Thank you to those of you who completed the LRC survey this year. We are really pleased with the results - please find the details below.
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1. No | 1% |
| 2 | 12% |
| 3 | 37% |
| 4. Can't manage without it | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1. Not at all | 7% |
| 2 | 22% |
| 3 | 36% |
| 4. Yes, very much | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Never | 31% |
| At least once a month | 28% |
| At least once a week | 21% |
| Most days / every day | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1. Not at all | 20% |
| 2 | 15% |
| 3 | 28% |
| 4. Yes, very much | 37% |
| Total | 100% |
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1. Poor | 1% |
| 2 | 7% |
| 3 | 25% |
| 4. Excellent | 67% |
| Total | 100% |
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Not at all useful | 1% |
| Not particularly useful | 7% |
| Quite useful | 40% |
| Very useful | 52% |
| Total | 100% |
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| No | 6% |
| Yes | 94% |
| Total | 100% |
The reasons why you think it is a good place to study:
The reasons why you think it is not a good place to study:
We always try our best to keep the noise in the LRC to an appropriate level in order to maintain a balance that meets the needs of students who are working in small groups and individuals who need a quiet space to concentrate on their work. The LRC is a shared area for studying in and is not a social space which is why we remind students of this when they are not working. This was acknowledged by a respondent with the following comment: "...can get loud at times but staff normally tell them to be quiet"
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Not at all appropriate | 0% |
| Not particularly appropriate | 1% |
| Quite appropriate | 27% |
| Very appropriate | 72% |
| Total | 100% |
These are the reasons given by a couple of respondents as to why they do not find the opening hours appropriate:
After monitoring the number of students using the LRC after 4:30pm during the last academic year we made the decision to close at 4:30pm instead of 5:00pm as it was very rare to have anyone in the centre during that last half an hour. The LRC is not an appropriate area to wait for the bus as it is for study purposes and should not be used as a social area. For those of you who need to continue working after 4:30pm there is desk space and computers available in the Independent Learning Centre (Green Room) until 9:00pm Monday to Thursday and until 5:00pm on Friday.
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Never | 0% |
| Not often | 4% |
| Often | 53% |
| Always | 43% |
| Total | 100% |
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Poor | 0% |
| Adequate | 10% |
| Very good | 53% |
| Excellent | 37% |
| Total | 100% |
These were by far the things you most valued about the LRC:
| Could do better / could offer | No. of comments | LRC response |
|---|---|---|
| More computers and laptops, including a number of comments asking for more laptops to be available for lessons. | 50 | We have doubled the number of laptops available with the introduction of the new self-service lockers this year. These laptops are for individual independent study, but unfortunately we regularly see entire classes being sent for them. Laptops should be available within departments for class use so that the LRC ones can be used for their intended purpose. |
| More software, such as Visual Studio. | 1 | Visual studio is available on computers number 1 - 10 in the East side of the LRC. |
| More books for childcare and health and social care. | 6 | Our Learning Resource Advisors work closely with teaching staff to ensure that all resources required by students are available in the LRC. The Advisors will look at the requests that have been made and consult with the relevant tutors. We try to meet demand by purchasing multiple copies of books where necessary but we cannot afford to buy one copy per person so to help you gain access to the books you need we have a request system which allows you to reserve items that are on loan – please ask at the help desks to access this service. |
| Allow food and drink. | 9 | We have tried allowing food and drink in the past and it inevitably resulted in the LRC becoming a mess. As the LRC is a shared space for everyone to use it needs to be kept clean and tidy for study purposes. There are eating areas around college that are much more suitable for eating and drinking than the LRC. |
| Control the noise levels, including a couple of comments about break time students. | 20 |
The results of this survey have shown that the majority of students believe the LRC to be a quiet place to work but we understand your frustrations around it becoming too loud sometimes. We will continue to monitor the noise and remind students to keep the noise down in order to encourage an appropriate working atmosphere. We will also continue to highlight that the LRC is not a social space and will move disruptive groups out of the LRC to more appropriate areas. |
| Have more quiet areas / have isolated rooms for practice of presentations. | 2 |
There is a silent study room in the LRC - simply ask at the help desk to be booked in. Likewise, if the silent study room is not being used it might be possible to practice presentations in there - please ask a member of staff and we will see if we can accommodate you. |
| More study tables and seating areas. | 5 |
We realise that it can get cramped around the tables and this is not ideal. You are able to use the group study table which has a bit more space if you need it. We have tried our best in terms of the layout in the LRC but where most of the tables are placed is dictated by the floor power sockets so we are unable to move them to create space for additional tables. |
| More tables with charging ports. | 3 | Unfortunately there is not space in the LRC to have more tables with charging facilities. |
| More clarity on returning the books. | 1 |
There is clear guidance in the key things you need to know about using the LRCs section on the About the LRCs page in LRC Online to help with this. Standard loan and 7 day books can be renewed 10 times without being seen, via email, phone or in person. The only exception is term loan books as these only have to be renewed once per term and therefore to ensure they are still in a good condition and you have not lost them we insist on them being returned to the LRC once before the Christmas break and again before the Easter holiday. |
| Free printing. | 1 | You are provided with £10 of printing credit each term, which if you use it all up each term is actually £30 worth of free printing each year - that is pretty good going! |
| Open later to wait for the bus / to not feel as pressured to leave when it is nearly time for the library to close. | 5 |
Overall 99% of respondents think the opening times are appropriate for when they want to use it. The LRC is not an appropriate space to wait for the bus as it is for study purposes and should not be used as a social area as this is not fair to others who are trying to work. For those of you who need to continue working after 4:30pm and don't want to feel pressured to leave the LRC at this time there is desk space and computers available in the Independent Learning Centre (Green Room) until 9:00pm Monday to Thursday and until 5:00pm on Friday. |
|
Nothing / praise for the LRC: "There's nothing else that could be done better." |
12 | Thank you :-) |
An overwhelming number of positive comments were received in response to this final survey question. Here's just a few of them:
It is good with polite staff.
A good space to concentrate on work.
Always clean, quiet, calm and accompanied by staff to help at any time .
Fabulous xxxx
Friendly environment.
Good books.
Good service.
Helpful and lovely staff.
I enjoy coming here to do my work.
I like how all the books are in there own places and labelled so we can tell where they are.
I use it everyday and it is really helpful.
It is a great place to focus and get my work done.
It is fantastic!!!
It is helpful and staff are friendly.
It's a peaceful and relaxing space.
It's amazing.
It's pretty fab.
Its pretty good not gonna lie.
Lovely staff
My favourite place to do work.
Nothing to improve because it is fantastic!!!!!
Staff are always friendly and available.
Staff are always polite and helpful.
Staff is friendly and helpful, no problems with computers or laptops.
Very useful as it gives us a space to keep up with work.
Very welcoming environment and useful, staff are very helpful.
We love librarians.
