In September 2004, New York University’s Bobst
Library opened four floors of renovated user space.
The project was successful, in part, due to the
results of several library assessments conducted
before, during, and after the renovation. This paper
presents the various assessment steps taken as part
of a larger renovation planning effort, including
assessment design and implementation; user
outreach, participation and buy-in; outcomes;
repurposing; and current assessment culture.
The renovation process marked a significant
point of departure from the way change planning
had been previously approached. Rather than
presume to know what library users wanted, an
assessment component was central to renovation
planning. A variety of qualitative and quantitative
assessment tools were used, including:
� User Activity Study—User behavior
observation study that captured data on
preferred study locations and furniture, laptop
use, food and beverage consumption, use of
library materials and use of personal materials
� Web-based user preferences survey—Designed
in conjunction with an architectural firm, the
survey focused on structural elements of the
architecture and user preferences
� Renovation focus groups—Conducted to probe
results of earlier surveys and studies
� Naming focus groups—Undergraduate,
graduate and staff focus groups to determine
signage and naming of library service points in
the renovated areas
� Web-based follow up study to measure user
satisfaction with new spaces
� Quantitative follow up analysis of renovated
space usage
Our success with various assessment techniques,
most notably the user activity studies and Webbased surveys, enabled the creation of user spaces
that met the needs of our user community. Perhaps
more importantly, gathering and analyzing data as
part of a discrete project improved staff confidence
regarding assessment abilities. By using both
qualitative and quantitative data, we were able to
understand user needs and assess whether we met
those needs. As a result, assessment has been
incorporated into an increasing number of library
projects, and the concept of assessment is better
understood by library staff at all levels.
