Abstract
Polhill Library a University of Bedfordshire started a seven month pilot program: operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week as from. This was meant to provide students with upto168 hours of study time per week so as to best suit learners and their individual schedules. The purpose of this study was to identify the usage patterns of the Polhill library and its resources, particularly during night hours. The main objective of the research was to establish the overall student experience with the new night study program. The research also aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the university library support services in place to make the project a success.
The study sample a total of 20 participants who responded to 20 self-completion questionnaires with 15 questions each. The analysis of data collected was done using Excel program and represented in form of bar graphs. The findings showed that a larger majority (approximately 95%) of the sample population favoured the new around the clock library system at Polhil, Bradford.
The research has significance in the sense that it shows the positive impact and challenges of the 24/7 library system at University of Bedfordshire. The research further sheds light to how such factors as area of residence of students, major, age, and whether they work or not impact on their use of the library during late night hours.
Introduction
The University of Bedfordshire has two main campuses in Bedford (Polhill Avenuer) and Luton town, England. The university was commissioned following the August 2006 merger of the Bedford campus of De Montfort University and University of Luton. Polhil Library – a design product of van Heyningen and Haward Architects – started operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week as from 7th January 2013. The pilot program is led by Vice Chancellor professor Ahraf Jawaid, scheduled to run for seven months to 21st July, 2013 (University of Bedfordshire 2013, p.1).
The around the clock library concept is fairly new in view of the fact that about a decade ago, the idea of having a 24/7 library was but an aspiration as most institutions of higher learning did not feel there was neither great demand nor resource to make it happen (Capita 2012, p.4). The Bedfordshire university took up the 24/7 library system in response to much student demand for it as evidenced by feedback from the National Student Survey, Student Representatives, Informal feedback etc. The new library resource system would thus provide a total of 168 hours of study time per week, meant to best suit learners and their individual schedules (University of Bedfordshire 2013, p.1).
The new around the clock Polhill Library, strategically located opposite the campus’ main reception, specializes in three main subjects: Education, Business, and Sport. The library offers approximately 360 individual study spaces, teaching spaces and staff work areas as well as customary library services. The new 24-hour library service includes weekends and public holidays (Centre for Learning Excellence 2013, p.3).
To access the Polhill library, students are required to present their University identity card. Before 10p.m., however, it is possible for students to enter the library without swiping in but an ID is required to swipe them out after 22.00 (University of Bedfordshire 2013, p.1). A student is forbidden to use his/her university ID to non-ID holders to into the University or utilize its facilities.
This research aims to establish the merits of the new 24/7 library system at Polhill for students of Bedfordshire University. The study also aims to the ability of Bedfordshire university support services and library resources (e.g. books, student support desk etc) to meet the various demands of students.
Literature Review
The around the clock library system is relatively a recent phenomenon in institutions of higher learning. Most university libraries in the developed world do not have 24-hour service for extended periods because most of those that offer the service have a week or two-week programs. Most modern university libraries are being designed as place where students and other library users meet, conduct self-studies, hold discussion groups and explore ideas, in addition to being the building where the university collects and administers books in an ordered manner (Worpole 2013, p.5).
The Fillet Report (1993) recommended that university libraries should consider longer hours so as to utilize the limited space. While rapid technological changes have rendered library resources more accessible to students virtually, there is still high demand for physical library. Delaney (2002) observes that the increasing 24/7 access to electronic resources has resulted in expectation for comparable access to print resources.
The research by Anderson, Petros, Beckwith, Mitchell, and Fritz (1991) established that evening hours are relatively better for retaining information from studying or reading. Extended hours have been found to be particularly helpful for students in lead-up to examinations (Worpole 2013, p.36).
Argosy University (2010) library introduced extended hours so as to accommodate students needs, where the hours are reduced when there are no classes on the campus. McCarthy (2001) noted that libraries have developed flexible learning environment to serve both the on-campus and external students.
Additional research has espoused the need for university libraries to significantly improve their capabilities when adopting the 24/7 format of operation. Mohammad (2011) had espoused the benefits of using a simulation model approach in ensuring adequate amount of library resources so as to meet the varied needs of library users, thus effectively addressing the challenge of wait time. According to Slack (2011), the library, as is the case with any other service organization, must have proper operations management so as to use its resources effectively in delivering services at minimum cost.
