Quiet in the Library: An Evidence-Based Approach to Improving the Student Experience

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Luyben noted that perceived noise is a better measure than actual noise because machines cannot measure disruptions such as fierce whispering, which may not be loud but can be very annoying.

“While decibel tests are an exact measure of actual noise, Luyben notes that perceived noise is a better measuring stick than actual noise because machines cannot measure disruptions such as “fierce whispering,” which might not be loud but can be extremely annoying.”

• cites [9] 9. Paul D. Luyben, Leonard Cohen, Rebecca Conger, and Selby U. Gration, "Reducing Noise in a College Library," College and Research Libraries 42 (1981): 470-81. sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

Faculty reported the lowest degree of improvement, as they were less frequent users of the library space.

“and, as less frequent users of the library space, faculty reported the lowest degree of improvement.”

May combine two claims.

In 2007 at the University of Limerick, users' minimum standard for quiet space was 6.56 out of 9 and their perceived score was 5.36, giving an adequacy mean of -1.2.

“At the University of Limerick in 2007, users scored their minimum standard for quiet space at 6.56 out of a total of 9 and their perceived score at 5.36, resulting in an adequacy mean of -1.2.”

May combine two claims.

The quiet space question's overall improvement over the four surveys was almost double that of any other question, making the improvement noteworthy compared with other questions.

“The overall improvement in the quiet space question over the four iterations of the survey was almost double that of any other question, indicating that the improvement was indeed noteworthy when compared with the other questions.”

May combine two claims.

The other most-improved LibQUAL questions from 2007 to 2014 were IC3 with 0.64, IC1 with 0.5, and IC6 with 0.49.

“The other most-improved questions from 2007 to 2014 included a 0.64 improvement in IC3, “the printed library materials I need for my work”; a 0.5 improvement in IC1, “making electronic resources accessible from my home or office”; and a 0.49 improvement in IC6, “easy to use access tools that allow me to find things on my own.””

May combine two claims.

The University of Limerick study's findings differ from the University of Mississippi experience, with Limerick results reflecting the impact of library policy changes in many areas.

“The findings of this University of Limerick study differ from the University of Mississippi experience, with the Limerick results reflecting the impact of library policy changes in many areas.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

The new group zone immediately became a heavily used space.

“the new group zone immediately became a heavily used space.”

May combine two claims.

The quiet space question is still among the lowest-scoring questions and still has a negative adequacy mean.

“Frustratingly, the quiet space question is still among the lowest-scoring questions and still has a negative adequacy mean.”

May combine two claims.

Undergraduate scores showed greater improvement than the previous survey, with a 0.42 degree of improvement.

“Undergraduate scores showed greater improvement than the previous survey, with a 0.42 degree of improvement.”

May combine two claims.

In 2012, the quiet space question again improved the most of the 22 questions but again scored the lowest.

“while the quiet space question again improved the most of the 22 questions, it again scored the lowest.”

May combine two claims.

Analysis of comments supports the interpretation, with 8.6 percent of 2014 comments relating to noise compared with 35 percent in 2007.

“Analysis of the comments supports this interpretation, with a mere 8.6 percent of the 2014 comments relating to noise, compared with 35 percent in 2007.”

May combine two claims.

The level of improvement in quiet space was almost double that of the other most-improved LibQUAL questions and three times greater than the overall improvement in the period.

“This study found that the level of improvement in quiet space was almost double that of the other most-improved LibQUAL questions and three times greater than the overall improvement in the period.”

• Also stated in: § Where Do We Go from Here? · plain

  “After four iterations of LibQUAL and a seven-year-long program of noise management at the University of Limerick, the improvement in the quiet space question is almost double that of any other question.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Library staff had no doubt that zoning had the biggest impact on noise levels and complaints, and the frequency of dealing with offending students dropped significantly.

“Library staff in the building, however, had no doubt that zoning had the biggest impact on noise levels and complaints, and the frequency of dealing with offending students dropped significantly.”

• Also stated in: § 2012 to 2014: Zoning and the Graduate Reading Room · plain

  “zoning had the biggest impact on noise levels and complaints, and the frequency of dealing with offending students dropped significantly.”

May combine two claims.

