Keywords
parenting students, student-parents, family-friendly, academic achievement, library user research, study spaces, participatory design, user-centered design
Description
The paper focuses on a user-centered design project in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University (BYU). BYU students who are parents comprise about 25% of the student population. University leaders have a goal for students to graduate in fewer semesters. Some students—especially females—drop out of school upon becoming a parent. Other students delay graduation by taking fewer classes in order to attend to their parental duties. Student parents who use the library frequently did not feel welcome when accompanied by their children. Oftentimes the parents elected not to use the library as the study resource it was intended to be. In 2015 the library decided to re-envision some prime space on its entry level as a family study room where students with children would feel welcome and encouraged to study and to meet with class project teams. Donors embraced the idea and made a significant gift for the space transformation and subsequent upkeep. Students in an undergraduate sociology capstone course interviewed student parents to determine what elements should be included in the space for parents to have a successful study experience. The sociology students also visited other academic and public libraries that had already created spaces for families to ascertain what elements were working well and what these libraries would do differently if they were to recreate their spaces. Using the input provided by the class, a group of stakeholders worked with a campus architect to turn the identified area into a welcoming and useful space. The Keith and Dolores Stirling Family Study Room opened for the first day of classes in the 2017-18 academic year. Utilization of the space has exceeded expectations for all involved and student parents report that the space has helped them better achieve their academic goals.
Included in
When students drive design: Creating a family study room for students who are parents
The paper focuses on a user-centered design project in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University (BYU). BYU students who are parents comprise about 25% of the student population. University leaders have a goal for students to graduate in fewer semesters. Some students—especially females—drop out of school upon becoming a parent. Other students delay graduation by taking fewer classes in order to attend to their parental duties. Student parents who use the library frequently did not feel welcome when accompanied by their children. Oftentimes the parents elected not to use the library as the study resource it was intended to be. In 2015 the library decided to re-envision some prime space on its entry level as a family study room where students with children would feel welcome and encouraged to study and to meet with class project teams. Donors embraced the idea and made a significant gift for the space transformation and subsequent upkeep. Students in an undergraduate sociology capstone course interviewed student parents to determine what elements should be included in the space for parents to have a successful study experience. The sociology students also visited other academic and public libraries that had already created spaces for families to ascertain what elements were working well and what these libraries would do differently if they were to recreate their spaces. Using the input provided by the class, a group of stakeholders worked with a campus architect to turn the identified area into a welcoming and useful space. The Keith and Dolores Stirling Family Study Room opened for the first day of classes in the 2017-18 academic year. Utilization of the space has exceeded expectations for all involved and student parents report that the space has helped them better achieve their academic goals.