You spoke, we listened: Libraries respond to user survey results with improvements

By Emory Libraries Dec. 4, 2023

The main entrance of the Woodruff Library building.

A student uses one of the new printers in the Woodruff Library with EaglePrint’s new streamlined software.

New serpentine bookshelves, located to the left of the spiral staircase in the Woodruff Library, highlight the popular reading collection.

A student in the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library uses one of the new 3-D printers.

Every few years, Emory Libraries conducts user surveys to learn if its resources, services and equipment meet the needs of students, faculty and staff. Based on the results from the survey conducted during the spring 2022 semester, library staff members have been implementing a host of improvements across the libraries this fall — which is perfect timing as students and faculty prep for finals and look ahead to the spring semester.

Notably, computers for workstations and laptops for checkout are being upgraded to newer, faster models. More workstation monitors have been added for dual-monitor benefits for patrons or, in some cases, monitors have been replaced altogether. New software for the EaglePrint system is in place to provide a better printing experience. Study room reservations are being moved online to a simpler, faster system.

“We appreciate all of the faculty and students who responded to the survey and provided great feedback in their comments,” says Lisa Macklin, associate vice provost and university librarian. “Your input is valued by everyone in the libraries and our work to make improvements is ongoing. We encourage the Emory community to visit our website or stop by any of Emory Libraries to explore all we have to offer.”

Read on to learn more about improvements Emory Libraries staff members have been making in response to the survey results. Please note this is a partial list of the changes that are most visible to patrons, and other updates and behind-the-scenes improvements will continue to roll out during the coming months.

Materials and equipment checkouts

Cameras, laptops, headphones, laptop and phone chargers, cables and other devices available for borrowing: Many survey comments indicated a lack of awareness among patrons that this equipment is available to borrow from the service desk, so the library will increase promotion of these items. Users can review a list of available equipment on the website and can also request additional equipment for the library to purchase.
Self-service holds pickup for circulating books: Starting in January 2024, patrons will be able to pick up their own holds from a designated area near the Woodruff Library service desk and check them out using the self-checkout machines.
Universal returns: Materials checked out from one of the Emory Libraries can now be returned to any of its other locations.
New book display areas with comfortable furniture in the Woodruff Library on Level 2 near the spiral staircase: These include “doughnut” shaped shelving that features new books, graphic novels and mini-exhibits curated by students as well as serpentine shelving that houses the McNaughton collection of popular reading with novels, cookbooks and other leisure selections available for checkout. The development of content for these shelves and their arrangement — particularly the rotating displays and graphic novels — came partly in response to survey results over the years asking to better highlight the library’s print collections in various genres.
Longer checkout times for the McNaughton collection: The requested increase in checkout time has been implemented — from 14 to 28 days — to align with the undergraduate loan period.

Printing and study rooms

New EaglePrint software makes it easier to print from wherever you are to the nearest printer (this will require a download of the new software, but easy instructions can be found in this blog post).
Room reservation process at the Woodruff Library: Individual rooms can be booked online now rather than picking up a proxy card.

Technology

New Heya pod chairs have been installed in the hallway in front of the Computing Center at Cox Hall. The pod chairs provide a sense of privacy and a noise-dampening effect for individual study.
Computers have been upgraded to more powerful M2 Mac minis and new Apple Displays (MediaLab).

Woodruff Health Sciences Center (WHSC) Library

A new study space will open on the first floor, with new furniture expected to be installed in December.
A microwave oven has been added to the public vending area.
The flatbed scanner has been replaced.
Two 3-D printers were installed earlier this year.
Two large monitors have been installed in room B58 to plug into personal laptops, with plans to add more.
Laptops, headphones and other equipment available for checkout continues to be replaced as needed.

WHSC Library has provided additional details on their response to user survey results in a separate blog post.

Oxford, Rose and Goizueta Business libraries

According to survey results, users are unaware of the many services and resources these libraries offer, so staff at these locations are concentrating on improving messaging around these benefits. In addition, Oxford has added new projectors that are available for checkout.

For more updates and news, please check the Emory Libraries website and individual libraries’ websites linked from the main site throughout the year.

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