study space for students with young children
DESCRIPTION
Study Space for Students with Young Children Camilla Baker and Michelle DeLoach, Augusta State University In response to a 2005 initiative on student retention and success by the University System of Georgia, Augusta State University formulated its plan, entitled “Meeting Students Where They Stand.”Reese Library at ASU solicited suggestions from faculty, staff, and students for new ways in which we could help students persist toward graduation. The project given highest priority for development was the creation of a “family space,” where students who have young children in tow can bring them when they have work to do in the library.Young children are often viewed askance in an academic library – they make too much noise, they run around, they’re generally disruptive. However, at a university with a high concentration of commuter students, small children are frequently a fact of life for our student body. Creating a place for children, where the parents can still get some work done on their course assignments, is one of our ways of meeting our students “where they stand.” This panel presentation will cover the planning process, implementation, costs, current use, and measures of the success of this space in Reese Library.TRANSCRIPT
Study Space for Students
with Young Children
Study Space for Students
with Young Children Camilla Baker and Michelle DeLoach
Reese LibraryAugusta State University
Presented at
Inspiration, Innovation, Celebration: an Entrepreneurial Conference for LibrariansUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro
June 3, 2009
BackgroundBackground
“Meeting Students Where They Stand”
Reese Library Student Retention and Success Committee
An Idea is BornAn Idea is Born
Student security worker: Jamie Bassett
All-Library meeting
Library unit plan strategy
TimelineJanuary – May 2006TimelineJanuary – May 2006
January 2006 Idea from Jamie
February 1, 2006 Discussion at All- Library meeting
TimelineTimeline
March 1, 2006 Discussion and decisions made and proposal written
March 29, 2006 Approved by ASU and allowed by USG
TimelineTimeline
April 13, 2006 Committee surveyed 3rd floor for the right
location
April 26, 2006 VPAA and Director of Physical Plant visit
May 9, 2006 End-of-year funds allocated for furnishings
June 2006 Research on policies begins
August 2006 Policy complete
September 2006 Policy approved
October 2006 Procedure for usage of the room created
Existing set of connected rooms◦Small room for children’s play area◦Large room for adult study and research
Used similar paint scheme
Added library-themed artwork and displays
DesignDesign
Children’s area◦Toddler size table and chairs, bean bags
and bookcases◦Books, checkers, building blocks, stuffed-
animals, TV/VCR and more
Adult area◦Cozy couch and three study loungers◦Two tables, computer carrels,
whiteboards◦Call-down telephone
FurnishingsFurnishings
Two fire exits
Alarmed exit in children’s area
Restricted access
Periodic room checks
Will children be safe?Will children be safe?
Valid University Identification
Sign-in at Circulation
Use code to access room
Tidy up before you leave
Sign-out at Circulation
Using the Family RoomUsing the Family Room
One week◦Not signed in◦Forgot to sign out◦Letting in an unauthorized user (second
offense)
One semester◦Child left unattended (first offense)◦Using the family while banned for the
week◦Letting in an unauthorized user (third
offense)
Temporary BanTemporary Ban
Child is left unattended (second offense)
Using the family while banned for the semester
Abuse to others
Multiple violations
Permanent BanPermanent Ban
Used 467 times by 1313 occupants◦12/2006 – 12/2007 167 times by 496
occupants◦1/2008 – 12/2008 211 times by 583
occupants◦1/2009 – 5/2009 89 times by 234 occupants
Only four bans and two emails sent◦Repeated failure to sign out◦Child left unattended◦Family room left in disarray
What do the numbers say?What do the numbers say?
Soft launchAdvertising◦Pipeline posting◦Instruction classes◦Bulletin boards◦Flyers
ALERTSOpen house
Marketing the Family RoomMarketing the Family Room
Flyers & E-mailLibrary Staff & ALERTSDistributed guidelines30 visitors
Open House, Sept. 18Open House, Sept. 18
Shoestring budget
◦Biggest initial expense was for personnel time for Making policies Making procedures Devising safety guidelines
You Can Do It, Too!You Can Do It, Too!
Get Your Administration On BoardGet Your Administration On Board
Physical Plant – painting & electrical upgrades
ITS – re-establishing network connections Library – three computers
Enter Text
Actual Costs• Programmable keycodelock: $412• Alarmed exit & deadbolt: $70
(for children’s room)
• Furniture: $8,319• 3 Bean bag chairs: $207• Bulletin board kits: $30• 2 Diaper changing stations: $520
(for men’s and women’s rooms)
Value for students with children:
Priceless!
Total Cost to Library: $9,558Total Cost to Library: $9,558
