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Evaluating Library and Learning Commons

Evaluating Library and Learning Commons. Janette Burke. Mission statement. “ Monash University Library advances scholarship by enabling the effective discovery and use of information for education and research”. Monash University Library. Eight libraries in Victoria, two overseas

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Evaluating Library and Learning Commons

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  1. Evaluating Library and Learning Commons Janette Burke

  2. Mission statement “ Monash University Library advances scholarship by enabling the effective discovery and use of information for education and research”

  3. Monash University Library • Eight libraries in Victoria, two overseas • 34,000 sq. m + Malaysia, South Africa • 292 staff EFT (includes 19 casuals EFT) • University Librarian • reports to Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) • 4 Directors • $40.0 mill ($50.2 mill incl. overheads) • Staff 36.19% • Collection 30.7% • Other 9.08% • Overheads 24.03%

  4. Over 3 million items Over 750 online databases 33,991 e-serials 8,491 current print serials 243,838 e-books 3,465,626 visitors 1,035,593 loans 652,607 renewals 126,987 inquiries 148,944 inter-campus loans Monash University Library

  5. Key strategic initiatives • To improve the user experience by upgrading facilities in accordance with the Facilities Master Plan

  6. Learning Commons Vision “ To provide an integrated high quality, cost effective, and centralised precinct with services and resources that support students’ learning needs and inspire them to actively participate in the learning process. “

  7. What is a Learning Commons?Functionality of a Learning CommonsBenefits of a Learning Commons

  8. Facilities development: 2007 Seeking to create student-centred libraries that are welcoming, easy to use and professionally presented • Hargrave-Andrew refurbished 2006 • Berwick Library and Learning Commons expanded and refurbished 2006 • South Africa built 2007 • Malaysia built 2007 • Pharmacy expanded and refurbished 2008 • Sir Louis Matheson, Caulfield and Law yet to be done

  9. Facilities Master Plan Demonstrate a commitment to scholarship, lifelong learning, innovation and community engagement • Create an identity and way finding manual for all Monash libraries • Achieve a consistent brand • Support commonality of purpose and service • Acknowledging the unique character of each library • Development of a collection management strategy

  10. Design features • Unconscious navigation • Neutral base palette with two highlight palettes • Green to indicate Information • Red to indicate Service • Use space not partitions

  11. Design features • Optimise opportunities for unconscious navigation • Maximise self help in the library through spatial organisation: - use the same elements/colours to give similar information - align similar functions vertically - same place on each floor - identify location and service by design in preference to signage

  12. Benefits of a Facilities Master Plan • Cost effective • Easy to communicate • Consistent message • Colour coded • Synergies • One library

  13. Evaluating our libraries and learning commons • Undertook a user centred approach to evaluating the success of refurbished spaces • As experienced by: • library users • library staff • academics To make changes where it was fundamentally flawed or impractical in a working library environment

  14. Methodology • Individual interviews of users • Online survey of academics • Focus group with staff • Secondary survey of users at a different library • Assessment • Outcomes

  15. Individual interviews

  16. What the academics said

  17. Findings

  18. Another survey at another library Aim to evaluate: • Combined service – ITS and the Library (in 2007 Learning Skills was included) • Roaming help • Facilities – printing • Furniture and signage

  19. Methodology Distributed by: • Leaving copies on computer desk and quiet study desks • Handing to students during visits to the information desk • Staff circulating through the area and individually selecting students to complete the survey

  20. Results • Visited the library more than 3 times a week – 44% • Combined IT and library was an improvement – 85% • Software meets my needs – 91% • Printing was easy to use – 63% • Sought assistance from roaming helpers – 49% • Satisfied with information service – 97% • Signage helpful – 88% • Furniture meets my needs – 87%

  21. Areas for improvement Highlighted the need to: • Combine printing and photocopying systems • Improve the quiet study spaces • Reduce the noise • Provide flexible group study rooms • Improve communication of services • Improve help

  22. And yet another survey User satisfaction survey highlighted: • Quiet study and group study areas can be in conflict • Still not enough computers despite the increase in the number of laptops • Even more demand for power

  23. What have we done • Removed mixed furniture styles • Added partitions between quiet study tables • Reviewed policies • Improved communication • Drop flyers during exam time • Study areas monitored • Increased free standing signs

  24. What have we done • Improved the font size on signage • Use movable signage on stands as required

  25. Web sites www.lib.monash.edu.au http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/reports/fmp/

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