The cross-sectional study explores the reasons behind students' avoidance of library reading. Of the 164 participants, the research uncovers a complex interplay between personal preferences, environmental influences, and social dynamics that shape reading behaviors. Contrary to expectations, students express a preference for classrooms settings…

Libraries have become increasingly interested in studying the use of spaces within their buildings. Traditional methods for tracking library building use, such as gate counts, provide little information on what patrons do once they are in the library; therefore, new methods for studying space usage are being developed. Particularly promising are…

Many libraries have disaster recovery plans, but not all have prevention and action plans to prepare for an emergency in advance. This article presents the author's review of the prevention and action plans of several libraries: (1) Evergreen State College; (2) Interlochen Public Library; (3) University of Maryland, Baltimore-Marshall Law Library;…

How can libraries best assess and improve user space, even if they are not in a position to undertake new construction or a major renovation? Staff at New Mexico State University used a variety of ethnographic methods to learn how our spaces were being used as well as what our users considered to be ideal library space. Our findings helped us make…

Most library buildings were built thirty or more years ago. As a result libraries are sharing a common situation. There is little or no room to add more books onto the shelves, and there are odd spaces throughout the stacks which are not being used. Jackson Library, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, faced this challenge and grew space by…