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In this study, researchers sought to capture students' authentic experience of finding books in the main library using a GoPro camera and the think-aloud protocol. The GoPro provided a first-person perspective and was an effective ethnographic tool for observing a student's individual experience, while also demonstrating what tools they use to find items. Using the think-aloud protocol, observers could hear students express their internal decisions, thoughts, and feelings about the process. Results confirmed trouble spots in the building and that directories are not typically used and need updating. GoPro footage revealed that there are certain qualities of the help-desk experience that can make a search more or less successful. No major sex differences were found in preference of wayfinding tools and behaviors, except that males appear to have used directories marginally more than females. In a debriefing survey, students still affirmed human help and online maps as the most useful wayfinding tools and advocated for better signage. Mapping of behaviors by floor also validated GoPro observations. At low cost to the library, the GoPro/think-aloud combination along with survey and mapping methodologies affirmed trouble spots in the building and provided suggestions for wayfinding improvements to library administration.

Research shows that academic libraries can be difficult to navigate and that students are often frustrated with not being able to find the right materials. This current study attempts to identify access barriers in FSU's Strozier Library by assessing the effectiveness of signs and directories, as well as wayfinding patterns of both undergraduate and graduate students. Two different assessments are implemented: a directory survey and a tally of the directional questions received at multiple help desks. Results show that the majority of students prefer to speak with a human being when attempting to locate something in the library; however, the directories are seen as helpful. The results have immediate implications on staffing practices and directory design. Future research is discussed as FSU continues to assess access and wayfinding and the cognitive process of students as they navigate the library building.

Loan periods provided by lending institutions vary greatly from the traditional 30 days to a generous 120 days. This study attempts to determine if the length of interlibrary loan (ILL) loan periods have a positive or negative impact on the research process. By surveying faculty members and graduate students, we sought to know how they were using print materials obtained through ILL, if loan periods were long enough for their research needs, and what was their desired loan period. This paper reports the results of that study, along with an analysis of overdue and renewal request data, with the goal of informing local and national conversations about aligning loan policies with researcher needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, researchers sought to capture students’ authentic experience of finding books in the main library using a GoPro camera and the think-aloud protocol. The GoPro provided a first-person perspective and was an effective ethnographic tool for observing a student's individual experience, while also demonstrating what tools they use to find items. Using the think-aloud protocol, observers could hear students express their internal decisions, thoughts, and feelings about the process. Results confirmed trouble spots in the building and that directories are not typically used and need updating. GoPro footage revealed that there are certain qualities of the help-desk experience that can make a search more or less successful. No major sex differences were found in preference of wayfinding tools and behaviors, except that males appear to have used directories marginally more than females. In a debriefing survey, students still affirmed human help and online maps as the most useful wayfinding tools and advocated for better signage. Mapping of behaviors by floor also validated GoPro observations. At low cost to the library, the GoPro/think-aloud combination along with survey and mapping methodologies affirmed trouble spots in the building and provided suggestions for wayfinding improvements to library administration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Research shows that academic libraries can be difficult to navigate and that students are often frustrated with not being able to find the right materials. This current study attempts to identify access barriers in FSU's Strozier Library by assessing the effectiveness of signs and directories, as well as wayfinding patterns of both undergraduate and graduate students. Two different assessments are implemented: a directory survey and a tally of the directional questions received at multiple help desks. Results show that the majority of students prefer to speak with a human being when attempting to locate something in the library; however, the directories are seen as helpful. The results have immediate implications on staffing practices and directory design. Future research is discussed as FSU continues to assess access and wayfinding and the cognitive process of students as they navigate the library building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries are faced with the challenge of developing new services that respond to the growing needs of their patron base. A library material delivery service is one new service model that is becoming increasingly popular among academic libraries around the country. While this service has shown positive results on college campuses, the service model is still evolving. The purpose of this article is to provide library professionals with a clear and concise overview of policies and logistics currently implemented by the Library Express Delivery Service at Florida State University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Florida, the State University Libraries deans have chosen to take a two-pronged approach to addressing limited physical capacity in their facilities: developing a statewide storage facility and deduplicating print serial titles. The initial efforts in the state have focused on titles included in the Journals in Storage electronic collections. Specifically, the collaboration between the University of Florida and Florida State University is the focus of this article. The background information, efforts made, lessons learned, and jobs still to be done will each be given more attention, with the intent of providing a starting point for other institutions considering similar initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]