Playtime at Robarts Library » Opening a Family-Friendly Study Space at the University of Toronto

» “A good library will never be too neat, or too dusty, because somebody will always be in it, taking books off the shelves and staying up late reading them.” - LEMONY SNICKET Issue 64 // July 15, 2019 Playtime at Robarts Library » Opening a family-friendly study space at the University of Toronto BY JESSE CARLINER AND KYLA EVERALL cater to so-called nontraditional students to provide family-friendly library study spaces. f academic libraries are sincere about Information about the number of students Itheir commitment to equity and inclu- in Canada who are parents is not col- sion, they must become more accessible for lected systematically, creating an invisible student parents—a large and underserved population. However, in the 2016 Canadian population whose members may also have Graduate and Professional Student Survey, other marginalized identities. Although 49.3% of respondents reported that family accommodating children may seem to be obligations were an obstacle to success, outside the scope of academic libraries’ with 14.3% reporting that they were a ma- WEATHERING THE TWITTER STORM mandate, if we are to fully support research jor obstacle.2 Early Uses of Social Media as a and learning on campus, we must try to According to Statistics Canada, Cana- Disaster Response Tool for Public Libraries reduce obstacles for parenting students dian women spend on average 50.1 hours During Hurricane Sandy however we can, including welcoming their per week on unpaid childcare, compared to children into our libraries. To address this 24.4 hours for men.3 Given that the burden “I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT I NEEDED need, the University of Toronto Libraries of childcare primarily falls to women, lack BOOKS THAT OFTEN” recently opened Canada’s first academic of academic library support for parenting Demonstrating Library Value library family-friendly study space. students disproportionately impacts women during the Temporary Closure of an and has a negative effect on equitable access Academic Branch Library PARENTING STUDENTS IN THE UNITED to library resources and services, as well as STATES AND CANADA overall learning and research opportunities. PERSPECTIVES ON YOUTH DATA In the United States, 4.8 million under- At the University of Toronto, parenting LITERACY AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY graduate students are raising children,1 and students expressed that they have had to Teen Services Staff Speak Out there is a trend among U.S. institutions that choose their classes based on their child- secured study spaces available for parenting they were not welcome. When students did students. Such rooms are more commonly bring their children to the library, this would found in smaller American universities and occasionally create conflict with other users colleges, as well as European academic li- over noise issues. braries. In the 2016 the University of Toronto Li- In particular, there is a noticeable gap braries LibQUAL+ survey, the library received among the libraries at top-ranked research- a comment from a doctoral student requesting intensive universities. A review of the websites that the library provide a designated study of the top 25 ARL libraries found only one space for students with children, citing many mention of family-friendly space.7 such spaces that they had seen in European universities. The University of Toronto context According to The University of Toronto’s The University of Toronto is a public re- Family Care Office, although the majority of search-inten- graduate stu- sive univer- dentsa caregiver at at theall times. Although children were allowed in the library, the lack of a sity spread Universitypublicly posted ofpolicy may have created the over three Torontoimpression that are they were not welcome. When students did10 bring their children to campuses in women,the library, this would occasionally create and around thereconflict withwere other users over noise issues. In the 2016 the University of Toronto Toronto, On- previouslyLibraries LibQUAL+ no survey, the library tario, Can- academicreceived a comment ser- from a doctoral stu- ada. From vicesdent requesting or spac that- the library provide a designated study space for students with 2017 to 2018, eschildren, for parents citing many such spaces that they the universi- whohad seen inmay European universities. According to The University of Toronto’s ty had a total haveFamily Care need Office,- although the majority of enrolment of edgraduate to studentsbring at the University of To- ronto are women,10 there were previously no 90,077 stu- theiracademic children services or spaces for parents who dents.8 The tomay havecampus. needed to bring their children to campus. Therefore, the University of Toronto University Therefore,Libraries decided to address this need by of Toronto A selection of tweets responding to the opening of the Robarts Library Family Study Space. thedeveloping Universi a family-friendly- study space in A selection of tweets responding to the opening of the Robarts Robarts Library. Libraries sys- ty of Toronto Librarycare schedules Family and the Study type of Space. course work sites of the top 25 ARL libraries found only tem is the involved. Group projects, for example, pose one mention of family-friendly space.7 LibrariesPROPOSING THEde SPACE- largest academica challenge, library because in Canadathey may require and stu is- cided to address this need by developingIn our large and complexa library system, a dents to arrange additional childcare. Access- THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO CONTEXT family-friendly study space did not fit neatly ranked sixth amonging services peer that institutions are only available in inNorth person, Thefamily-friendly University of Toronto study is a public space in Robartswithin anyLibrary. one department’s responsi- America.9 The systemsuch as consultations consists withof 44 a librarian, libraries, can research-intensive university spread over bilities or expertise. Developing the space also be difficult to arrange, due to the chal- three campuses in and around Toronto, would require cross-departmental col- with around 500lenges librarians and expense andof finding paraprofes childcare. - Ontario,Proposing Canada. From the 2017 space to 2018, the laboration for successful completion and sional staff members. universityIn our had large a total andenrolment complex of 90,077 library operation. system, The project a team comprised WHAT ARE LIBRARIES DOING? students.8 The University of Toronto Librar- of staff from the library’s public services Prior to theThere development are few services toof support the Family parenting iesfamily-friendly system is the largest studyacademic space library did departments,not fit neatly library facilities, and the uni- Study Space, thestudents John in P. academic Robarts libraries. Library, In Canada, the in withinCanada and any is ranked one sixthdepartment’s among peer responsibilitiesversity’s Family Care Office. In order address some universities have activity packs or institutions in North America.9 The sys- the administrative challenges to developing largest on campuschild-friendly and resourcesthe primary that children social can temor consists expertise. of 44 libraries, Developing with around the spacethe space, would the project team proposed the sciences and humanitiesuse while their library, parents study. had4,5 aOne policy has a 500require librarians cross-departmental and paraprofessional staff collaborationproject directly for to the chief librarian who corner in its basement where parents can members. had set aside money from the operating allowing childrenbring 12 their and children, under6 but to there accompany are no dedi- successfulPrior to the development completion of the Familyand operation.budget to fund The innovative ideas that did their parents tocated, the closedsecured study stacks. spaces The available policy, for Studyproject Space, theteam John comprised P. Robarts Library, of the staff not from fit withinthe theli- library’s organizational or however, was parentingnot posted students. publiclySuch rooms arein more the largestbrary’s on campus public and theservices primary socialdepartments, budgetary library structures. commonly found in smaller American uni- sciences and humanities library, had a policy In order to secure approval, the team building or on theversities website. and colleges, Under as well this as European policy, allowingfacilities, children and 12 and the under university’s to accom- neededFamily to addressCare concerns about liability children had to academicbe accompanied libraries. by a caregiver panyOffice. their parents In toorder the closed address stacks. The the andadministrative risk management regarding children in In particular, there is a noticeable gap policy, however, was not posted publicly in the library. The team reached out to the Uni- at all times. Althoughamong the children libraries at top-rankedwere allowed research- thechallenges building or on tothe developingwebsite. Under thisthe space,versity the of Toronto proj -Family Care Office to ask in the library, theintensive lack universities. of a publicly A review of posted the web- policy,ect childrenteam hadproposed to be accompanied the projectby them directly to serve into an advisory capacity on the policy may have created the impression that the chief librarian who had set aside money February 2019 101 C&RL News <2> Strategic Library™ ©2019 from the operating budget to fund innovative intended user population, the space was ideas that did not fit within the library’s

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