However, the 24/7 library concept at universities has come with its share of challenges. According to Olorunshola and Awolola (2001), shift work has rendered staff on extended hours duty unable to strike balance between life and work. The staff face challenges in handling their family issues, attend social events, and getting home after work during the night (Worpole 2013, p.46).
Methodology
Research Design
Research design refers to the structure of data collection process and analysis, designed to achieve the objectives and aims of the study (Twaissi 2008, p.157). This study adopted a survey research design following a qualitative approach. The methodology utilized qualitative data gathered using a questionnaire. The questionnaire had pre-arranged questions related to the issue under investigation and administered to 20 students taking part in night study at the Polhill Library at the University of Bedfordshire.
Prior permission to undertake the research was sought from the Student Support Desk in the Polhill library. This was done from an ethical standpoint so as to inform the administration of the intended research in the library during night hours and there anticipate some sort of disruption to the functioning of the targeted population. True to the researcher’s estimation, the exercise of distributing, filling in, and collecting the questionnaires took approximately 45 minutes.
Sample Population
The research targeted to administer 20 questionnaires to 20 students who undertake night studies at the Polhill library, from a population of 360 students when the library is at full capacity. The sampling technique for the sample size was ‘Probability Sampling’, where there was random selection of participants so that to ensure equal chances for anyone getting and filling the questionnaire. Probability sampling (also known as Representative samples) was most appropriate for this study because of its high potential to provide credible or valid results as it reflects the characteristics of the population that the participants are chosen from. The random selection, therefore, ensured that there is no bias whatever in the sampling (Worpole 2013, p.79). The sample frame was grounded on night students who had checked in after 9.P.M. A couple of library assistants administered and collected the questionnaires from the students.
Questionnaire Design
This research used self-completion questionnaires to gather the required information about the night study patterns of students using the Pohill Library at the University of Bedfordshire. The researcher deemed the use of self-completion questionnaires most appropriate for this research because respondents had the freedom to fill in at their pace after clearly understanding the question. Thus, the researcher designed the questionnaire in a manner that would help in achieving the objectives of the research. It was carefully and clearly worded and using open-ended questions. This was meant to afford the respondents the freedom to answer the questions as freely as possible.
The questionnaire carried a total of 15 questions that were related to the experience of the students about the night study system, and the nature of university support services at the Polhill library. It was expected that the researcher would receive back 20 fully completed questionnaires at the end of the exercise. However, while all questionnaires were collected from the respondents, 2 of them were partially responded to while 1 questionnaire was left blank.
Limitations of data
The main limitation to data was directly as a result of the research designed used for this research. Given that the questionnaires were expected to be filled in by the respondents without the help from the researcher (the rationale being to avoid interviewer bias and maintain absolute anonymity), there were a number of irrelevant feedback on some questionnaires.
Also, considering that self-completion questionnaires are more suited for few questions, there was limited information that the researcher could draw from the respondents on the issue under study (Leighton & Weber 2000, p.260).
Findings and Data Analysis
The findings regarding the merits of the new 24/7 library system to students who studied at night at the Polhill library showed that 95% percent of the sample size was categorically clear that the system was highly beneficial to them. 19 respondents expressed great pleasure that they could access the library building around the clock at a time of their convenience. They were particularly satisfied with the fact they could now undertake their academic work at the library at night unlike before when daytime arrangements clashed with their part-time or full time jobs. The results as computed in the software package Excel were as shown in the graph 1 below:
Graph 1: Is the 24/7 library system beneficial?
It was evident from the results that the possibility to access the library throughout the night all days of the week has offered students flexible access not only to study space but also print resources. In addition, respondents appreciate the decision to have the library open during Easter as well as the May Bank Holidays. This was said to be most beneficial to third years, postgraduate students and international students. These groups reported consistent level of the library use.
On the other hand, 7 of the out-of-hours library users took issue with the inefficiencies relating to cash handing that suffice when the facility is not staffed by librarians. 4 respondents expressed displeasure with the challenge of paying fines and some suggested an introduction an electronic paying system.
Another question in the study sought to establish the place of residence of the respondents relative to the Polhill library. The results showed that 45% of the sample resided in the campus hostels, 30% lived in the Bedford neighborhood while 25% lived outside Bedford and travelled to and fro the university daily. There was higher usage of the Polhill library during late night hours by on-campus students and those from the neighborhood as compared to those who came from outside Bedford town. These results indicated that place of residence is a major factor in the uptake of the night study at Polhill library.
