Atmosphere

The survey included questions for people who visited library spaces about how welcoming, respectful of diversity, and safe the library feels, as well as whether people feel a sense of belonging as their authentic selves. 

Most respondents gave positive responses, and there were no notable differences due to role, gender, race, disability status, first-generation status (for students), or international status in responses. (Due to the very large sample size, effect size statistical measures were used to assess differences.)

Sense of Belonging

54.8% of respondents reported very often or always feeling a sense of belonging in the library.

A sense of belonging means that you can comfortably be your authentic self where you are.  What is most true of you when you are in U-M library spaces?

• I never feel a sense of belonging 0.7%

• I rarely feel a sense of belonging 4.9%

• I sometimes feel a sense of belonging 39.6%

• I very often or always feel a sense of belonging 54.8%

Welcoming

91.5% of respondents reported feeling like the library is mostly or very welcoming when they visited in person.

Based on your own experience, how welcoming does the library seem to you (in person and/or online)?

• Very unwelcoming 0.2%

• Mostly unwelcoming 0.7%

• Mixed experience 7.6%

• Mostly welcoming 44.0%

• Very welcoming 47.5%

Respectful of Diversity

96.9% of respondents reported feeling like the library is mostly or very respectful of diversity.

Based on your own experience, how respectful of that diversity is the library (in person and/or online)?

• Very disrespectful 0.1%

• Mostly disrespectful 0.1%

• Mixed experience 2.9%

• Mostly respectful 25.5%

• Very respectful 71.4%

Safety

96.7% of respondents reported feeling mostly or very safe when they were inside a library building or near an entrance.

When you are inside of a U-M library building (or near an entrance), how safe do you feel, personally?

• Very unsafe 0.1%

• Mostly unsafe 0.3%

• Mixed experience 3.0%

• Mostly safe 29.6%

• Very safe 67.1%

Those who reported feeling unsafe were asked to provide more information, and 351 provided information about buildings/locations in which they had felt unsafe. Other answers encompassed other campus spaces, such as areas of the Duderstadt outside AAEL/library spaces, and other libraries including AADL, Bentley, Clements, Kresge, and Law. (Note, these percentages do not sum to 100% because people were able to select more than one option.)

Libraries where respondents have experienced or seen safety issues 

• AAEL 6.6% (n = 23)

• Fine Arts 2.3% (n = 8)

• Hatcher 30.5% (n = 107)

• Music 0.9% (n = 3)

• Shapiro 39.6% (n = 139)

• Taubman 5.1% (n = 18)

• Other place / other library 43.9% (n = 154)

Comments for an optional open-response question to share experience about library spaces included:

• “Some of the people who visit the library have harassed students with numerous types of remarks among homophobia and racism.”

• “Men being predatory, inappropriate behaviors towards women.”

• “There are darkened areas around the library, which someone could hide in.”

• “I feel unsafe in any area of campus due to gun violence in the US.”