This presentation was given at the 10th Annual Brick & Click Libraries Symposium on November 5, 2010. The presentation is based on an ethnographic study conducted by librarians and staff at Gustavus Adolphus College in Spring of 2010, looking at student use of the library.
1. 10th Annual Brick & Click Libraries Symposium
Julie Gilbert,Amy Gratz,
Anna Hulseberg, and Sarah Monson
2.
3. How do students make use of existing library spaces and
services, both physical and virtual?
What improvements could the library make to better
meet the needs of students?
How can we create the best library possible to support
our students in their research?
4. Emphasis on qualitative research
Use of multiple methods
Interviews, surveys & focus groups
Participant observation
Holistic
Inductive
5. Previous studies
Foster and Gibbons, Studying Students:The Undergraduate Research
Project at the University of Rochester
Ethnographic Research in IllinoisAcademic Libraries (ERIAL)
Project
Ethnographic objectives
Elicit student-focused data
Understand and support academic needs
6.
7. Survey
Photo Diaries
Web Focus Groups
Other Methods
Image association
Interviews
Linguistic listing
Mapping space use
12. 31.9%
21.0%
3.8%
2.5% 1.8% 1.5% 1.7%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Reference
Desk
Reference
Librarians
Information
Desk
Help Desk Resource
Desk
Librarians
Desk
Other
Description
13. Rate of Library Use Percentages
Daily 69.8
Weekly 65.2
Monthly 60.8
Seldom 49.3
Gender
Women 66.8
Men 55.5
Year
First Years 58.3
Sophomores 57.2
Juniors 63.9
Seniors 76.3
Major (by divisions)
Education 71.2
Humanities 69.6
Fine Arts 69.2
Social Sciences 66.1
Preprofessional 64.7
Natural Sciences 59.8
Interdisciplinary 57.1
Undecided 55.3
Women more likely
than men ask for help
at Ref desk
Use of Ref desk
increases with class
year
Education division
majors more likely
to use Ref deskOf those who have
declared majors,
Natural Science and
Math majors least
likely to use Ref desk
Students who use the
library at a greater
rate are more likely
to ask for help at the
Ref desk
15. 1. Your favorite place
2. Your least favorite place
3. Something you can’t imagine the library
without
4. Something you don’t think should be
here
5. Your preferred solo study space
6. Your preferred group study space
7. What your study space looks like
when you’re working
8. Your most common destination
9. Something you’ll miss when you
graduate
10. Something you want to change in the
library
11. A picture to show to a “prospy”
12. Someplace you’ve never been before
13. A place in the library where you feel lost
14. Where you ask questions
15. Library activity
16. Something unique (to our library)
17. Something you want more of
18. Most popular space
19. Least popular space
20. The computer you use most often in the
library, showing its surroundings
21. Your favorite search tool
22. A resource you rarely use
23. Something you have a question about
24. Why you come to the library
16. “Librarian – mostly research-related
questions. B/c they’re so wonderful!”
“Basic questions about access to books,
overdues, etc. I usually know students
at this desk, which is why I ask.”
18. “Lexisnexis. I LOVE it. (Teachers like
when you use more than books too!)”
Student Responses Grouped byType
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Online
Library
Resources
Google Other*
*Other denotes a dictionary and library
signage on bookshelves
19. “I don’t read the newspaper often here,
but I wish I did so keep them! ”
Student Responses
InterLibrary Loan
Newpapers
Microfiche Government
Documents
AudioVisual Collection
Circulation Desk
Color Printer
Reference Desk
Periodicals
Writing Center Outpost
Printout Research Guides
20. “I studied here quite often
--best chairs and tables.”
“Comfy! I like to read here.”
21. “If I have a lot to get done or a
movie to watch I like to shut
the door & concentrate”
“I like the round table on the main
floor and near the middle. It is
away from the crazy entrance area
but yet in a social area too.”
22. “I always have my computer out with many
different things up on it. I always have a
drink near me along with different books
surrounding my computer. I also have a lot
of papers spread out so I can see everything.”
“My space gets busy quickly – I love
being able to spread out, and that helps
me focus more. I always could use more
space.”
34. Main exercise:
Create a guide for incoming
first-year students about
how to use the library
website for research.
“Depending on the
requirements you may need to
use different types of sources
such as books or articles or
websites so try to use a variety
in your papers”
“Within each database think of
the overall assignment and
purpose of the paper and come
up with specific words to use in
your search”
35. Students want natural light, more tables, more private
study areas, more group study areas, a café, and better
tools to navigate the library
Students want a website that is visually appealing,
dynamic, simple, and well-organized
Students know where to ask for help (reference desk) but
we can better promote research services
Students want more support for research on website
More prominent tutorial, research guides, etc.
36. We shared our findings at May staff retreat
Initial recommendations distributed to library committees
Librarians are considering the design of the reference desk and
ways to promote it
Formed the “WebTask Force”
Fall focus group on website usability
Plan to repeat some aspects of the study to assess changes
37. Coordinate with strategic planning efforts
Integrate into library assessment plan
Expand focus beyond library’s instructional program
Take assessment measures following major changes
New library website
38. Use a variety of ethnographic methods
Address both physical and virtual library spaces
Involve undergraduates in the research team
Be prepared to conduct additional research!