24-Hour Study Room Survey Results

24 Hour Study Room a Resounding Success

Late night study hours are a fact of life for students with demanding schedules. All around the country more and more universities are providing options for students looking for a safe, sociable late-night place to work away from the distractions of home and dorm.

Kennedy's new 24 Hour Room

In October 2007, Cal Poly opened its new 24 hour study space — the Study Room of the Kennedy Library. At the time, Dean Michael D. Miller commented, "Students have repeatedly asked for longer hours to support study in the library. We agree and will do everything possible to make this happen."

Anyone walking by Kennedy Library on a weekend evening can see that the 24 Hour Study Room is heavily used. Last year 27,000 late night student visits were recorded between October and June, with over 400 visits on each of several nights.

May 2008 survey results

To learn more about use of the room, the Library conducted a brief survey in May 2008. Nearly 100 responses were received. Among the results we learned that more than 80% of the respondents live off campus. Use was split about half between regular users (43% reported using the room daily or several days a week), and occasional users (38% who use it several times a month or quarter), with another 10% using it during midterms and finals only.

One student wrote, "It is about time there was a location conducive to studying that was open 24 hrs! Thank you! And 24 hr computers would be even more useful" Another said, "Thank you so much for the 24-hour study room! If I had to cram in my apt, I would have bombed some midterms and finals! This is definitely a plus!" A third added: "I am a proud 24 hour study room patron and love having somewhere to go study when I get too tired to study anywhere near my bed." And another: "The library is the only place in town that any one of any major can come and study 24 hours."

The bottom line: the room is a "resounding" success — if anything, too resounding!

Among the complaints were air quality (no conditioning on warm nights); noise levels; lack of access to computers; and the need for more electrical outlets for laptops.

Follow up planned

To address these issues the Library has been exploring options for expanding the current 24 hour space to include access to computers as well as a designated quiet study zone.

» View the full survey results without comments.

For more information, please contact Anna K. Gold, University Librarian, at akgold@calpoly.edu.