Campus News

April 13, 2011

Libraries respond to feedback for final exams

Students studying at the Oxford library.

By Maureen McGavin

Based on feedback from a survey of students and faculty, the Emory Libraries will continue to address noise challenges and other issues before the University heads into finals week.

Information gleaned from the recent survey – which drew a significantly higher response rate this year – revealed "numerous comments about the noise, the need for more places for quiet study and group study, and for better separation of quiet study space from more social space," says Susan Bailey, library assessment coordinator.

"Student comments often focused on the challenges during finals, when the traffic is higher, the noise is greater, and it is more difficult to find a place to study," Bailey says.

"Student comments often focused on the challenges during finals, when the traffic is higher, the noise is greater, and it is more difficult to find a place to study," says Susan Bailey, library assessment coordinator.

The library received similar feedback during last year’s survey and began implementing steps to control noise last semester. To address student concerns in advance of finals week this semester, the services division in the Woodruff Library will:

• Post courtesy signs to raise awareness of staff and student noise, the need to throw trash away and the Libraries’ cleaning schedule, as was done during fall semester’s finals week. Library security will monitor the noise level and enforce the quiet policy on individual study floors.

• Request a temporary increase in maintenance/cleaning staff with extra rounds.

• Restrict visitor access and give Emory users priority, beginning April 18.

• Clean all printers in advance of finals so they are in top condition for heavy use.

• Make earplugs available for those who want them.

• Request additional service to restock the vending machine that contains supplies (blue books, index cards, headphones, flash drives) near the library service desk.

• Request more trash cans on levels 1-3.

• Provide extra tables on level 3.

Students will see flyers posted around the building with reminders of some of these highlights.

Participation in the survey more than doubled this year – there were 2,179 responses and an approximate response rate of 11.6 percent, compared with last year’s rate of 5.2 percent.

Students and faculty from all the Emory Libraries are represented in the survey. The Libraries worked to boost participation with a streamlined process, a more aggressive marketing message and incentives – drawings for two iPads and three $25 iTunes gift cards. The iPads were won by Brian Davis, a fourth-year PhD student in the ILA, and Oxford undergraduate Esther Yoo.

"The survey comments are a rich source of information," adds Bailey – a source the Libraries will continue to analyze to improve services.

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