Group: Ling Ern, Rochelle
Research Process:
- Architectural Layout:
- What (furniture/fixture) exist in the space:
sofas / counters / student tables / book shelves / bean bags / computer tables / printers
- What surrounds the place:
books / smell of books / quietness / library goers / occasional tourists / pretty view
- Who goes there:
Mostly ADM students or NTU students (during exam period) – spotted quite a few SPMS/NMS/MARITIME students / Researchers / Lecturers / People working in the library
- How do they behave:
According to areas:
@ Computer/ PC clusters: Listening to recorded lectures / doing their notes / research
@ Study Benches: Discussions of group projects / self study / listening to music
@ Printing Kiosk: Sending docs to print / queueing up
@ Book Shelves: Looking for books / sitting amongst the rows with a pile of books beside.
@ Sofa: Sitting with laptops on their laps and doing their own stuff
@ Bean bags behind the cluster of book shelves: Lie there and nap / use their mobiles
- What is the level of interaction between the people and place:
LOW: Doing their own stuff / not moving much / using facilities with minimum interaction and sleep (misuse facilities)
MED: Printing / looking for books
HIGH: Borrowing books / sitting between shelves to read
- What is the level of interaction between the people and people:
LOW: Self study / alone / sleep
MED: Contact with library stuff / have a friend beside them to study (silent companion)
HIGH: Engage in project discussion
- What are people’s perception of the library as a place (interview):
I came up with a few simple questions to interview library go-ers.
- What is your general perception of the library?
- What do you think the library lacks?
- What can be added to make it better?
PERSON #1 (ADM-er):
- Favorite Place in ADM to study and sleep
- Not lacking in anything
- ADM library considered one of the nicer libraries, so nothing much to add
PERSON #2 (NBS):
- Nice place to sleep and study
- I want water cooler in the library with hot water!
- No chope-ing of seats except going to the toilet
PERSON #3 (ADM-er):
- The library is a scary place (unknown reasons)
- Arrangement of books are confusing, labels are way too similar
- Can play some light music
PERSON #4 (ADM-er):
- It is well stocked with art books in a wide range of topics, rather impressive
- Any other genre of books – I would like to know if I can get other topics or I have to visit another library in order to get them (a little inconvenient)
- In my previous school, sometimes classes or activities are conducted in the library. Perhaps, we can do the same here?
PERSON #5 (EEE):
- The library is way too quiet
- Wish that there is a corner where there is soothing music
- A rest area with soundproof wall with snacks for group discussions/ conversations over coffee
- Library **especially ADM library** should display different kind of artworks >> more visually appealing
- Suggest library to have a network system that connects other libraries in school (not sure what is the real reason)
- Automatic device that brings the book(s) student needs instead of searching themselves
- Please open 24 hours!
PERSON #6 (CSE):
- Great ambience allows students to focus
- Aircon a tad too cold
- Need waterpoint in the library
Possible Proposals:
Proposed Proposal: #1 (My Idea)
Proposed Location: Study Tables After Shelves Area
Title of Installation: I Chope Like That!
Project Synopsis: We realised that a lot of people often leave their stuff on the table to reserve the seat at the study table. By observation, there are times where the person has not come back/ reappear for more than 45 minutes to an hour, causing others to be deprived of the seat to study. To maximise the usage of the study area, “I Chope Like That!” helps one another to be more aware and mindful of their behaviour.
Description of installation: A deck of cards will be produced and placed at each study table, enclosed with a stopwatch at the front. The user has to press and activate the stopwatch before being able to open the box to retrieve the cards. Each card contain words like “ I am off to the toilet! Will be back in 5 minutes!” / “Please wait, I will be back in 10 minutes” / “I am printing my stuff, be back in 5 minutes” / “20 minutes break time!” etc. The maximum chope-ing time for a person will be capped at 20 minutes. Once the 20 minutes is up, the stopwatch will beep and the librarian on duty has the rights to remove any belongings on the table. When the person A returns to the seat and realised that their stuff is gone, he or she will have to go to the counter to retrieve their stuff.
Proposed Proposal: #2 “Lost Age” (Rochelle’s Idea)
Project Synopsis: Technology has greatly improved people’s reading experience these days, and it is proven that there has been a diminishing use of the library. Libraries these days are considered merely a “warehouse” for the prints with unused content. There wasn’t any people browsing the books whenever we drop by the library. The books are arranged almost too neatly as if they are never pull off the shelves. One possible reason may be when there are too many books and people don’t know where to begin with. “The Paradox of Choice”, where excessive choice can produce choice paralysis. When there is a large display, people are less likely to make a choice as they feel overwhelmed. Hence, a small number of books on display allows viewers to do a quick browsing and thus enhance the perceived value of the books. Also, there is a sense of discovery when people come across books they never knew they wanted to read.
Description of Installation: Set up shelves on the wall/ can be on table and place a number of unborrowed books (prolly 300??); may wrap up the books OR arrange them according to colors/alphabetize them
Other possible ideas:
- Using projector
- “Silent Disco” – sharing headsets
- Paste stickers on the floor > recommend people to specific sections e.g. When in doubt check out ….
- People’s Library > Allow people to bring in their books for sharing
Proposed Proposal: #3 (My idea after consultation)
Project Synopsis: Goes back to the problem of hogging. I think that I may want to minimise the number of people hogging the beanbags due to them napping/ sleeping on them.
Description of Installation: Misters will be attached near the beanbags. If there is inactivity detected (no movements) for more than half an hour, it will be activated and mist will be sprayed onto the person’s face.
My original idea was to attach small electrical impulse onto the bean bags. However, it felt like a cruel experiment instead and would seem like discouraging library goers, hence changing it to mist.
Proposed Proposal: #4 (Both)
Project Synopsis: The labels in the library which are followed by digits and minimal lettering does not seem to be user friendly. It may seem confusing to those who are looking to browse through a particular section such as western art history and will have a hard time finding it since labels does not state where is the “western art history” located at.
Description of Installation: Labels will be printed out and pasted on the respective relevant shelves to ease navigation.
After consultation, we have decided to proceed with #1. However, there may be potential technical problems and we are in the midst of refining it.
Examples: Lever system > vending machine (must it be box?? Or just deck of cards) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNk4k44tyZ0
SPACES we noticed when we surveyed the library:
- Projector Idea
2) Possible installation area: (empty space)
3) Study desk area:
4) Possible installation space / empty area:
5) Area near the bean bags at the back:
6) Cushioned area near the study desk:
