On Nov. 28-29, I attended the fall meeting of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL) on the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando. This was my first meeting in six years where I was not a board member or presenter and I enjoyed not having to worry about meeting administrative details. We met in the very impressive Hitt Library:
Very jealous of the fountain! The original 1960s building has had several updates, including an addition completed five years ago. The library seats over 3,000 and is highly used. They also use Occuspace to monitor occupancy.
Much like the libraries at NC State, they make innovative use of a variety of furniture styles and had just added noise canceling “phone booths” which the students love:
The library also made good use of video signage — here is an example of signage promoting their AV media check-out:
In addition to touring the library, we also had sessions on remote work management, use of AI in higher education, and lessons learned during renovations. Here are some of the lessons learned that were shared:
- Focus on mission and values when planning renovation – the library is the most inclusive space on campus
- Do not let architects and designers drive renovations; we have a better understanding of how our space is used
- Use the best materials for furniture
- Avoid “sticks and stalks” for chair legs and lights – first to break
- Embrace that students will move your furniture and have wheels on all tables
- Negotiate with campus partners to help fund renovations
- Cafe and food options very important – don’t short change
- High back furniture very popular
- Audio/sound privacy highly valued
- Avoid lounge furniture
- Future proof – avoid permanent walls where you can
- Go beyond the book – media and peripherals check out very popular
- Libraries are no longer computer labs; minimize the amount of hardware in study spaces
- Libraries are the community space for students
As always it was great to see so many of my colleagues as well as meet new ones. ASERL has become my professional home since coming to Wake Forest and I always appreciate learning from other deans and directors.
7 Comments on ‘ASERL Fall Meeting 2023’
Thank you for sharing, Tim. I love the focus on space configuration as a way of bringing the community together!!!! And I love the concept of not letting architects and designers drive renovations (this coming from someone with designers and architects in the family!)
LOVE those digital displays with pics of the equipment to check out. Such a great idea! And the sound proof booths I could see being very popular here.
The noise-cancelling phone booths are really interesting! I’m curious how students are using them– are they making phone or Zoom calls, completing work, or using them in other ways?
Glad you had a good meeting, Tim. I’ve not been to UCF since the renovation but I remember the fountain and share your envy! I second Rodrigo’s enthusiasm for not letting outside experts have full design control: we know our spaces, and we know best what our students want and need. The final bullet point is particularly true for us and it’ll be important in the coming years as campus redevelopment plans come along to ensure we don’t lose that once the student union is built.
I can truly say that I want to try out the sound proof booths!!! I haven’t been to UCF in years. Time to go for a visit that next time I’m in central Florida.
Excellent take aways. I’m glad to know that we aren’t the only ones with thoughts along these lines. Thanks for the pictures too!
Those “phone booths” are so cool! And I love the AV equipment signage. What great advice about not letting other drive the design, but rather trust and value our own expertise on these issues!