Keywords

university community, academic libraries

Abstract

During 2001-2002, a formal study was conducted jointly by Brigham Young University's Office of Planning and Assessment (OPA) and the Harold B. Lee Library (HBLL) to determine the value of the library to the university community. The study described in this paper was undertaken at a time when some experts were predicting the demise of the academic library, and university administrators were questioning the need for new building, budget, and personnel requests. This paper will present a description of the study and its results, a comparison of similar data collected two years later, and a description of two new student services: extended hours and an information commons that the library has implemented and their possible impact on library usage.

Original Publication Citation

Frade, P.A., Washburn, A. (26). The University Library: The Center of a University Education? Portal: Library & the Academy, 6(3), 327-346.