ILM Level 5.02: Managing ImprovementRutland Building, 17th February 2014

Dr Graham Walton, Head of Planning and Resources, Loughborough University Library

 

Making a case: how the Library persuaded the University to invest in a major refurbishment

VC launches refurbished Library

Library refurbishment celebration cake

New group study room

Level 4 with natural lighting

Study spaces on Level 4

New staircase from Level 3 to Level 4

New Library Entrance

Proposed extent of refurbishment

• Rebuild/ refurbish Level 4 to create a variety of study spaces

• Refurbish/ remodel parts of Level 3 to improve the operation of the Library and its initial appearance

• Relocate IT Clinic to the Library to enhance the Student Experience and provide a ‘one-stop shop’

• Refurbish existing toilets and add further toilet facilities on Level 3• Upgrading of fire safety provision

• Install rolling shelving to Level 1 to bring all archive material within the building

• COST £4,800,000

Challenge for Library to produce business case that persuades University to find £4,800,000 when

Recession which impacts on University income

Many other demands on University income

View that with digital information, why invest in developing the Library building

Business Case 1: Library users are dissatisfied with the number, range and quality of the study spaces provided. Increase the size of the library overall for more of everything Make the library bigger since there's only one library for the whole university More places to study - More Desks More space for group/individuals i.e. like level 3, Larger quiet areas more social learning environment Increase in the amount of both personal and social study areas would be

great

Only 65% were very or fairly satisfied with study facilities

Source: Walton, G. (2010) Loughborough University Library general user survey: 2009, Loughborough University Library http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/about/PDFs/usersurvey2009.pdf

Business Case 2: Students experience difficulties in accessing a networked PC in the Library

Only 41% people were very or fairly satisfied with Library PC provision (ranked 14th overall regarding satisfaction)

Improving access to PCs was the second highest on users’ wish lists for developing Library services

Source: Walton, G. (2010) Loughborough University Library general user survey: 2009, Loughborough University Library http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/about/PDFs/usersurvey2009.pdf

Business Case 3: Library building attracts negative comments from its users

Overall I would describe the Library as excellent although I think it could do with a fresh coat of paint throughout

The building isn't a nice place to work (it feels dull and drab inside)

Very ugly building, bare concrete walls and exposed ventilation pipes in the ceiling.

 

Stephens, D and Estall, C. (2011) Pilkington Library: a values survey of staff and users to hep develop the library brand and its marketing, Loughborough University Library.

Loughborough University has 1:11 Library seats per undergraduate compared with 1:7 averages for 1994 Group Universities. 15 out of 18

Loughborough University has 1:11 Library seats per undergraduate compared with the 1:8 averages for the East Midlands.

SCONUL (2010) SCONUL Annual statistics: 2008 – 2009, SCONUL

Business Case 5: In terms of study spaces per student, Loughborough University Library compares very poorly

Business Case 4: The Library has increased its study spaces as much as it can - no further options

Seating/study space increases:

Between 2008/09 and 2009/10 11% Between 2009/10 and 2010/11 0.6% Between 2010/11 and 2011/12 (so far) 0%

At recent University Open Days, the Library has had more visitors coming to the Library to review services and facilities

Business Case 6: When selecting a university, prospective students and their parent increasingly see the provision of a spacious, modern university library as a key quality indicator

Loughborough University Library - estimated costs per additional study space - £16,000

Leicester University Library - costs per additional study space - £21,300

Durham University Library - costs per additional study space - £18,500

Business Case 7: Refurbishing the Library will be cost effective

Reduction in energy consumption from the proposed refurbishment is 63,343 kWh which = 40.5% reduction and an annual reduction in carbon emissions of 12.7 tonnes

Business Case 8: Refurbishing the Library will be good environmentally

Business Case 9: The Library building is heavily used and the level of use is increasing annually

Percentage increase in usage

Between 2008/09 and 2009/10 16% Between 2009/10 and 2010/11 8% Between 2010/11 and 2011/12 7%

  Source: SCONUL (2011) SCONUL Annual

statistics: 2009 – 2010, SCONUL

Business Case 10: Researchers and postgraduates have identified the need for an effective silence space

Source: Walton, G. (2010) Loughborough University Library general user survey: 2009, Loughborough University Library http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/about/PDFs/usersurvey2009.pdf

Business Case 11: The Library has a very high profile as most students use the building

97% students use the University Library  Loughborough Students Union (2011) SU Annual survey, 2010- 2011, Loughborough Students Union

  

Lessons learned about data to support business cases

 Lesson 1: Comparative data with competitors is very powerful

Lesson 2: Evidence from sources outside Library is influential

Lesson 3: Good to mix qualitative and quantitative data

Lesson 4:Must tie in data with needs of wider university (attract students/ provide high quality/ be cost effective)

Lessons learned about data to support business cases

 Lesson 5: Collect and analyse data continually. You don’t know when it will be needed

Lesson 6: Digital metric data is useful but it needs to be made meaningful

Lesson 7: Data visualisation is key. Too much data is presented as tables or pie charts

Lesson 8: Know when to stop collecting data/drilling down/ cross tabulating

Library staff celebrating the new Library