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Sush No More: Accommodating Noise In Today’s Library

Sush No More: Accommodating Noise In Today’s Library. Darla Bressler & Kathryn Yelinek. Why this topic?. BU Librarians noticed increased noise levels and changes in student behaviors LibQual results in 2006 & 2009 indicated unhappiness with noise levels Prompted research and

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Sush No More: Accommodating Noise In Today’s Library

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  1. Sush No More: Accommodating Noise In Today’s Library Darla Bressler & Kathryn Yelinek

  2. Why this topic? • BU Librarians noticed increased noise levels and changes in student behaviors • LibQual results in 2006 & 2009 indicated unhappiness with noise levels • Prompted research and library changes

  3. Situation at Andruss Library • Original library design wasn’t working

  4. So we started to make changes… • Moved Reference Desk to 1st Floor • Soft seating, tables, carrels in strategic locations

  5. … And noise levels changed • Complaints about noise on all floors are down • Librarians have noticed significant decrease in noise levels

  6. What we learned from the research • Perfect storm of technology, changes in librarians, and changes in students has created increased noise levels

  7. Changes in technology . . . • Cell phones/conversations • Ipods • Computers/printers • Databases • Smart boards

  8. Changes in librarians . . . • Efforts to change stereotypical image • Efforts to become more adaptive and patron-friendly

  9. Changes in students . . . • Millennials—a new generation of students • Student expectations: • “Digital natives” • Multi-taskers • Demand personalization/customization • Spaces to study alone OR in groups • Spaces for quiet AND for talk

  10. Ways to work with noise • Common sense • No one-size-fits-all • Buy-in from those involved • Be willing to admit mistakes

  11. Ways to work with noise • Zoning

  12. Ways to work with noise • Zoning • Furniture arrangement

  13. Ways to work with noise • Zoning • Furniture arrangement • Written policy

  14. Ways to work with noise • Zoning • Furniture arrangement • Written policy • Signage

  15. Ways to work with noise • Zoning • Furniture arrangement • Written policy • Signage • Student self-monitoring

  16. We’re still learning • We still get complaints • Do we need additional soft seating? • What causes students to self-monitor? • What will students want ten years from now?

  17. Your turn • What have you experienced in your library?

  18. Discussion points • How has noise affected your library? • Have your attempts to address the noise issue been successful? • Have you found other successful ways to address the noise issue? • What causes students to self-monitor?

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