Investigating the impact of spaces design on user satisfaction in university libraries : a case study

Abstract

Purpose: Modern university libraries are evolving to meet students’ needs, offering varied study environments that cater to both private and group work. While existing research has recognized the important of library environment, there remains a research gap in understanding how individual attributes, such as age, gender, specific area locations and feeling (different level of emotion states) influence student satisfaction with library interior design. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the hypothesized relationships between these individual attributes and student satisfaction. It aims to offer practical design insights tailored to meet the varied needs of students. Design/methodology/approach: This study analyzed satisfaction among 404 library users across four library areas in one university library – two designed for quiet study and two for collaborative discussion – using questionnaires distributed by the research team. Analysis of variance and t-tests were used to assess how individual attributes and interior design elements, including size, seating plan, layout, seating ergonomics and openness, affect library user satisfaction. A structural equation model was used to analyze how attributes such as perceived interior design quality influence overall satisfaction in various library environments, with the goal of identifying specific improvements that could enhance the user experience. Findings: This study revealed that users in traditional, non-co-working library spaces expressed greater satisfaction with the size, seating plan and layout compared to those in co-working settings. Also, both groups of users found the ergonomics of seating and the openness of spaces to be equally satisfactory, suggesting that these factors are consistently well-received across different spatial designs. Furthermore, the research highlighted that both “age” and “location” (the specific areas of the library where users spent their time) significantly influenced users’ satisfaction, with features that tailored well to their needs being particularly valued by both younger and older library users. Originality/value: This study enhances the understanding of how interior design elements influence user satisfaction in university libraries. By incorporating variables such as location, gender, age and feelings into the analysis, it provides a nuanced framework to evaluate user responses to library indoor environments. The findings highlight the importance of tailored design strategies and suggest the need for improved tools to measure the complex interplay between user individual differences and the built environment.