Study Space Report
Community Needs Assessment Process Group
March 1998
PART 1: Library Space Inventory and Survey of Seat Occupancy
Introduction
In May of 1996, the Community Needs Assessment Process Group (CNAPG) was asked by Library Council to obtain information about the use of study spae in the Davis Centre Library and the Dana Porter Library.
In November 1996, members of CNAPG did an inventory of library study space: Laurie Strome co-ordinated the inventory in Porter Library; Sharon Lamont in Davis Library. The inventory included the types and locations of spaces available for studying purposes, and the number of available seats. The types of spaces were carrels, chairs in the Current Periodical Reading Area, tables, individual study tables or rooms, and group study rooms. The Special Collections area in Porter Library was not included in the inventory.
During the week of Monday, December 2 – Sunday, December 8, 1996, CNAPG administered a survey of seat occupancy in both libraries. This week included the last two days of classes (December 2, 3) and two final examination dates (December 6, 8). The survey was conducted four times each day.
During the analysis of the results, CNAPG decided that each library had to be examined separately since occupancy rates by location, and type of seating were so different. To best understand the results, the physical environment of the buildings had to be taken into account.
Space Entitlement Analysis
A recent review of UW Library's space entitlement based on 1996/97 data and using the UW space formula showed that the library's overall under-entitlement was 31,174 sq.ft. or -17.2%. Analysis of study space entitlements for the two main libraries shows that both libraries provide enough space for study according to the UW space formula. (See Appendix 1)
General Observations
Our observations are based on data from the Library Study Space inventory conducted during November 1996, on data from Survey of Seat Occupancy conducted during the first week of December 1996, as well as from data from the 1993/94 Information Needs Survey which shows that 73% of undergraduates state that study space is very important to them
Based on the number of available seats in the library, occupancy rates are relatively low. This is especially true in the Porter Library, where the average daily occupancy rate on each floor is less than 30%. Only the use of individual tables on the second floor approaches a daily average occupancy of almost 50%. The Davis Centre Library's occupancy rate is much higher with the main floor topping 60%, and where over 90% of the carrels are occupied.
There seems to be a relationship between the overall physical environment of the library and the way students use it. Amount of space (elbow room), light, air quality, amount of open visual space, type of furniture, noise level and safety considerations all seem to influence the use of study space by students. Social and behavioral issues may also influence use. For example, most students do not seem willing to share space with strangers. Most students seem to have a definite need for elbowroom. Many seem to prefer individual tables or carrels, which they can regard as personal space.
Large open areas seem to attract more students, although some like to take up corners, where they have more privacy. Safety seems to be a concern, especially in Porter, where stacks and high carrels obstruct vision.
The type of available furniture is also an important factor determining its use. Putting more chairs around tables, does not seem to increase occupancy rate. Most tables are never fully occupied, and are mostly occupied by less than three persons at a time. Spacing between furniture seems important: students seem to like more space to move around. The number of carrels in Porter may have to be decreased to allow for a less cluttered atmosphere. Better maintenance of carrels may result in increased use.
Many study rooms are underused, as one or two students occupying the rooms for individual study discourage groups of students wanting to use them. Scheduling the use of the study rooms may help appropriate use.
Davis Centre Library
There are 836 available public study seats – with an average daily occupancy rate of 57.2%. There are two levels – lower and main.
Both levels have very high (over 90%) occupancy rate of individual carrels. In contrast, occupancy rate for tables is under 50%. In general, it is very rare for all available seats to be occupied. Students seem to consider a table fully occupied if two people are already using it.
Davis - Total Seats Analysis:
|
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
Average |
|
| Total Seats |
836 |
836 |
836 |
836 |
836 |
836 |
836 |
836 |
| Daily Average |
428 |
502 |
520 |
546 |
526 |
421 |
404 |
478 |
| Average Occupancy Rate |
51.1% |
60.0% |
62.1% |
65.3% |
62.9% |
50.4% |
48.3% |
57.2% |
Davis - Analysis by location:
|
Available Seats |
Daily Average Use |
Average Occupancy Rate |
|
| Lower Level |
258 |
115 |
44.4% |
| Main Level |
578 |
366 |
63.4% |
Davis - Analysis by type of seating:
|
Available Seats |
Daily Average Use |
Average Occupancy Rate |
|
| Tables |
520 |
221 |
42.6% |
| Carrels |
254 |
233 |
91.6% |
| Chairs-lower level reading area |
18 |
7 |
39.7% |
| Group Study Rooms |
34 |
10 |
34.6% |
| Small Individual Rooms - main level |
10 |
5 |
52.5% |
Detailed analysis of Davis seating by location and type of furniture is in Appendix 2.
Dana Porter Library
There are 1163 available public seats – with an overall occupancy rate of 24.5%.
Occupancy rates differ by floor. The first two floors, which have different functions from the rest, also have slightly diverse occupancy rates.