In every year since 2007, LP2 was the lowest-scoring of the 22 questions in the SCONUL consortium results and had a negative adequacy gap for seven out of eight years.

“In every year since 2007, LP2 has been the lowest scoring of the 22 questions in the SCONUL consortium results and has had a negative adequacy gap for seven out of eight of those years”

May combine two claims.

The greatest improvement in scores in 2014 came from graduate students, with adequacy mean improving from -1.62 in 2012 to -0.11 in 2014, a 1.51 improvement.

“the greatest improvement in scores came from graduate students, where the adequacy mean went from -1.62 in 2012 to -0.11 in 2014, showing (by the University of Limerick's LibQUAL experience) a remarkable improvement of 1.51 between two surveys.”

May combine two claims.

Noise is no longer the biggest issue for readers, although the noise problem is not entirely solved.

“say that noise is no longer the biggest issue for readers, although we have not solved the noise problem entirely.”

May combine two claims.

Perceptions of quiet space in North American libraries that have run LibQUAL are not as low as in the United Kingdom, but LP2 in ARL consortium notebooks usually ranks among the five lowest-scoring questions.

“Perceptions of quiet space in North American libraries that have run LibQUAL are not as low as in the United Kingdom; however, LP2 in the ARL consortium notebooks usually ranks in the five lowest-scoring questions.”

May combine two claims.

Perceptions sharply decreased among graduate students in 2012, who were deeply unhappy with noise regardless of structural changes.

“perceptions sharply decreased among graduate students, who were clearly deeply unhappy with the noise in the library, regardless of the structural changes.”

May combine two claims.

In the 2007 survey, the quiet space question was the lowest-scoring of the 22 core questions, and 35 percent of the 546 free-text comments related to noise.

“The quiet space question was the lowest scoring of the 22 core questions asked in the survey, and 35 percent of the 546 free-text comments related to noise.”

May combine two claims.

The graduate reading room provided 120 study spaces solely for graduates and was one of the most naturally quiet spaces in the library.

“It provided 120 study spaces solely for graduates and was one of the most naturally quiet spaces in the library.”

May combine two claims.

In 2014, only 8.6 percent of the 1,075 comments dealt with noise, compared with 30.5 percent in the previous year.

“only 8.6 percent of the 1,075 comments dealt with noise, as compared with 30.5 percent in the previous year.”

May combine two claims.

The Glucksman Library's student-to-seat ratio is high compared with UK averages and all other Irish university libraries.

“The student-to-seat ratio is high in comparison to U.K. averages and all other Irish university libraries.17”

• cites [17] 17. LibQUAL+®, ARL & Group Notebooks, accessed November 30, 2015, https://www. libqual.org/publications; SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries), Library and Information Statistics Unit (LISU), "Annual Library Statistics 2013-2014," Loughborough University, Loughborough, U.K.Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

The quality action plans had an impact and readers' perceptions of the quality of library services improved.

“indicating that the quality action plans have an impact and that readers' perceptions of the quality of library services have improved.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Changes in overall LibQUAL scores reflect the effect of quality action plans rather than other factors.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

A follow-up study by the same authors added another year of LibQUAL data and again found that adequacy gap scores did not seem to reflect fairly major changes.

“A follow-up study by the same authors added new LibQUAL data for a further year and again found that adequacy gap scores seemed not to reflect fairly major changes.15”

• cites [15] 15. Melissa Dennis, Judy Greenwood, and Alex Watson, "LibQUAL Revisited: Further Analysis of Qualitative and Quantitative Survey Results at the University of Mississippi," Journal of Academic Librarianship 39, 6 (2013): 512-16. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Each year's LibQUAL sample at the University of Limerick was deemed representative of the user group populations, with overall response rates increasing from 9 percent in 2007 to 17 percent in 2014.

“Each year, the sample size was deemed representative of the user group populations, with overall response rates increasing from 9 percent in 2007 to 17 percent in 2014.”

May combine two claims.

Evidence-based studies that explore the effectiveness of noise interventions are rare because perceived noise is subjective and metrics for improvement are difficult to identify.

