the scarcity problem. If there are only a few copies or even a single copy
of the supplemental reading material, the students know that it will always
be in the library and that they can access the material through the reserve.
In addition, putting material on reserve assures the faculty that the material
will be in good keeping.
Furthermore, the faculty expressed
a need to expand the journal collection. Certainly, many faculty
members require the use of academic journals for several purposes,
including references for classes, research ideas, and research
support in addition to their personal interest. The collection
of academic journals in Tech Library does not adequately fulfill
the needs of the faculty, specifically those interviewed in the
IEMS department (See Appendix
A). Unfortunately, the funding that is allocated towards academic
journal subscriptions in Tech Library is not sufficient to suit
the needs of the faculty (See Appendix
B). It is also important to point out that some of the faculty
noted the library as being “functional but ugly” (See Appendix
A). Improved aesthetics of course would well address the physical
shortcomings of the library and would provide a more soothing work
atmosphere.
The Tech Library staff has a stake in the proposed renovation of the library because they spend the most time in the building. Day in and day out, they are the ones who are working the desk, answering library visitor questions and maintaining the library and its resources.
The major needs that the staff has are office space; a staff lounge area; an adequate level of security for books; enough space for library resources, such as references and journals; and an aesthetically-pleasing atmosphere (See Appendix C). The staff consists of nine people, who all need an office space where they can work and keep their belongings. Thus, every member of the staff needs to have allotted office space. Besides a place to work, they also need a place where they can take a break, lounge and/or eat.
The lounge area provides them with such a place. However, the current lounge area is cold and uninviting, with old appliances. Moreover, the appliances can only be plugged in one at a time. Otherwise, the circuit is shorted.
Concerned for the books and other library resources, the staff also requires that a certain level of security be met at all times as well as an adequate allotment of space for all of the available resources, making them as easily accessible as possible to any potential users. Lastly, the staff needs a comfortable working atmosphere. They need an ambiance that is conducive to working and that has a positive feel. This can be accomplished through carefully chosen aesthetics.
The main user group and of primary concern are the students as they utilize the building the most. Approximately 27% of the respondents to a survey administered to the student body spend over seven hours per week at Tech Library during finals week. Students that spend time in the library use the space for a variety of tasks: studying, computer use, group work, research, and checking out books. The Tech Library in its current design supports these uses to a certain extent, but it could certainly be improved. A number of students surveyed also indicated that they choose to do these tasks elsewhere. The most popular reasons for choosing another place over Tech Library are as follows: 1) the atmosphere and aesthetics are dreary partly because of lack of good lighting and big clean windows, 2) Tech Library isn’t open late enough, closing at midnight every night and 3) there are better work spaces elsewhere that are equipped with wireless and outlets that make individual studying and group work easier (See Appendix D).
From these responses, it is evident that Tech Library is not sufficiently meeting basic student needs, specifically an inviting and comfortable atmosphere, accessibility after midnight and including desirable individual and group work spaces.
It is interesting to note that the faculty, staff, and students, all of the primary stakeholders, need a positive ambiance and pleasing aesthetics.
The same survey referred to above also inquired about the value students place on specific aspects of the library, including an open-ended question that permitted students to voice their opinions on anything else that the library needs and currently lacks. The following are the majority responses:
24-hour access – Students often work into late hours of the night, especially during reading and finals week. Late night access is important to many students as they desire a safe place to work deep into the night.
Better lighting/windows – Students want a well-lit place that is conducive to working and studying. Excellent lighting and windows help create an atmosphere where students feel comfortable and are able to study and work.
New carpet – Clean carpet also creates a more aesthetically pleasing place to work. This can help students by creating a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere where they are able to focus.
Wireless throughout the entire library – As we move into the future, more and more students are bringing their own computers to the library. In addition, it is often imperative that students have access to the Internet in order to get their work done. Wireless Internet access throughout the library would help students to do their research, as well as give them access to numerous University websites they may require.
More power outlets at workstations – As more students are bringing their laptops to the library, they will require a power source to be able to work for an extended period of time. Power outlets at each workstation would solve the problem of computers running out of power, as well as eliminating cords that may be dangerously stretched across open spaces.
Private group workrooms, better group work areas – Engineering students are often assigned to work in groups and thus need a place to work on projects with their groups. With the addition of private group work rooms, students would be able to work on projects together without disturbing students that are studying.
Addition of engineering computer programs – In the Engineering program, students are often required to work with complex software. This software is usually only available in very limited areas, such as labs specific to each major, which are sometimes unavailable when booked for a class lab section. If students had access to all the programs for all Engineering classes in Tech Library, then they would be able to get all their work done in a comfortable, central location.
Keeping these needs in mind, the goal behind the design is to provide a place where students are able to accomplish a wide variety of tasks. The design looks to combine quiet areas for individual work with larger group areas for collaborative work.
In addition to individual students using the
library, students are often required to work in teams or groups, especially
in engineering courses. Several majors within McCormick and perhaps the
majority of engineering courses require small group projects as part of
the curriculum (See Appendix
E). The size of these groups often ranges from 2-5 people and the
results often count as a significant portion of the overall grade. Class
project groups are undeniably potential users of Tech Library that currently
utilize the library at a less than desirable rate. However, these groups
have Tech computer labs at their disposal, including labs dedicated to
specific majors and a lab accessible and for use by all engineering students.
Some projects even require that major-specific labs be used if the necessary
software is only available there. Nevertheless, not all group work will
necessarily occur in the computer labs. Some labs are not conducive to
group work due to their layout in which the room is filled with rows of
computers and lacks table space on which to work and around which to gather.
Also, sometimes labs are booked for class lab sessions, leaving students
without any other options. There is certainly room for better group workspace
in Tech Library for the many class project groups to use. The following
is a chart that represents the number of classes by major that have a
significant amount of group projects (information provided by Systems
Project Management Class of 2000 report: Student Team & Technology
Center STTC):
Students also frequently work on class assignments together or study for tests together. Even though their grades are not shared in this circumstance, there are many times when several students are working together on the same tasks or wish to be around other people in the same class to ask questions or discuss ideas and concepts. Students in this common situation will also use group workspace.
Some beneficial group work aids, include a common workspace, a private area and the availability of a computer. Groups in contemporary times almost always need at least one computer while working and very often require more. A private area is defined as a place where the group can talk and think out loud without being distracted and without distracting others, but it is not necessarily a completely secluded area.
Because Tech computer labs are not meant for group work, and residences may lack the resources that groups need, Tech Library would be a great place to create spaces catered to groups.Back to Table of Contents
