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Like Coffee and Seattle: How Users and Collection Space Work Together. March 24, 2006 Kristin A. Cheney Seattle University Law Library. What Constitutes a Collection?. Books Microforms Electronic Databases Digitized Materials Interactive Media. Future of the Library. All electronic?
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Like Coffee and Seattle:How Users and Collection SpaceWork Together March 24, 2006 Kristin A. Cheney Seattle University Law Library
What Constitutes a Collection? • Books • Microforms • Electronic Databases • Digitized Materials • Interactive Media
Future of the Library • All electronic? • Will you need collection space and user space? • Will it exist as a place?
Achieving Collection and User Space Compatibility - Variables • Amount of square footage • Collection size • Types of collections • Types of storage (shelves – traditional/compact, microform cabinets, computer w/accompanying equipment) • User groups
Design Should Reflect Users • Different users • Different needs • Different interactions with the collection
Library Operations Student Learning
Why come to the Library? • Safe and quiet environment • Away from distractions • Individual study • Group study • Class assignments • Browsing material • Research • Consulting librarians
Types of Workspace study reading research
Types of Seating/Workspace • Soft seating – busier/noisier areas; informal study areas; casual reading areas • Carrels – semi-private; sense of ownership; expectation of quiet • Tables – variety of activities; rectangular v. round; • Group study – rarely have enough; acoustical quality • Stand-up terminals – short term use
Inadequate or Just Inappropriate? Examples: • Lounge seating in research/study areas • No study rooms – students will improvise • Materials “walking” from areas lacking workspace
Seating – How many of each type? • Varies with institution • Informal studies – ¾’s of students prefer individual accommodations • Carrel – fill-rate of 80-90% capacity; Table seating – fill-rate of 60% or less
Collection Growth? • Current medium law library - 5-7,000 volumes per year • Research collections will continue to grow • New areas of research
Will technology free up space? • Overall growth rate decreases • Space required for technology (computers, readers/scanners, printers . . . . )
Collection Space Solutions • Creative shelving techniques • Zero collection growth • Convert existing print to non-print format • Electronic replacement • Off-site storage • Resource sharing