Download - March 18, 2005Computers in Libraries 20051 SPACE THE FUTURE FRONTIER Don Albrecht Jennifer S. Kutzik Colorado State University Libraries.

March 18, 2005 Computers in Libraries 2005 1

SPACE

THE FUTURE FRONTIER

Don AlbrechtJennifer S. Kutzik

Colorado State University Libraries


Our Enterprise• CSU enrollment = 24,700

• Academic research library

• 109 faculty/staff, 106 student workers

• Major space expansion started 1994


Sheet Flow Disaster - 1997


Our Enterprise • Space expansion

completed 1998

• Currently planning future space use


Welcome to the Mother Ship

• Five floors in Morgan (main) Library• Electronic Information Commons (EIC)

– – 240 workstations • 3 teaching labs totaling 70 workstations• 4 assistive technology rooms• 2 “smart” group study rooms• 9 group study rooms• 6 scanning workstations• 2 open workstations


Space Appeal• Location

• Architecture

• Focal points

• Color

• Amenities

• Open space


What’s The Mission? • Accommodate change

– Emphasis on technology

– Individual study habits

– Collaborative learning

– Assistive technology demands

• Preserve personal space

• Provide group space


Significant Debates

1) Relaxing food & noise rules

2) Start a laptop checkout service

3) Add productivity tools to EIC


Relaxing Food & Noise RulesPros

• Matches desires

• More inviting

• Director wants it

Cons

• Affect on facility

• Noise/food cops

• Staff resistanceResults:

• Staff flocks to coffee cart • Facility still clean enough• Enforcement not problematic• Patron usage increases


Checkout Laptop ServicePros

• Matches needs

• Bragging rights

• Director wants it

Cons

• Theft & abuse

• Connectivity issues

• Tech Support costResults:

• Overwhelming support by students• Expanded from 20 to 120 laptops • Theft and abuse not significant• Major Tech Support & Circulation issues


Add Productivity Tools to EICPros• Strong user demand• Can’t block e-mail• Success of laptops • Director wants it

Cons• Staff resistance• Loss of EIC focus• Lack of equipment • Tech Support issues

Results:• Overwhelming usage by students• Positioned to support campus technology • PC security has become a major issue• Significant Tech Support issues


Lessons LearnedWhat Worked For CSU

– Checkout laptop service (at a cost)

– Wireless computing (at a cost)


Adjacent Spaces• Electronic

Information Labs are adjacent to the Electronic Information Center

• Labs are opened for general use as needed


What Worked For CSU– Relaxing food and

noise rules

– More group

study rooms

– More assistive

technology


Gate Count vs. Enrollment

-20.00%

-10.00%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Gate Count

Enrollment


Lessons Learned

What Did Not Work For CSU– E-mail only workstations

– Thin client workstations

– Single assistive technology room

– Laptops older than 3 years

– Waiting until all questions were answered to move ahead


Future Frontiers–Continue laptop checkout service

–Checkout portable projection kits

–Continue group & quiet zones

–Search for

multiple-use

public spaces


To Boldly Go …–Use of portable dividing walls?

–Size of on-site collection?

–Support/promote online chat? (chatty Ask-A-Librarian)

–Hours of operation?


Where to put 2,000 more seats?


Space: The Future FrontierDon AlbrechtColorado State University [email protected]

Jennifer S. KutzikColorado State University [email protected]

http://lib.colostate.edu/