The Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences collected user location information to analyze public space usage. The data were used to create heat map representations of average occupancy rates at specific locations within the building

Barkley, Stephen

English

Presented at the 2017 Access Services Conference, Georgia Tech Global Learning Center and the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, November 15-17, 2017, Atlanta, Georgia.Access Services Conference Track : Stacks and Space ManagementStephen R. Barkley, MLIS at Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences.How do patrons actually use library space? After a recent renovation, we collected patron location data to see which furniture and locations our patrons prefer. This poster details our methods of data collection, visualizing that data with heat maps, and implications for the future

Barkley, Stephen R.

Scholarly Materials And Research @ Georgia Tech

Visualizing Space Usage Patterns in a Health Sciences LibraryAccess Services Conference, November 16, 2017, Atlanta, GeorgiaStephen R. Barkley, MLISVCU Libraries, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health SciencesThe Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences collected user location information to analyze public space usage. That data was used to create heat map representations of average occupancy rates at specific locations within the building.Background:• Library buildings constructed in 1930s and 1970s at an urban, public research university.• Most recent partial renovations completed in January 2017.• New public area floor plan and furniture throughout the first floor.Methods:• Collected user location data through direct observation.• Only non-identifiable information was collected.• Observations made four times per day, Monday through Friday.• Library staff marked user locations on a modified floor map.Questions:• Do patrons prefer a specific type of furniture?• Which locations do patrons use most often?• Does furniture or room location affect usage rates?Analysis:• Hand collected data were entered into a spreadsheet.• The average rate of occupancy was derived as a percentage.• Data were then imported into the Tableau analytics platform.• Individual data points were assigned to their corresponding location on a floor plan image.• Each location then displayed a color based on its associated data point’s occupancy rate.Results:• Locations with the highest occupancy (60% - 72%) include café-style seating areas, group study rooms, and isolated, quiet spaces.• Locations with the lowest occupancy included lounge-style seating, computer workstations, and study carrels near highly trafficked areas.Conclusions:• Patrons appear to prefer locations with ample table space that can accommodate multiple users.• Library users preferred group study rooms with ample natural light.• Patrons preferred silent study spaces if they were as secluded as possible and away from travel pathways.• Traditional computer workstations are not desirable for our users.Next Steps:• Refine the method of data collection to ease the burden on library staff.• Data from this study will be used to help plan a new library building in the future.

Visualizing Space Usage Patterns in a Health Sciences Library

VCU Scholars Compass

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVCU Scholars CompassVCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations VCU Libraries2017Visualizing Space Usage Patterns in a HealthSciences LibraryStephen BarkleyVirginia Commonwealth University, srbarkley@vcu.eduFollow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/libraries_presentPart of the Library and Information Science CommonsThis Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by the VCU Libraries at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in VCULibraries Faculty and Staff Presentations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contactlibcompass@vcu.edu.Downloaded fromhttps://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/libraries_present/63Visualizing Space Usage Patterns in a Health Sciences LibraryAccess Services Conference, November 16, 2017, Atlanta, GeorgiaStephen R. Barkley, MLISVCU Libraries, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health SciencesThe Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences collected user location information to analyze public space usage. That data was used to create heat map representations of average occupancy rates at specific locations within the building.Background:• Library buildings constructed in 1930s and 1970s at an urban, public research university.• Most recent partial renovations completed in January 2017.• New public area floor plan and furniture throughout the first floor.Methods:• Collected user location data through direct observation.• Only non-identifiable information was collected.• Observations made four times per day, Monday through Friday.• Library staff marked user locations on a modified floor map.Questions:• Do patrons prefer a specific type of furniture?• Which locations do patrons use most often?• Does furniture or room location affect usage rates?Analysis:• Hand collected data were entered into a spreadsheet.• The average rate of occupancy was derived as a percentage.• Data were then imported into the Tableau analytics platform.• Individual data points were assigned to their corresponding location on a floor plan image.• Each location then displayed a color based on its associated data point’s occupancy rate.Results:• Locations with the highest occupancy (60% - 72%) include café-style seating areas, group study rooms, and isolated, quiet spaces.• Locations with the lowest occupancy included lounge-style seating, computer workstations, and study carrels near highly trafficked areas.Conclusions:• Patrons appear to prefer locations with ample table space that can accommodate multiple users.• Library users preferred group study rooms with ample natural light.• Patrons preferred silent study spaces if they were as secluded as possible and away from travel pathways.• Traditional computer workstations are not desirable for our users.Next Steps:• Refine the method of data collection to ease the burden on library staff.• Data from this study will be used to help plan a new library building in the future.

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Visualizing Space Usage Patterns in a Health Sciences Library

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