Cal Poly Humboldt Library’s annual assessment looks at how learners are using library spaces. Sample mapping is used to calculate use ratios that help us determine if spaces are well-utilized and pinpoint spaces that are not. The annual assessment ensures we have enough variety and spaces for everyone. Any space that has 10% or less use is changed to fit high use patterns; any spaces with high-use or close to peak use will be expanded. In 2018, the Library hired computer science students from Humboldt to develop a website to collect and report the seating use data. The opportunity to foster applied learning and this type of project-based learning is crucial to supporting student success, plus it is wonderful to watch the students writing code and learning so much about the library. Read more below in Finding Your Space at the Library & SpaceUse from our Fall 2018 Newsletter.

See also How Data Improved Our Library Space by Cyril Oberlander, Verja Miller, Eric Mott, and Kris Anderson (Chronicle of Higher Education 2019).