Tisch Library All Staff Meeting Minutes 25 April 2012 Austin Conference Room

Transcription

1 Tisch Library All Staff Meeting Minutes 25 April 2012 Austin Conference Room 1. Review of HVAC Plan-to-Date: Laura Wood Tisch has 5 air handlers: 3 that need replacement and 2 that need upgrading. This project is too large to complete during a single summer, so it will be divided into summer 2012 and summer This summer, 2 air handlers will be replaced by one new air handler. In addition, 2 air handlers will be upgraded and a new air handler will be installed to provide dedicated controls for the special collections/archives compact shelving area. In the summer of 2013, the third air handler will be replaced with a new handler. The entire third floor will be affected this summer, as will the ERC, the Circulation area, LITS, and spot areas throughout the Tech Services and Research and Instruction areas. Locations that will be cool during this process are being identified for staff who may need to be moved. Temporary cooling will be installed to assist with our environment, but there may be some challenges keeping all areas cool and there will be some periods of noise. The 3 air handlers being replaced have exceeded their useful life and are at some risk of complete failure. It is particularly important to move ahead. This first phase of the work is expected to begin the day after Commencement and will continue until the start of the fall term. 2. Possibilities for Creating a Learning Commons : Laura Wood The plan to refresh the main floor of Tisch is moving forward. The original concept several years ago was to implement a learning commons. Envisioning how this concept has and should evolve to meet current and future needs is now in process. The focus will be on enhancing underutilized or inefficiently used space within Tisch. All of Tisch is up for consideration, with the one exception of DCA and Level G. These will remain intact since they had been renovated last summer, but consideration will be given to how to facilitate DCA as a service point. Calendar year 2012 will serve as the rough time frame for conceptual design. Working with Lois Stanley, Director of University Space Management and Planning, we will engage an architectural firm to work with us to finalize the goals, determine the scope of the project, identify programmatic needs, engage all stake-holders, and provide preliminary design plans enabling Tufts to create cost estimates. Five architectural firms submitted proposals for the RFP, and the semi-finalists will be chosen at a meeting on 2 May. Input from Tisch staff will be considered as part of the process. The ultimate goal is to create a unified, rationalized service model which meets user needs and trends. A subsequent effort to identify an architectural firm for pursuing detailed design plans (as needed) would follow. The most optimistic timeframe would put any refresh construction to start during FY2014, but a number of factors could influence/alter this. Obtaining input from faculty, students, and Tisch staff at every step of this project is a high priority. 3. Groups Vision: Group 1: Evan Simpson Vending machine for supplies - Jumbo Cash and Credit Cards to be used for payment Supplies stock (pens, pencils, paper clips, white out, etc.) to be kept to give to users in need find out how much other libraries spend on such a supplies stock Change machine More power/ports Wifi everywhere/sufficient strength for Wifi Maximize seating More intimate/informal spaces that are connected to other spaces Tower Café works well as intimate/informal space Ref desk too big, too much empty space behind it, too Self-checkout for books; online reservations for group study rooms

