Title

What Are They Doing Anyway?: Library as Place and Student Use of a University Library

Authors

Angel Ferria, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Brian T. Gallagher, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Amanda Izenstark, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Peter Larsen, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Kelly LeMeur, Roger Williams UniversityFollow
Cheryl A. McCarthy, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Deborah Mongeau, University of Rhode IslandFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

3-2017

Abstract

Objective - To determine student use of library spaces, the authors recorded student location and behaviors within the Library, to inform future space design.

Methods - The case study method was used with both quantitative and qualitative measures. The authors had two objectives to guide this assessment of library spaces: 1) To determine what library spaces are being used by students and whether students are working individually, communally, or collaboratively and 2) To determine whether students use these spaces for learning activities and/or social engagement.

Results - After data collection and analysis, the authors determined students are using individual or communal spaces almost equally as compared with collaborative group spaces. Data also revealed peak area usage and times.

Conclusion - Observed student individual and social work habits indicate further need for spaces with ample electrical outlets and moveable tables. Further study is recommended to see whether additional seating and renovated spaces continue to enhance informal learning communities at URI and whether the Library is becoming a “third place” on campus.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Ferria, A., Gallagher, B. T., Izenstark, A., Larsen, P. J., LeMeur, K., McCarthy, C. A., & Mongeau, D. (2017). What are they doing anyway? Library as place and student use of a university library. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 12(1), 18-33. http://dx.doi.org/10.18438/B83D0T

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Publisher Statement

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons‐Attribution‐Noncommercial‐Share Alike License 4.0 International (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly attributed, not used for commercial purposes, and, if transformed, the resulting work is redistributed under the same or similar license to this one.