lauren's library blog

Case Study #1: Georgia Tech’s User Studies of Their Physical Space
Bob Fox, Georgia Tech
• West Commons: productivity lab, multi-media lab, presentation rehearsal studio (don’t allow faculty to use it or schedule it for library meetings—it’s student practice presentations only); moved reference by the front door and moved circulation to where reference used to be
• Completed early in the trend of doing these renovations, with little pre-user studies, continual assessment after the fact: student advisory board, engage users, build a variety of spaces, maximize flexibility, promote collaborative activities, partner where appropriate
• East Commons: went through a discovery process for renovating this: student advisory board, observations (around campus), focus groups, surveys, visits to other sites, conversations
• Showed lots of photos of their library: high and low ceilings, collaborative and individual space, large monitors, good, natural lighting, Herman Miller furniture (had a furniture showcase and let the students vote), high and low tech places, movable screens, most furniture on wheels, student art on the walls, cords in the ceiling that students can pull down to charge their laptops
• After the fact assessment: surveys, informal, studies
• They have an embedded person in each commons: dress like students, casual with students, part of the commons
• Student did research project on the library: when and where students use the library. Showed day got busier with group work as it went on, with the two commons showing the most increase in use in the day. Individual growth increases throughout the day, too, still with commons getting most use, but other areas get use, too. Found closeness to entrance, line of sight most important, more so than furniture, lighting, recent renovation. I can see this, but I imagine in our building power outlets would be a major factor, too.
• English class studying writings on space and place did a project on the library building. Made a documentary.
• Marketing during forum and focus group time period: student media, movie style posters, flip charts, message boards on the library site
• Things to keep in mind: generating buzz, engage users at all steps, be open to student-initiated research, reality check: budget/practicality/direction
• Librarycommons.gatech.edu
• Library.gatech.edu

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