2 Circ desk too big Need to have late night services; non-traditional hours for reference service desk; more assistance virtually; more unmediated Access/Reference services Support for students studying abroad skype calls? skype as part of meebo? Don t make users figure out where to go for which services Remove some/all microform equipment to utilize space better Increased table/surface areas room for users to spread out books, papers, articles, etc. Smart boards and other cutting edge technology for group work/collaboration areas Promotion of more contact with staff Good-sized space available that could be opened up to the rest of the area it s located in or closed off for staff to use with users for classes/workshops Document Delivery is a prime location - could it be used for other services? a processing area? Group 2: Richard Fleischer More flexible space, configurable space, improvisatory and respondent to students evolving needs. More space for the ERC-design space to be flexible to meet different needs. Design an ERC that is visually more open; let students see what s going on, entice them. Also use the space as overflow computer availability when the public area computers are all taken key during finals weeks, etc. Furniture that can be move to create new study/group spaces. Space that students can connect to the technology. Power stations or power service point maybe the answer is to have carrels that facilitate the use of students own laptop hardware. We need more electrical outlets placed in areas where we know students will bring their laptops. Grow special collection and make the collection more public. These are beautiful spaces that add value and distinction. More social space Try to create Flash study mobs (space). Move Reference staff into public space the space should facilitate flexibility and one-on-one consultation the service should define the space, not the other way around. Printers - bad location - maybe add more print services and a different service model Group study rooms with technology We need to keep some books on the 2 nd floor. Subject clusters could be arranged and may even include graduate TA peer tutoring. Good to have relevant subject books (representative) at the ready. We can t forget about the needs of faculty that may be less focused on technology. Bring faculty in to gives talks on A little taste of Tisch. This is currently done through the Excollege. We could do a version of this good extension of what we ve already started with the Tower Café. Should we move the DDS to the 2 nd floor? Offer tech support to students with some computer problems Grad students are currently dispersed. The library is the way to solve this - incentivize the space! Design a space for grad students. What does it mean to support graduate and advanced undergraduate research? This is a key question. Make it possible for students working in the same disciplines to find each other. Technology can do this. SoLoMo connecting students through social media but tied to a local context. Think flash study mobs! We need smart boards.

3 Extend the food and beverage service hours of the Tower Café. We need to think more like a startup - be entrepreneurial! Learn, build, and see what happens. This is as much about culture as space. Things we move: Things that are working: Newspapers and Periodicals Hirsh Reading Room Oversize Art Books Tower Cafe Microform Reduce Reference book Document Delivery Group 3: Rick Heckbert Fewer or more computers? Hard to tell which is right. Less equipment more support Print more popular Get print under control (lines at end of semester) Not swipe to print Main entrance area too loud Separate areas for aggregation and congregation, sound baffling between areas Modular or flexible study space Sustainability features (solar power) More task lighting IT support for patrons Self- checkout More table space for studying, esp. at the end of the semester What do we do well: Staff kitchen (Ref/Tech Services) Nice collection of art on display visitors impressed with sculptures People trying to catch light, sun What don t we do well: Not enough light Furniture too static Control access to group study rooms proper size group for room Not enough private space Not enough rooms Food policy not consistent Electrical outlets without covers in floor Lack of public spaces for poetry readings, open mic nights, etc. Ref desk too far from Research and Instruction Too many places (3) for oversized books on main floor Effectively separate service desk Signage Not enough bathrooms, esp. on Level 2 Need more meeting space, esp. larger space (like Austin) for library staff reservations only Print reference collection underutilized and under accessed Weeding the collection No service desks on floors other than the main floor

4 People flow from the lobby Relocate café to plaza with tables and umbrellas Open café earlier Group 4: Bryan Revis 1:1 consultations student and librarian More public bathrooms Formed/fixed v. casual/comfortable workspace Room for growth in most used stack areas (i.e. Fine Arts, oversized); location of Fine Arts is it placed in the best spot? If moved, will it stay as secure? Reference desk takes too much space? Microforms/cabinets amount of space? Necessary? Printers are in bad location Are we making best use of space for services/areas and collaborations within Tufts (Writing Center, Technology)? Need one central desk for questions? Need better signage Central display for all events held that day (room #, etc.) Quiet space v. conversation space creator space: constructing paper models, etc. Look at use of reading room as indicative of need for quiet space Tower Café needs more space - not enough food spaces in the library Noise travels/echoes too much in current space Small conference/work rooms - shared between staff, students, faculty; not behind locked areas Security concerns (theft, night hours, security cameras?) Group 5: Karen Vagts Being green as much as possible Flexible building and systems Changes in technology better designs and planning for tel/data/electric/lighting Materials that are acoustically quieter ex. lobby flooring Mobile furniture for easy group re-arranging less static furniture What are people doing in the library? Green materials, recycled content Students can do everything they need to without leaving food, fax, supply store, vending Better options for easting and disposing of food Prayer areas or meditating areas? Stretching areas? Sleeping areas? Stacks directional tools for guidance mobile apps, traffic lights Do we need so much counter space for Circ and Reference? Public space designed for group tours? Staging area for tours? What do users do when they enter the building? Printers and copiers are in strategic areas should be in a planned space Location of bathrooms Handicapped access and special needs, including people with hearing impairments more sensitivity to all needs and groups Staff access to windows that open How are skylights being used?