“Evidence-based studies that explore the effectiveness of noise interventions are rare, due to the subjectivity of what is perceived as “noisy” and “quiet” and the difficulty in identifying metrics by which improvement can be measured.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Noise in the library is not a trivial matter; as Steven Bell says, noise makes the difference between an academic library that is avoided and one that is a prime campus destination.

“Noise in the library is not a trivial matter; along with other quality of life factors, as Steven Bell says, “Noise makes the difference between an academic library that is avoided at all costs and one that is a prime campus destination.” 2”

• cites [2] 2. Steven J. Bell, "Stop Having Fun and Start Being Quiet: Noise Management in the Academic Library," Library Issues 28, 4 (2008), 1. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

A number of articles about LibQUAL in individual institutions mention the quiet space question as particularly low scoring.

“A number of articles about LibQUAL in individual institutions mention the quiet space question as being particularly low scoring.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Bressler and Yelinek's review of increased noise in American academic libraries from 1980 to 2010 noted a lack of evidence-based studies on how to combat noise.

“Darle Bressler and Kathryn Yelinek provide a comprehensive literature review on increased noise levels in American academic libraries, spanning 1980 to 2010. 3 The authors sought to identify best practices for noise management through their review but noted the dearth of evidence-based studies investigating means of combating the problem.”

• cites [3] 3. Kathryn Yelinek and Darla Bressler, "The Perfect Storm: A Review of the Literature on Increased Noise Levels in Academic Libraries," College & Undergraduate Libraries 20, 1 (2013): 40-51. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Perceptions improved most among graduates over the seven-year period, suggesting the noise management program had the greatest impact on the graduate student experience, whether interventions targeted that group or the general population.

“Perceptions improved most among graduates in the seven-year period, suggesting that the noise management program had the greatest impact on the graduate student experience, whether the interventions targeted that user group or the more general population.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Library managers faced with a serious noise problem or low LibQUAL scores on quiet space may take heart from the University of Limerick experience.

“A final inference of this paper is that library managers who find themselves faced with a serious noise problem or low LibQUAL scores on the quiet space question may take heart from the University of Limerick experience.”

May combine two claims.

Analysis of the LibQUAL quiet space question shows the noise management program from 2007 to 2014 had an impact and readers' perceptions of quiet space greatly improved.

“Analysis of the LibQUAL quiet space question shows that the noise management program adopted from 2007 to 2014 had an impact and that readers' perceptions of the provision of quiet space in the library greatly improved.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

International data indicate that quiet space for individual work is becoming increasingly important to library users and that dissatisfaction with noise in many libraries is common.

“International data indicate that quiet space for individual work is becoming increasingly important to library users and that dissatisfaction with noise in many libraries is common.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The 2014 survey cohort came from a population of new undergraduates who had not taken part in the survey in the early years, which may have affected results.

“An element that may have been at play was that this survey cohort came from a population of new undergraduates who had not taken part in the survey in the early years.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The reduction in sample size due to the transition to LibQUAL Lite needs to be taken into account when analyzing trends at an individual question level.

“the reduction in sample size due to the transition to LibQUAL Lite needs to be taken into account when analyzing trends at an individual question level.”

May combine two claims.

The development of a clear and detailed noise policy, rearranging service spaces, and perhaps acknowledgement of the noise problem had the greatest overall impact on LibQUAL scores.

“The development of a clear and detailed noise policy, rearranging service spaces, and perhaps the acknowledgement of the existence of a noise problem had the greatest overall impact on LibQUAL scores.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Comparisons between two surveys should be approached with caution, where unexpected or disappointing overall scores may be better explained by further analysis at a user group level.

“Comparisons between two surveys should be approached with some caution, where unexpected or disappointing overall scores may be better explained by further analysis at a user group level.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Analysis at a question level would be less useful for questions that are less specific or more subjective.

“Analysis at a question level would be less useful for questions that are less specific or more subjective”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

A library built for a population of 7,000 but catering for 13,000 may always have a challenge meeting users' expectations for quiet space.

“A library built for a population of 7,000 but catering for 13,000 may always have a challenge with meeting the expectations of its users when it comes to quiet space.”

May combine two claims.

The refurbishment dealt with structural factors contributing to noise, while zoning dealt with behavioral issues.

“While the refurbishment dealt with the structural factors that contributed to noise, zoning dealt with the behavioral issues.”