Assessment in Space Designed for Experimentation: The University of Washington Libraries Research Commons

<p>Assessments of newly renovated, academic library spaces may measure student demographics, use and satisfaction. More recently, libraries have looked at expanding new space assessment to include impact on student learning. How might assessment look within a space designed for experimentation and cross-disciplinary connection? Our presentation will center on assessments conducted at the University of Washington Libraries Research Commons, a space intended to meet collaborative needs, foster interdisciplinary connections and provide a sandbox for innovating and testing new library space designs, service models and programs.</p> <p>Since opening in 2010, Research Commons assessment goals have shifted from an emphasis on the user experience within the space to an examination of how programming meets our vision of fostering interdisciplinary connections. Measuring the impact of the Research Commons has included large-scale campus surveys as well as short-term, agile assessment projects that include interviews, design charettes, discussion groups, tracking of service point transactions, and social media and website analytics. Collective reviews of data gathered in the first 3 years of operation helped staff take a 360-degree view of the space and services, make clear the connections between different metrics, and highlight gaps in data collection. These reviews have also provided a means of sharing data with stakeholders, and have allowed staff to reflect on how assessment efforts are and are not measuring the vision for the space.</p> <p>Building an experimental space with evolving user needs and services means that staff will regularly need to advocate for new funding, build partnerships and "sell the vision" of the renovation as integral to the library's mission. Our presentation will provide practical examples of short term, iterative assessment in a newly renovated library space. It will also demonstrate how collective reviews of data can help staff take stock of assessment efforts and create a more sustainable assessment plan. Finally, we will discuss the role of assessment in new spaces when libraries are moving from a collection centered model to an engagement centered model. Our presentation will demonstrate how the assessments we have conducted help us to better understand and advocate for new models of engagement and ways of envisioning libraries.</p> <p>Presenter: Lauren Ray, Research Commons Librarian</p> <p>Paper Authors: Lauren Ray and Katharine Macy