Libraries are the intellectual commons where users interact with ideas in both physical and virtual environments to expand learning and facilitate the creation of new knowledge.
Discussion
The library conducted a student survey during spring quarter 2019 that asked about equipment, furniture, space, hours, and whether the library environment is welcoming. Also, a fall 2016 student and faculty focus group included information about library furnishings and study rooms. This report is informed by the results from the survey, the focus group, as well as observations from library personnel.
Performance Indicator 6.6
The Library's physical space features connectivity and up-to-date, adequate, well-maintained equipment and furnishings.
OUTCOME 6.6 Students judge furniture to be adequate for their needs.
Two wireless networks are available in the library, one for students and employees and another for guests. Wireless printing is available for students using their own devices. Of students surveyed, 88% agreed or strongly agreed that Internet connectivity was satisfactory.
The library contains the largest drop-in computer lab on campus with 71 workstations. Desktop computers are replaced every five years as part of the regular IT rotation schedule. One computer has a scanner and a wide format printer. Color, and black & white printing are available. The library and the cashier's office are the only locations on campus where students can add money to their print quota. The library only accepts cash or check, and students must go to the cashier's office to use a credit/debit card, which can be problematic for students after-hours. There is a photocopy machine that students may use at no cost. Library staff, faculty, and work-study students provide limited computer lab support for students and public patrons.
There is a need for an enclosed work area in the library where students can make audio or video recordings. Courses such as foreign languages, American Sign Language, communication studies and business require that students create recordings. In addition, students in online classes sometimes need a private setting for audio/video communication with their instructors.
A variety of equipment is available at the Check Out Desk for students to borrow including laptop computers, Internet hotspots, ebook readers, iPads, GoPro cameras, and a number of smaller devices. 85% of surveyed students agreed or strongly agreed that library equipment was up-to-date and met their needs. Written comments were both positive and negative. Students suggested newer computers and printing that is more convenient. Unfortunately, the library was recently informed that the student checkout computers and hotspots were not going to be funded on the rotation schedule. These resources help to close equity gaps for students struggling to complete work at home where Internet and technology may not be available; funding them should be a priority.
The library has 285 seats available at study carrels, tables, computer workstations, and lounge areas. The number of seats is adequate to accommodate student needs. Much of the furniture was purchased in the late 1980s when the library was originally built, while the rest was gradually acquired as surplus from elsewhere in the District. The original chairs are hard, uncomfortable and showing wear. Comments from the space survey refer to students’ desire to have updated furniture, especially chairs. One student said: “The one reason I don’t come often is because the furniture is so old and uncomfortable.” Another stated: “The library needs a little TLC. New furniture would be nice.” There is also a need for modular furniture that supports collaborative learning, especially wheeled furniture that's easily reconfigured and multimedia tables.
There are two library classrooms for information literacy instruction. The large classroom seats 44 students and has 30 student laptops and a tabletop printer. The small classroom seats 20 students and has 20 laptops; this room doubles as the Virtual Reality space. Each classroom is equipped with an instructor station and a Smartboard. It is important that librarians continue to have first priority for scheduling these classrooms because we cannot anticipate when instructors will request library sessions.
Students may reserve two large and two small study rooms. The rooms each contain a computer, DVD player, VHS player, and a large monitor. Of students who completed the space survey 75% agreed or strongly agreed that library study rooms met their needs. A number of comments touched on the popularity and value of the study rooms and a couple noted that there are not enough study rooms. Circulation staff observe that the demand for study rooms is frequently greater than the number available.
SCC Disability Support Services maintains the equipment in the ADA study room on the library second floor and the DaVinci desktop magnifier on the first floor. There is a need for signage and other information to make students aware of the ADA study room. During winter quarter 2019 the Check Out Desk was adapted to be accessible for wheelchair users. The Reference Desk is not wheelchair accessible.
The Hagan Foundation Center for the Humanities is located on the library second floor. The Center, managed by the SCC Division of Arts and Sciences, hosts speakers and events throughout the year. Two offices on the library second floor are utilized by the Hagan Center for storage, in addition to a portion of the library’s large storage room. Re-purposing these rooms would create new study rooms and greatly aid students as the current room schedule is often filled beyond capacity.
The library has two large electronic signs which function intermittently. Library personnel have no consistent process for maintaining their content nor for troubleshooting with CCS sign administrators the frequent streaming errors. Proper utilization of the electronic signs would be a useful tool for communicating library information to students on the Spokane and rural center campuses.
Space dedicated to library services and resources in the rural centers varies widely, due to varied center sizes. The Colville Center library acts as a support-hub for the outlying centers in Republic, Ione, Newport, and Inchelium, assisting with services and book requests. The Colville Center has a library with a print collection, equipment checkout (Internet hotspots, laptops, e-readers, graphing/scientific calculators), a 13-station computer lab, three study rooms for individuals and groups, a photocopier/scanner, and space for test proctoring. Like the main campus library, Colville is overdue for a reassessment of space utilization. The Newport and Republic centers have small print collections in the computer/tutoring/testing room and Ione and Inchelium centers maintain a single book cart.
Performance Indicator 6.7
The Library provides clean, inviting, and adequate space, conducive to study and research, with suitable environmental conditions and convenient hours for its services, personnel, resources, and collections.
OUTCOME 6.7 Students recognize the library as a welcoming environment with convenient hours.
Student respondents to our library space survey overwhelmingly agreed that the library provides a welcoming and supportive environment. In their comments, students repeatedly mentioned that library staff are friendly and helpful. Daily interactions with students and feedback from discipline faculty reinforce the survey finding that students rely on the library as both a physical space and a place to get individual assistance for a variety of needs.
When asked about quiet space in the library, 91% of students surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that it was adequate. Eight percent of students wrote comments about noise issues.
The library is overdue for an analysis of space utilization. There is a need to reassess the size and locations of specific collections (e.g. law, oversize, reference, AV, paperbacks, Library of Things) and functions such as reference and technical services. The library is interested in developing flexible spaces that are adaptable to changing needs and varied student learning styles. A major finding reported in both ACRL’s (Association of College and Research Libraries) Environmental Scan 2017 and Project Information Literacy’s Planning and Designing of Academic Library Spaces (2016) notes that students value flexible spaces that support both individual and collaborative learning. Any changes in configuration will be limited by current infrastructure of wireless routers, network drops, and electrical outlets.
The library is open 7:15 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday for a total of 61.75 hours each week. While 86% of students agree or strongly agree that library open hours are convenient for them, several students’ commented they would prefer longer hours, especially weekend hours (closing later on Fridays; opening on Sundays). Library personnel have observed that the number of students using the library during evenings and Saturdays does not indicate a strong need for additional open hours. The library is in need of consistent and reliable gate count data for mandated external reporting and internal decision-making. We do not currently have a functioning counter device.
Supporting Documents