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December 3, 2007
More electrical, digital and search power to be added to libraries

By Lea McLees

The Emory University Libraries are taking power to the people — students and faculty alike — following the results of a Web survey of Emory faculty and students earlier this year.

The more than 2,000 respondents requested additional e-journals and enhanced search engines libraries-wide, as well as more electrical power throughout the stacks of the Robert W. Woodruff Library, said Library Assessment Coordinator Susan Bailey.

“Improvements to EUCLID and other library systems and services for finding and using library resources are coming soon,” Bailey said. “In addition, we are converting more journals to electronic- only subscriptions.”
And electrical power?

“Additional power outlets are being added to the Level One columns in Woodruff,” Bailey said. “The renovation of Stacks Level Six in progress right now will more than double the number of power outlets available on that floor.”

The results of the survey, conducted for the libraries by Emory’s Office of Institutional Research, reflect the needs of faculty and graduate students, who often access library resources from their homes and offices; as well as the needs of undergraduates, who are the most frequent in-person users of library spaces. Users of all of the Emory libraries were represented among the respondents.

The survey also highlighted differing needs in each library based on subject areas, Bailey said.

“For example, print collections are rated essential for almost 80 percent of Theology Library users. Print collections are rated essential for less than 30 percent of Business Library users, however, because so much of what they need is accessible online.”

Upcoming library enhancements that reflect survey respondents’ needs include:

• Improvements to EUCLID and other systems for finding and using library resources.

• The conversion of a number of journals to electronic only, as part of the Moving Beyond Paper initiative, detailed at http://web.library.emory.edu/moving_beyond_paper/.

• Additional electronic content will be added through the Mass Digitization initiative, described at http://news.emory.edu/Releases/irtasPartnership1181162558.html.

In addition, more power outlets are being added on Level 1 of Woodruff Library, and improvements to photocopying services there are planned for 2008.