This document summarizes the process undertaken by Reese Library at Augusta State University to establish a family study room. It describes how the idea was proposed by a student worker in 2006 and approved by the university. It then details the research, policy and procedure development, furnishing, and soft launch of the family room over the subsequent months. Key aspects included restricting access with a code-locked door, establishing sign-in/out procedures, and setting usage guidelines and violation consequences. Since opening, the room has been well-used with few issues, demonstrating its value to students with children on campus.
1. Camilla Baker and Michelle DeLoach
Reese Library
Augusta State University
Presented at
Inspiration, Innovation, Celebration: an Entrepreneurial
Conference for Librarians
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
June 3, 2009
2.
3. “Meeting Students Where They Stand”
Reese Library Student Retention and Success
Committee
4. Student security worker: Jamie Bassett
All-Library meeting
Library unit plan strategy
5. January 2006 Idea from Jamie
February 1, 2006 Discussion at All-
Library meeting
6. March 1, 2006 Discussion and decisions
made and proposal written
March 29, 2006 Approved by ASU and
allowed by USG
7. April 13, 2006 Committee surveyed 3rd
floor for the right location
April 26, 2006 VPAA and Director of
Physical Plant visit
May 9, 2006 End-of-year funds allocated
for furnishings
8.
9. June 2006 Research on policies
begins
August 2006 Policy complete
September 2006 Policy approved
October 2006 Procedure for usage of
the room created
10. Existing set of connected rooms
◦ Small room for children’s play area
◦ Large room for adult study and research
Used similar paint scheme
Added library-themed artwork and
displays
11. Children’s area
◦ Toddler size table and chairs, bean bags and
bookcases
◦ Books, checkers, building blocks, stuffed-animals,
TV/VCR and more
Adult area
◦ Cozy couch and three study loungers
◦ Two tables, computer carrels, whiteboards
◦ Call-down telephone
12. Two fire exits
Alarmed exit in children’s area
Restricted access
Periodic room checks
13. Valid University Identification
Sign-in at Circulation
Use code to access room
Tidy up before you leave
Sign-out at Circulation
14. One week
◦ Not signed in
◦ Forgot to sign out
◦ Letting in an unauthorized user (second offense)
One semester
◦ Child left unattended (first offense)
◦ Using the family while banned for the week
◦ Letting in an unauthorized user (third offense)
15. Child is left unattended (second offense)
Using the family while banned for the semester
Abuse to others
Multiple violations
16. Used 467 times by 1313 occupants
◦ 12/2006 – 12/2007 167 times by 496 occupants
◦ 1/2008 – 12/2008 211 times by 583 occupants
◦ 1/2009 – 5/2009 89 times by 234 occupants
Only four bans and two emails sent
◦ Repeated failure to sign out
◦ Child left unattended
◦ Family room left in disarray
17. Soft launch
Advertising
◦Pipeline posting
◦Instruction classes
◦Bulletin boards
◦Flyers
ALERTS
Open house
If you’ve ever looked up to see a student coming into the library with a toddler in a stroller and thought, “Oh, no,” then we may have something useful for you to consider.Much of what we consider to be typical academic library service is built upon the notion that all our students are 18-to-20-year-olds. Reality, however, tells us that we have more and more nontraditional students. It is not an unreasonable assumption that some of them have children of their own. Infants and toddlers are not always welcome additions to the academic setting. They cry, they run around, they talk loudly in high-pitched voices – in short, they just don’t behave according to library protocols. However, every parent of young children knows that there are times that, no matter how pressing your need, you can’t find someone else to care for them, and you just have to take them with you.That doesn’t have to mean that the parents can’t come to the library to work when this occurs.