Wayfinding and Appropriate Spaces

This section contains survey findings around navigating physical building spaces and availability of spaces appropriate for one’s needs.

Wayfinding is a notable challenge for those visiting library buildings: roughly 35% had trouble at first, and roughly 30% sometimes or often have trouble. 

There were no substantial differences in ease of wayfinding when considering role, gender identity, race, first-generation status (for students), or international status; however, there was a significant difference wherein wayfinding was more difficult for people with disabilities than those without.

>>> Go to the Accessibility theme page for related findings.

Have you ever had trouble finding your way when you are inside any library building at U-M?

• Never 13%

• Only at first 34%

• Rarely 24%

• Sometimes 25%

• Often 4%

Considering only those who reported having trouble with wayfinding inside library buildings, the following buildings were identified as troublesome (at least some of the time). (Note, these percentages do not sum to 100% because people were able to select more than one option.) 

Buildings that have felt confusing to navigate

• Hatcher 74%

• AAEL 42%

• Taubman 39%

• Shapiro 35%

• Music 18%

• Other library 12%

• Fine Arts 13%

Space availability

The following graphs focus perceived availability of spaces to work, to collaborate, to have a quiet space, and to have privacy. 

Overall, 50-60% of respondents said they could often or almost always find spaces that meet these needs.

There were no significant differences in finding space to work due to role, gender identity, race, disability status, first-generation status (for students), or international status. However, students were more likely to report difficulty in finding workspace. Roughly 45% of students reported having trouble finding a workspace at least some of the time vs. 40% across the general respondents.

With respect to finding spaces suitable for different kinds of work, 56.1% indicated they could often or almost always find space to collaborate and 57.4% indicated they could often or almost always find quiet space. There were no significant differences due to role, gender identity, race, disability status, first-generation status for students, or international status. 

For those seeking privacy in the library, there were mean differences between groups in the following ways:

• Role: Undergraduate students reported slightly but significantly more trouble finding private/personal space compared to the other campus role groups.

• Gender: Male library users reported slightly but significantly less trouble finding private space compared to the other gender groups.

• Disability Status: Library users with disabilities reported slightly but significantly more trouble finding private space compared to those without disabilities.