The current utilization and clientele preferences of the University of St. La Salle library[: A] basis for designing spaces for learning commons

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the current utilization of the library spaces, the clientele’s perception of the current design of the library spaces and the clientele’s library preferences of spaces. The results of this study maybe used as a tool for designing a learning commons responsive to the preferences of the clienteles in the University of St. La Salle. This research is a descriptive developmental study that made use of the one shot-survey design. A validated researcher-made questionnaire which was tested for reliability was used in this study. Permission to conduct the study was secured from the Office of the President and Chancellor of the University of St. La Salle. There were 59 administrators, 186 faculty members and 349 students who participated in the study. The study was conducted from October to November 2017. Results revealed that the library spaces were sometimes utilized by the administrators and students but often used by the faculty members. The Learning Resource Center was perceived by the administrators, faculty members and students as good. The administrators on the other hand had the following specific preferences on spaces such as beanbag area, cyberspaces for individual/small group, cyberspaces for large group, discussion room area, group study area, high-density mobile shelving, individual study area, meeting/conference room, outdoor reading area, quiet study area, self-check out machine area, viewing area, cafe area, comfort room area and persons with disability area. Likewise the faculty had the following specific preferences on spaces for learning commons: cyberspaces for individual/small group, high-density mobile shelving, X individual study area, viewing area, meeting/conference room, discussion room area, group study area, self-check out machine area, quiet study area, comfort room area, cafe area, cyberspaces for large group, outdoor reading area, persons with disability area and beanbag area. For the students, they preferred to have group study area, cyberspaces for individual/small group, meeting/conference room, individual study area, beanbag area, outdoor reading area, comfort room area, discussion room area, quiet study area, self-check out machine area, high-density mobile shelving, cyberspaces for large group, viewing area, persons with disability area and cafe area for learning commons.