Physical Office Environment in Technical Services in ARL Libraries

Abstract

The authors conducted a survey on the physical office environment in technical services in ARL libraries in 2012 and answered research questions: 1) How do librarians and staff in technical services in ARL Libraries spend their work time in different workplaces and activities? 2) How do librarians and staff in technical services in ARL Libraries conduct work interactions and communication? 3) What are the office and workstation layouts in technical services in ARL Libraries? What is the satisfaction level of librarians and staff in technical services in ARL Libraries towards their office and workstation layouts? 4) How is the physical office environment in technical services in ARL Libraries? What is the satisfaction level of librarians and staff in technical services in ARL Libraries towards their physical office environment? 5) What are the attitudes of librarians and staff in technical services in ARL Libraries towards some of the current issues in physical office environment? 6) What are the perceptions of librarians and staff in technical services in ARL Libraries on whether physical office environment affects their job satisfaction, privacy, productivity, communication and collaboration? 7) How will the above findings impact the design of the physical office environment in technical services in ARL Libraries? The survey laid some ground work on understanding the physical office environment in technical services in ARL Libraries and the survey results will be useful for both library administrators and architects when designing or renovating technical services in libraries.