The library has always been a quiet zone, but Carleton’s MacOdrum library is hoping to hear faculty and student voices loud and clear through its LibQUAL survey.

The survey will ask specific questions regarding suitability of study space, availability of resources, as well as letting students comment on things they feel should be changed in the library.

Associate Carleton librarian Leslie Firth noted that although the actual survey is not very expensive to administer, the expense is in the time it takes to process the results and to implement the changes. She said she believes it is worth it though, because having the concrete evidence of survey results gives the library great leverage when it comes to getting the budget they need to make the library the best possible work environment for students.

“Libraries are all about service, really,” Firth said.

A LibQUAL survey has been conducted twice before at the library, once in 2005 and another time in 2007. The 2005 survey concluded that students had the most complaints about suitability of study space, while in 2007 their concern was mainly a lack of space that inspires them to work.

With the help of these past surveys, the library has been able to make adjustments and improvements to its services, Firth said. Since last year, the fifth floor of the library has been dedicated a “quiet zone,” where students can study without the distraction of noise or talking around them.

The library has also created an e-mail account, to which any student in the library can alert the library front desk of noise issues by e-mail immediately.

In addition to creating a more suitable study space, the library is also working toward increasing it, Firth said.

In response to the survey all of the academic journals within the library were moved down to the first floor. Compact shelving, otherwise known as “the shelves that move,” were purchased in order to fit the journals, and the space created was used to open up six more study rooms. There has even been talk of potentially adding an extension with two extra floors to make more space.

Martha Attridge Bufton, a subject specialist and reference librarian who is also doing graduate studies at Carleton, said she is thrilled to see how the results of the survey have led to useful changes such as the study rooms.

“We’re not wasting time,” she said about the surveys.

The survey will be sent out to all of Carleton faculty and a sample of undergrad and graduate students by e-mail Feb. 22. The library’s newly formed assessment committee is hoping there will be a higher response rate this time, in order to create the most accurate reflection of what needs to be changed.