Director of Library Services University of Saint Mary Keleher Learning Commons
In February 2020, the University of Saint Mary (USM) had completed a full renovation of the campus library, including a renaming to the Keleher Learning Commons (KLC). The brand-new coffee shop was the last item completed, and construction noise had given way to full enjoyment of the student-centered space. Librarians looked forward to measuring new patterns of building usage, particularly the renovation's impact on student's learning in the library environment. The limitations of the pre-renovation library's spaces had been well-documented through student surveys and door count data. Before new surveys could be conducted, USM went into COVID lockdown. The next two academic years featured restricted usage, campus lockdowns, and overall lower campus engagement numbers, which carried through in the KLC's usage data. August 2022 represented a significant change in student engagement with the KLC, with door counts for August 2022-May 2023 higher than any prior academic year. Using the Space survey from ACRL Project Outcome, librarians gathered data on self-reported impact of Keleher Learning Commons student usage at the end of the Spring 2023 semester. The presenter will close the loop between door counter data, student survey responses, renovation changes that paid off, and new opportunities discovered.