The questionnaire also sought to find how the work status (whether students work or not) affects their use of the university library during night hours. The findings indicated that 11 respondents representing 55% of the sample population worked part time shifts at night while the remaining 9 representing 45% did not work. Majority of the working group lived within or near the Bedfordshire University, and found it easy to undertake their studies during late hours at the end of their work shifts. Generally, the respondents gave positive feedback stating the night library system fitted around their schedule unlike before when the student struggled to strike balance for their lecture time table, family commitment, social life and work. The Excel generated results for this question were as represented in Graph 2 below:
Graph 2: Do you work or not
As relates to how students used the library and its resources, the study reflected on the ‘Age’ factor to establish whether the respondents used the library for self studies, group discussion, or social interactions. The results revealed that 65% of the sample were aged 24-29 years, 30% were between18-23 years, and remaining 1% were aged other than the provided age range. The analysis of these results indicated that mature students valued more their time and mainly used the Polhill library for self studies and academic group discussions. The introduction of online resource discovery and self-service terminals was cited as having enable students to access a number of the same services at night just like they would during the day. On the other hands, younger library attendants used it more for social interactions as compared to self studies and group discussions. The library has taken up a new role as younger students find a more comfortable to meet and socialize.
Conclusion
This research has established that the night usage pattern of the 24/7 Polhill library at the University of Bedforshire is greatly impacted by such factors as age, the place a student lives, whether or not the student works, and beneficial perception among students.
While the night library system is popular with students at the University of Bedfordshire, this research recommends that the institution must consider the effect of late hour studying to the sleep cycles of the students. This is recommended from an informed standpoint that all-night reading in the library would not necessary result in better grades for the students. Students need to be advised to have adequate rests/sleep so as to have better performance.
The University should also review the effect of the extended hours of library service on the work schedules of staff. The library could consider adding more staff to help in such support services as cleaning, supervision, shelving, assistance to library users, acquisition, cataloguing, classification, among other library activities.
Finally, the Polhill library can harness student’s expertise with social media as well as incorporate tools they are used to for communicating online to significantly improve not only the student experience but also student’s ability to find exactly what they require in less time during night hours. This study suggests more research in the area of university support services as relates to the 24/7 library system at Polhill library, University of Bedfordshire.
References:
Capita, 2012, What every university librarian needs to know about enhancing the student experience, White Paper, Online] Available at:<www.capita-softwareandmanagedservices.co.uk>[Accessed 6th July 2013].
Centre for Learning Excellence (CLE), 2013, TheOracle, [Online] Available at:<http://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/241334/Oracle_8-1pdf2.pdf>[Accessed 6th July 2013].
Leighton, P. D., & Weber, D. C., 2000, Planning academic and research library buildings. Chicago, American Library Association, pp. 260-354.
University of Bedfordshire, 2013, Bedford campus, Polhill Avenue, [Online] Available at:<http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/opening/ph>[Accessed 6th July 2013].
University of Bedfordshire, 2013, University Prospectus 2013, [Online] Available at:<http://www.hsconsultants.net/cms/pdf/University%20of%20Bedfordshire.pdf>[Accessed 6th July 2013].
Worpole, Ken, 2013, Libraries. London, Taylor & Francis, pp. 5-93.
Appendix
Questionnaire
This survey seeks to study the usage patterns of the new 24/7 Polhill library by students of the University of Bedfordshire polhill campus during late hours. Please respond to the 15 questions below by ticking your correct answer from the choices provided.
1. Gender
Male
Female
2. Age
18-23
24-29
30-34
Other
3. What year are you currently in?
First year
Second year
Third year
4. Part time
Or
Full time student
5. How often do you come to the university?
2 days a week
3 days a week
5 days a week
Other
6. Do you work?
Yes
No
7. Where do you live?
In the university campus
Around Bedford
Or
Do you commute?
8. How many hours on average do you spend in the library?
Less than 3 hours
More than 5 hours
Other
9. What do you go to do in the library?
Social interaction
Self study
Group discussions
Other
10. Are you happy with the studying environment in the library during late hours?
Pleased
Neutral
Disappointed
11. Have you ever had help from the support desk?
Yes
No
12. Do you think that the student support desk should operate in a longer time period for days like Fridays?
Yes
No
It doesn’t matter
13. Do you prefer;
Physical
Or
Online books
14. To what extent is the 24 hour system beneficial to you?
Helpful
Neutral
Not affected anyhow
15. Do you prefer;
Old library opening times
Or
The 24/7 system
Excel Data