Dana Porter - Total Seats Analysis:
|
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
Average |
|
| Total Seats |
1163 |
1163 |
1163 |
1163 |
1163 |
1163 |
1163 |
1163 |
| Daily Average |
184 |
270 |
335 |
383 |
289 |
239 |
293 |
284 |
| Average Occupancy Rate |
15.8% |
23.2% |
28.8% |
32.9% |
24.8% |
20.6% |
25.2% |
24.5% |
Dana Porter - Analysis by location:
|
Available Seats |
Daily Average Use |
Average Occupancy Rate |
|
| First Floor |
18 |
2 |
13.7% |
| Second Floor |
88 |
26 |
29.9% |
| Third Floor |
169 |
41 |
24.4% |
| Fifth Floor |
105 |
29 |
27.8% |
| Sixth Floor |
164 |
39 |
23.6% |
| Seventh Floor |
150 |
39 |
25.8% |
| Eight Floor |
153 |
35 |
22.7% |
| Ninth Floor |
154 |
34 |
22.0% |
| Tenth Floor |
162 |
39 |
23.8% |
Dana Porter - Analysis by type of seating:
|
Available Seats |
Daily Average Use |
Average Occupancy Rate |
|
| Tables |
236 |
50 |
21.2% |
| Carrels |
851 |
210 |
24.7% |
| Chairs |
21 |
2 |
8.3% |
| Individual Tables |
30 |
14 |
46.5% |
| Group Study Rooms |
25 |
9 |
34.3% |
Detailed analysis of Dana Porter seating by location and type of furniture is in Appendix 3.
Appendix 1. - Space Entitlement Analysis
Library Space Entitlement Data - based on 1996/97 data.
|
Actual Space |
UW Formula Entitlement |
Difference (sq. ft) |
% Difference (D/C) |
% Difference Act/Ent | |
| Porter Library | |||||
| Stack Space - Porter |
34,146 |
62,791 |
-28,645 |
-45.6% |
54.4% |
| Study Space - Porter |
24,568 |
23,722 |
846 |
3.6% |
103.6% |
| Service Space - Porter |
27,789 |
25,954 |
1,835 |
7.1% |
107.1% |
| Total Porter |
86,503 |
112,467 |
-25,964 |
-23.1% |
76.9% |
| Davis Library | |||||
| Stack Space - Davis |
24,064 |
20,315 |
3,749 |
18.5% |
118.5% |
| Study Space - Davis |
18,257 |
17,347 |
910 |
5.2% |
105.2% |
| Service Space - Davis |
9,078 |
11,298 |
-2,220 |
-19.7% |
80.3% |
| Total Davis |
51,399 |
48,960 |
2,439 |
5.0% |
105.0% |
| Total UW Library |
150,472 |
181,646 |
-31,174 |
-17.2% |
82.8% |
Appendix 2 - Detailed Seating Analysis - Davis Centre Library
Davis Library - Detailed Analysis - by location
Lower level –
40 tables 208 seats
16 carrels 16 seats
reading area 18 seats
Study room 16 seats
258 Seats Total
Daily average occupancy rate of 44.4%
Main level –
29 tables 174 seats
23 tables (reference) 138 seats
208 carrels 208 seats
30 carrels (silent area) 30 seats
3 study rooms 18 seats
5 ind. rooms 10 seats
578 Seats Total
Daily average occupancy rate of 63.4%
Appendix 3 - Detailed Seating Analysis - Dana Porter Library
Dana Porter Library - Detailed Analysis - by location
First Floor
3 tables 18 seats
Daily average occupancy rate of 13.7%
Second Floor *
13 tables 58 seats
30 ind. tables 30 seats
88 seats Total
Daily average occupancy rate of 29.9%
* does not include CD-ROM tables, abstracts, public catalogue, reference alcove & disabled students areas.
Third Floor
12 tables 68 seats
80 carrels 80 seats
current periodical reading area 21 seats
169 seats Total
Daily average occupancy rate of 24.4%
Fifth Floor
14 tables 84 seats
21 carrels 21 seats
105 seats Total
Daily average occupancy rate of 27.8%
Sixth Floor
group study room (1) 6 seats
2 tables 8 seats
150 carrels 150 seats
164 seats Total
Daily average occupancy rate of 23.6%
Seventh Floor
150 carrels 150 seats
Daily average occupancy rate of 25.8%
Eight Floor
group study room (1) 3 seats
150 carrels 150 seats
153 seats Total
Daily average occupancy rate of 22.7%
Ninth Floor
group study room (1) 4 seats
150 carrels 150 seats
154 seats Total
Daily average occupancy rate of 22%
Tenth Floor
group study room (1) 2 seats
group study room (1) 10 seats
150 carrels 150 seats
162 seats Total
Daily average occupancy rate of 23.8%