5 Lights on timers or light-sensitive LITS office is centrally located, but can be remote could be moved to a less cave-like space. Could separate secure areas from service. Staff to see more of the patrons Balance of access and privacy in work spaces Sightlines to alert us to patrons at the service desks More glass walls to increase vision, sightlines, lightness Key point: transform long, purple wall to the left of the existing Ref desk take it down, make it glass, make it less of a barrier Should service desks be combined? Keep a café (move it closer to the loading dock, though) and expand menu Solar power on the roof Group 6: Regina Raboin Space for hardwiring electricity, networking outlets Flexible space; built or ready for change Flexible shelving everything can move Reduce print reference and index and abstract collections Moving/reducing/housing microforms Current periodicals less real estate More quiet study areas (like a second Hirsh) Grand reading room redesign Hirsh Diverse spaces very challenging Open 24 hours Hirsh easy to find, secure, bathrooms Where is Administration/Austin? Better signage needed. Specialized graduate services: desks with lockers/cabinets; meet their needs Fine arts growing and shelving issues Faculty study rooms how do we get more information about this use? Valuable to faculty stats for this? Perhaps rethink space, relocate? More adaptable Increased technological support to students, staff, faculty: visible; a hub; Tufts partners ITS (S & F), UIT (student), ESTS (AT) How to integrate Tisch staff into the daily flow More visibility for staff Active space placement v. quiet space placement Potential for hemicycle redesign furniture, flow, etc. Replace walls with glass walls MAXIMIZE OUR DISCOVERY SYSTEMS/TOOLS NEEDED TO SUPPORT AND ACTIVE LEARNING SYSTEM Updated technology that will serve new services print on demand; work stations with specialized software; instructional capabilities to support above Space for the art of reading ****Who are the partners we re going to invite into our space? Is it different than who we have now? Owned (DCA) v. unowned space (ARC tutors) Space for conversation to facilitate interdisciplinary dialog and research. Intellectual and interdisciplinary mission (food, too)

6 Café could be better food; prices; hours; space not flexible Another space for events to facilitate intellectual discourse, exchange, programs, and events Group 7: Laura Walters Combine Ref and Circ or at least move the desks closer to avoid bouncing users around similar to Circ/Reserves now Maybe different sections of one desk Circ functions all in one place for all formats All furniture easily re-configured by the user flexibility/ability to create their own space, including staff Lobby wasted space make it more inviting to facilitate meeting what purpose should a lobby play? Not hardware-based; docking stations; charging stations; OUTLETS How to integrate GIS into space and services Metaphor library as incubator how do you facilitate that? Importance of accommodating different needs quiet, group study. How to distinguish those distinctions visually? Sound control group work spaces don t need to be loud to be social Work well parts with good sightlines and open space Affinity for natural light Open up sightlines from Ref desk to Professors Row and back (maybe half as tall shelving) Open up staircase going to Level 3 make Media more accessible High Ref desk doesn t work How to facilitate 1:1 consultations Apple stores as a model Facilitate learning on tablets Niche for grad students private rooms or carrels Works well having collections on-site Copy center as new service Some level of IT support for users at all hours ARC services visible space Mark Lab not used 80% of the year Need for different kinds of instruction space, not just large ERC including space for smaller groups Check-out/reserve group study rooms More handicapped accessible Tisch has its back to the SOE how do we open to that part of campus? The meeting adjourned at 3:40 PM.