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This is a very working draft of possible thoughts/questions for studying our space this term. See below - EVERYTHING is up for discussion/debate (even the goals). At the bottom I've gone through the "user needs study ideas" and have listed what I found to be the most asked questions and then another group of questions that were proposed - but not with the regularity of the first group. Depending on how big we want this to get - we can use these questions to find out the questions staff most want to know answers to. Please review and give feedback.

Thanks - SH

Draft - Ethnographic study - space

Goals

learn now we can best serve our users
learn what our users needs are related to our spaces
- equipment
- staff
- collections (including reserves)
- study spaces
- other

find ways to reach users who don't come into spaces too
- find out why they don't
- or what would inspire them to visit
- where do they work/study instead

Things to keep in mind:

want specific stories - not just opinion - don't always ask why - find out the thought process behind their action

Several pronged approach

1. Ethnographic interviews - scheduled (get volunteers through sign up or lists already compiled - or does this lend itself to a survey?)

Possible questions:

how often do you visit a physical library
what do you do in the library (reserves, equipment, study, sleep, etc.)
what could we do to improve the space
where is your favorite place to study/work
where else on campus do you like to study? what draws you to this space?

2. Observational studies

From CQ (information she'd like to see - my notes in italics):

count users in all of our spaces on an hourly basis - (possible via gate count)
count users in the zones of our spaces on an hourly basis [24 hr and group study spaces, use of LAN computers for MIT and non-MIT] - (would just need to define/map zones in each library - and then decide who would count and how the counting would occur)
conduct study over multiple sample weeks during semester - (two or three times?)
compare observational data to Aleph transactions happening during sample weeks and referrals/Ask Us questions or away from desk/Reserch Consultations during those sample weeks - (is this data Lisa S. could gather in her data role?)
another interesting data question from CQ: is there any hourly data to be gathered from use of our web site, research guides, Barton OPAC, ILLiad or Vera resources that could inform when our users are actively working?

Other things to record at determined time/intervals:

make a note of what people are doing, what objects they are using or trying to use, or what people are doing in interaction with each other

Sample observation report form (for bullet point above):

Observer name
Location/time/date
Description of setting (for a particular spot in a library or other space)
What people were doing (activities observed, with any counts that may have been done - such as, x number of people had laptops)
Difficulties and comments (any problems that arose or that were perceived, plus any additional comments on the task or what you saw)

3. Lobby interviews (give a questionnaire or a $100 test or both)? We could hand these out - they could give them back when they leave or we could have a box near the door. Participating would enter them into a drawing for a $25? gift certificate. We could also ask liaisons to send this out electronically - similar to what we did for Sugg. Box.

what are you coming to do
how often do you visit the library
how long do you think you'll spend?
what could we do to make the space better for you?

or if they are leaving the library

what was the nature of your visit - have options to circle?
how long was your visit
what could we do to make the space better for you

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Question/themes ideas taken from "User Needs study ideas"

Most often asked/mentioned questions:

would you be more likely to visit a library if it had a cafe? Would you like to be able to eat/drink in the library?
what is the best time for you to do work or study?
what do you do in the library/why do you come to the library? (what are users doing in our spaces @ different times of the day? i.e. how does time of day affect how a library is used?)
what makes you choose library space for your work?
what is the one thing about the libraries at MIT that you would change if you could?
what level of noise and activity are you willing to tolerate?
do you feel safe in the library?
where are your favorite places to study - in or out of the libraries?
what equipment do you bring to the library? what equipment do you expect to find in the library? what equipment would you like to find in the library?
if you don't work regularly (or ever) in a library space, why not?
what would make you come more often?
what % of your work time/study time is individual and what % is group? do you do both in the library?
what are three positive and three negative words you would use to describe our spaces?
Do you browse the print collections?
Do you find the library staff to be approachable? Helpful?
what hours are the most important to you for the libraries to be open?
what is spaces are we lacking? is there something missing that requires you to leave when you'd rather keep working?

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Draft - Ethnographic study - space

Question/themes ideas taken from "User Needs study ideas"

Most often asked/mentioned questions:

Other questions/themes which emerged: