Find Your Zones in the Library

Collaborative Zone
• Active Learning
• Normal Conversations
• No Cell Phone Calls
• Turn Cell Phone Ringers Off

Quiet Study Zone
• Occasional talking
• Low speaking voice
• No cell phone calls
• Set cell phone to silent

Silent Study Zone
• Strictly for silent study
• No talking
• No cell phone calls
• Set cell phone to silent

When, why, & how did we start the library zones program?
We started the zones during fall of 2009.

Reason #1: Our annual library survey results consistently show a strong need for both quiet & collaborative areas in the library.

Reason #2: College of Dupage Library implemented their Zones program and it has worked out well for them. We are grateful that they shared their experiences with us.

Reason #3: We hope that having clearly defined zones in the library provides a favorable environment for collaborative learning as well as a quiet space for individual study.

How did we create the zones?
Major Task #1: During the summer of 2009, we rearranged desks to have big tables in the green zone and the yellow zones and small individual desks in the red zone.

Major Task #2: We transformed the two rooms on the east side of the main computer area into open use Collaborative Study Rooms. The two rooms used to be for quiet study only, but they were not used by students very much at all. Several computers were moved into the area, two white boards were installed, and two big conference size tables were set up.

Major Task #3: Signs were posted throughout different zones.

Zone Expansions
1. Winter quarter 2010, we expanded the green zone to include the outside of epicenter.
2. Winter quarter 2011, we started to keep the Epicenter open whenever there isn't a class in session to serve as a quiet zone for computer use.