Noise Management in Twenty-First Century Libraries: Case Studies of Four U.S. Academic Institutions

Abstract

University libraries have had to provide acceptable noise levels for many years and this pressure has not diminished in the twenty-first century. Library space has to be utilized to ensure noise levels are best managed. A study was undertaken across four university libraries in South Florida to determine how universities utilized their limited space to satisfy both individual and collaborative study needs of their students. Directors and key librarians were surveyed and interviewed, and on-site visits were conducted. Results supported findings from the literature indicating that it is best to observe students’ natural use of library space and designate those areas accordingly. Additionally, it was found that current pedagogical practices place a greater need for group study spaces, which compete against the vital need for quiet study areas. It was also discovered that designated floor levels used to separate sound are compromised by popular open mezzanine designs that allow sound to permeate between floors. Solutions are presented to minimize noise issues that can be applied at any academic library.