Seating Usage Study Develop a long-term plan for upgrading/updating underutilized seating areas Find other tools for assessing usage of library spaces ACTIONS Average Number of Library Patrons per Time Period SP 2014 SP 2015 FA 2015 FA 2016 SP 2018 FA 2019 FA 2023 Weekday 8am to 1pm 32.4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Weekday 1pm to 6pm 77.3 55.8 122.6 118.3 102.3 127.5 191.4 Weekday 6pm to 10pm 128.4 92.9 157.3 134.4 151.4 148.8 158.9 Saturday 12pm to 5pm n/a 127.0 88.0 n/a n/a 177.8 n/a 114.5 n/a 142.7 154.3 116.2 Sunday 4pm to 10pm Closing 11pm Sun-Thurs: 7pm Fri-Sat 83.0 59.7 82.3 n/a 142.8 82.8 111.6 Group Study Rooms Carrels Group Tables Solo Tables Reading Chairs Computers CFA Space GroupWork Casual Reading 39.7% 47.7% 54.7% 74.9% 41.8% 67.9% 27.7% 50.5% 44.0% Upper Level Group Study Rooms Carrels Group Tables Solo Tables Reading Chairs MediaPLEX CMC Lower Level 46.1% 31.6% 48.8% 49.2% 22.5% 23.1% 29.8% Occupancy Rates in the Library Seating Areas (Library Occupancy = 200+) During two multi-week periods of fall semester, library employees logged data on student usage of library seating areas using a template that had been developed in 2014. Student staff recorded by hand the number of students occupying seats in sixteen discrete areas of the library. The data was compiled and tabulated based on the percentage of total seats occupied to assess student preferences for various areas of the library. The data was further grouped into 3 tiers based upon total patrons in the library (0-99 patrons, 100-199 patrons, or 200+ patrons). In the upper level most used areas of the library were individual study tables, computer stations, and group study tables, with 60-75% of seats occupied in some areas. On the lower level, group and solo tables were the preferred areas (with 4050% of seats filled). Unsurprisingly, as the library becomes busier all seating areas of the library become more occupied; even the library carrel seating areas can reach 50% of capacity or more. These figures are generally consistent with data from past years though the data collection in 2024 was more robust and extensive. One challenge is using this data effectively is that not all spaces carry out the same function or are structured in the same way. For example, group tables are designed and marketed for collaborative study which encourages close proximity and higher rates of occupancy. Library carrels are designed for solo study which tends to require/encourage less physical proximity and more distancing, leaving a higher number of seats unfilled. A noticeable change from past years was the overall numbers of students using the library was much greater, particularly on weekday afternoons. While this data is borne out by our daily gate count data, the manual surveys showed an increase of nearly 250% during weekday afternoons (averaging 85 patrons in 2014-16 surveys and 191 patrons in 2023 surveys. The library added additional seating in 2023-24 in the upper level, but the volume of traffic is rising faster than we can add seating. We remain very interested in measuring usage of the library facility and responding to student needs. The lower level provides the seating areas with the most excess capacity, making it the primary target for future seating area renovations.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=