Deep dive into space [slides]

Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference 2018, 30 July - 2 August 2018 Gold Coast: Roar Leap Dare
 
This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) accompanies the lightning talk on university student engagement with library spaces.
 
Macquarie University Library has embarked on a program of 'deep dives', using data to inform service development and improvements. The first of these deep dives was an extensive exploration of the ways in which students engage with Library spaces, and the relationship between the Library's learning and research spaces, technologies, and physical collections.  Our goals are to have a clear understanding of how and when our clients are using Library spaces, to inform planning for physical and technological solutions and to enable clients to meet their study, research and learning needs in a safe environment.
 
In line with our quality enhancement framework and service model, our approach had a client-centred, evidence based focus and involved both an iterative process of continuous improvement responding immediately to findings, and in-depth data analysis to create long term plans for the development of Library space configurations. By shelving our pre-existing assumptions and diving into the collection and analysis of data we have discovered the value of understanding the relationship between the learning and research spaces and equipment students are using and why. In doing so, we have been able to optimise the configuration of our student spaces, technologies and collections to meet the individual learning needs of a greater number of students.