Library Director Cleveland Clinic Alumni Library Cleveland Clinic Cleveland, Ohio
Background: The library occupied a floor in the research building of the hospital. Newly acquired funding during the pandemic allowed for the permanent expansion and addition of research facilities, requiring the library to move to a new temporary location within 3 months and then a permanent location 6 months later. This presentation will discuss the rapid (within 1 year) relocation of a 20 year old library and the decisions, processes, and policies surrounding the move and the challenges implementing them in a new reduced space while simultaneously growing online resources and services.
Description: The library staff evaluated print text and journals, study spaces, meeting rooms, computer access, patron study patterns, and library staff operations such as front desk work flow and library staff office space needs to best provide access to information and services in the temporary location as well as the permanent location. Decisions on the design of the temporary and permanent library locations were based on usage data, institution design policies, and available space. Online resources and services were evaluated to supplement resources and services previously available in person but were no longer feasible temporarily or permanently depending on the location.
Conclusion: The library moved to its permanent location in April 2022. Library usage space stats taken prior to Covid-19 factored into the decision to sacrifice some shelf space for more study rooms. Due to the hospital's design policies concessions regarding furniture style, layout, and library staff offices location had to be made. Library staff will continue to collect usage data to determine if the move impacted physical librarian use.
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