The Massachusetts Library System is pleased to announce that we have contracted with ALA to provide our members with access to their live webinars.  These webinars are free to MLS members who register through our calendar.  Please do not register directly with ALA. Members who register directly with ALA are responsible for paying their registration fee. 

Please help us keep MLS sponsored training free for all members. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, please cancel your registration. A cancellation link can be found in your confirmation email, or you may contact Sarah Donnelly at sdonnelly@masslibsystem.org to cancel. 

Description

Study room spaces have become a critical resource offered in large academic libraries, yet their standard configuration and policies may not be serving the diverse needs of all patrons. To address this, we conducted an assessment project at a large, land-grant university to gather data on study room usage and user preferences. Through an initial survey and in-person follow-up through tabling and direct patron engagement, we explored the following research questions: How are patrons using study rooms? Are current configurations meeting their needs? What attributes do users value most? And what new configurations could enhance their experience? Our findings revealed important insights into study room behaviors, space preferences, and potential areas for improvement with our services. This presentation will share the results from our study and discuss how we applied these insights to enhance the study room experience, including promoting our “Library of Things” collection as study room resources. It will also situate our study within broader trends in library study room services, and offer attendees practical strategies for assessing study spaces in their own institutions and implementing changes to improve patron satisfaction and engagement.This webinar was previously presented in-person as a session at the 2025 Core Forum. We are hosting this webinar, with the session adapted and presented live as a virtual event, to extend its reach.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the webinar, attendees will: -

• Learn about broader trends in study room services. –
• Gain practical strategies for assessing study spaces at their own institutions.
• Learn how to translate assessment results into actionable changes.

Who Should Attend

Academic librarians and staff that manage study rooms and other reservable spaces in their libraries. Additionally, this webinar would be of interest to those who would like to learn more about strategies and best practices for assessing public services. 

Presenters

Lailah Ramos is the Circulation Coordinator for Oklahoma State University's Edmon Low Library, where she oversees the daily operation of the circulation desk, including circulation student management, book checkouts, study room management, the course reserves program, and a Library of Things Collection. Prior to this position, she was the Laptop Manager at the Edmon Low Library, managing the collection of circulating laptops and their peripherals. Lailah has a Bachelor's Degree in English and has 7 years of experience in Access Services. She has presented at OK-ACRL, and co-presented at the Access Services Conference and Core Forum, which was voted Best of Core Forum by attendees. Lailah Ramos, Circulation Coordinator, Oklahoma State University Libraires.

Whitney Hilley is Associate Professor and Head of Access Services at Oklahoma State University’s Edmon Low Library where she oversees the Circulation & Information Desk, Interlibrary Services, physical collections management, course reserves, and the Edmon Low Creative Studios. Prior to this position, she served as Assistant Head of Access Services at OSU and as the Associate Library Director at the Boston Architectural College in Boston, MA. Whitney received her MLIS from Simmons College and has over 15 years of experience in Access Services and over 10 years of experience in management. She is a member of several library organizations and served on several statewide, regional, and national library committees. Whitney Hilley, Head of Access Services, Oklahoma State University Libraires.

Accessibility Information

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.