Health Sciences Patron Preference for Library Spaces: A Multisite Observational Study
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Medical Reference Services Quarterly
Abstract
Health sciences libraries are often challenged to make decisions regarding physical space allocation without quantitative data to support specific user preferences. This multisite, longitudinal study sought to answer the following questions related to academic health sciences libraries: (1) Which library spaces are popular with health sciences patrons? (2) How does time of day and allocated seating space affect patron choices? (3) What similarities and differences occur in space usage across four different health sciences libraries? Results suggest health sciences libraries must develop a nuanced understanding of their patrons' preferences to best serve patrons' needs regarding space allocation. Libraries can benefit from these types of methodological studies that target specific populations, supporting more informed space allocation decision making.
DOI
10.1080/02763869.2018.1548890
Publication Date
1-2019
Keywords
Data comparison, health sciences libraries, learning environments, library collaboration, medical library trends, multisite, observational study, quantitative study, space comparison, space utilization, study space
ISSN
1540-9597
Recommended Citation
Steigerwalt K, Fitterling LA, Harvey M, McQueeny Kartsonis S, DeGeus M, Franco N, Thompson M, Sykes-Berry S, Mullaly-Quijas P, Thompson JA. Health Sciences Patron Preference for Library Spaces: A Multisite Observational Study. Medical Reference Services Quarterly. 2019; 38(1). doi: 10.1080/02763869.2018.1548890.
