Study Space for Students with Young Children Camilla Baker and Michelle DeLoach, Augusta State University In response to a 2005 initiative on student retention and success by the University System of Georgia, Augusta State University formulated its plan, entitled “Meeting Students Where They Stand.”Reese Library at ASU solicited suggestions from faculty, staff, and students for new ways in which we could help students persist toward graduation. The project given highest priority for development was the creation of a “family space,” where students who have young children in tow can bring them when they have work to do in the library.Young children are often viewed askance in an academic library – they make too much noise, they run around, they’re generally disruptive. However, at a university with a high concentration of commuter students, small children are frequently a fact of life for our student body. Creating a place for children, where the parents can still get some work done on their course assignments, is one of our ways of meeting our students “where they stand.” This panel presentation will cover the planning process, implementation, costs, current use, and measures of the success of this space in Reese Library.

1. Camilla Baker and Michelle DeLoach
Reese Library
Augusta State University
Presented at
Inspiration, Innovation, Celebration: an Entrepreneurial
Conference for Librarians
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
June 3, 2009

3.  “Meeting Students Where They Stand”
 Reese Library Student Retention and Success
Committee

4.  Student security worker: Jamie Bassett
 All-Library meeting
 Library unit plan strategy

5.  January 2006 Idea from Jamie
 February 1, 2006 Discussion at All-
Library meeting

6.  March 1, 2006 Discussion and decisions
made and proposal written
 March 29, 2006 Approved by ASU and
allowed by USG

7.  April 13, 2006 Committee surveyed 3rd
floor for the right location
 April 26, 2006 VPAA and Director of
Physical Plant visit
 May 9, 2006 End-of-year funds allocated
for furnishings

9.  June 2006 Research on policies
begins
 August 2006 Policy complete
 September 2006 Policy approved
 October 2006 Procedure for usage of
the room created

10.  Existing set of connected rooms
◦ Small room for children’s play area
◦ Large room for adult study and research
 Used similar paint scheme
 Added library-themed artwork and
displays

11.  Children’s area
◦ Toddler size table and chairs, bean bags and
bookcases
◦ Books, checkers, building blocks, stuffed-
animals, TV/VCR and more
 Adult area
◦ Cozy couch and three study loungers
◦ Two tables, computer carrels, whiteboards
◦ Call-down telephone

12.  Two fire exits
 Alarmed exit in children’s area
 Restricted access
 Periodic room checks

13.  Valid University Identification
 Sign-in at Circulation
 Use code to access room
 Tidy up before you leave
 Sign-out at Circulation

14.  One week
◦ Not signed in
◦ Forgot to sign out
◦ Letting in an unauthorized user (second offense)
 One semester
◦ Child left unattended (first offense)
◦ Using the family while banned for the week
◦ Letting in an unauthorized user (third offense)

15.  Child is left unattended (second offense)
 Using the family while banned for the semester
 Abuse to others
 Multiple violations

16.  Used 467 times by 1313 occupants
◦ 12/2006 – 12/2007 167 times by 496 occupants
◦ 1/2008 – 12/2008 211 times by 583 occupants
◦ 1/2009 – 5/2009 89 times by 234 occupants
 Only four bans and two emails sent
◦ Repeated failure to sign out
◦ Child left unattended
◦ Family room left in disarray

17.  Soft launch
 Advertising
◦ Pipeline posting
◦ Instruction classes
◦ Bulletin boards
◦ Flyers
 ALERTS
 Open house

18.  Flyers & E-mail
 Library Staff & ALERTS
 Distributed guidelines
 30 visitors

19.  Shoestring budget
◦ Biggest initial expense was for
personnel time for
 Making policies
 Making procedures
 Devising safety guidelines

20.  Physical Plant – painting & electrical upgrades
 ITS – re-establishing network connections
 Library – three computers

21. Actual Costs
 Enter Text
• Programmable keycode lock: $412
• Alarmed exit & deadbolt: $70
(for children’s room)
• Furniture: $8,319
• 3 Bean bag chairs: $207
• Bulletin board kits: $30
• 2 Diaper changing stations: $520
(for men’s and women’s rooms)

22. Value for students with children:
Priceless!