ETHNOGRAPHY

RESEARCH
Research Area – Library 

(Central & Design) of Chitkara University,
Punjab

 INTRODUCTION
Subject :



• Researching on library of Chitkara University (Central & Design Library)





Objectives :



• To observe student’s behavior and experiences in both resource center.

• To know the rules and regulations

• To know if and how the environment created in the resource centers are
adequate/appropriate for learning.

• To know the process of book issuing.

• About E-book library services available for student

 TABLE OF
CONTENTS
01 02
METHODOLO
OBSERVATIONS
GY

03 04
DISCUSSION RECOMMENDATI
GUIDE ONS
Methodology
• Our research study looked at study behavior of students in different research centers.



• The two primary techniques used to gather data were participant observation and structured
interviews. 



• The research was intended to be holistic, conducted in a natural, real-life library situation, and the
subjects of the study were students who used study areas in the library.

 

• This study was qualitative and used ethnographic methods.



• The students who were observed in the study areas were part of an ever-changing group of
students who used the library study facilities. 

 

• All the data was collected over a time period of 5 days.

“The only thing you absolutely have
to know is the location of the
library”
~ ALBERT EINSTEIN
Location
CENTRAL
LIBRARY
DESIGN
LIBRARY
Basic Observations
Parameters
 Central Library
 Design library


Book return
 28 days
 21 days


Availability of books
 All books are available in the Some books are available in the
form of e-books
 form of e-books

Book issue
 5 books & 1 novel 
 2 books/novel


Late return
 Rs.2 fine per day per book
 Rs.2 fine per day per book


Timings
 Mon – Fri (8 am to 10 pm)
 Mon – Fri (9 am to 4 pm)


Sat – Sun (8 am to 10 pm)
 Sat (open) – Sun (closed)

Sitting
 363 seats
 42 seats (sofa + bean bag)


Access to computers
 Yes
 No


Observing students
Students
 Central Library
 Design library


Material they carry
 Phone,laptop,charger,diary
 Phone,laptop,charger,diary


What they do
 Working on their laptops
 Working on laptops/reading books


Behavior
 Sitting quietly
 Sitting and talking


Way of sitting
 Chairs
 Chairs, sofa and bean bags


Asking for assistance
 Mostly asks for assistance
 Sometimes asks for assistance


Entry requirements
 Roll number / ID card
 Roll number


Seat preference
 Anywhere
 Side tables for power sockets


Observing Infrastructure
Infrastructure
 Central Library
 Design library


Air conditioned 
 Fully air conditioned
 Fully air conditioned


Colors
 Smooth and soothing color Colorful and bright color scheme -
scheme - Crème and white
 Green and yellow

Staff assistance
 7 – 8 staff members
 1- 2 staff members


Departments
 Books for all departments
 Specific to design department


Sitting 
 Group tables (capacity 363)
 Group table, bean bag, sofa (42)


Helpdesks
 3 help desks
 2 help desks


Property rack
 4 racks
 1 rack


Rules and regulations
 No eatables allowed, no social No eatables allowed, no social

media, keep silence
 media, keep silence

Digital Access
E-library
 Central Library
 Design library


Computers for students
 9 computers
 None


Computers for staff
 9 computers
 1 computer


Digital tabs
 30 digital tabs
 None


Availability of e-books
 All books are available online
 Some books are available online


Reading e-books
 KOHA – Access to e-books
 KOHA – Access to e-books


Issuing books online
 Any ID proof and roll number
 Any ID proof and roll number


Charging points
 Points are less in central Points are available with all corner
library
 desks

 BOOKS AVAILABLE Design Library
Design, UX/UI, Journals,
Central Library Literature, Novels,
Reference books, BFA,
Engineering, BCA, MCA, AA, Animation, Game
IT, B.Tech , MTech design, Photography,
Thesis, Literature, Visual communication,
Journals, Reference Fashion

books, Language books
(Chinese, Japanese)

Collection
Collection 1880 – books in library

62,243 – printed books
 23 – e-books

66,46,794 – e-books
 Cd’s and DVD’s - 37

2,36,284 – audio books

 Process of Issuing Books
Enter book
Students enter details in
Picks a book name, roll number, computer and
to issue accession no. book, scans the bar
date and signature code

Goes to the
circulation Librarian Stamps the
counter asks for ID return date

Librarian
asks to fill Checks Book gets
book issue picture issued
slip
 DISCUSSION
GUIDE
We also conducted interviews to gain accurate data from different point of views and gather out
information which is required.



Introduction: Study in library: Functionality: 

- Name - Where other than class - Arrangement of books

- Semester - Why - Sitting arrangement

- Course - Frequency - Staff assistance

- Things you carry - Timings

- Sitting preference



Visit in library: Books:

- Purpose - Accessibility

- Requirements - Reading preference (online/offline)

- Process of issuing books

- Availability





INSIGHTS
• Most of the students prefer studying/working in library other than classroom.

• Most of the students use library because of its ambience.

• Most of the students visit library 2-3 times a week.

• Maximum student carry their laptops with them to the library.

• Most of the students prefer sitting on corner or side seats because of privacy and
charging points.

• Most of the students come to library rather to complete their work or read/refer to books.

• Most of the students find that the books are easily accessible.

• Most of students prefer reading books offline because of its tangible experience.

• Most of the students ask for assistance in the library.

 SCENARIO
Vipul is an engineering student who wants to complete
his project but was not able to concentrate in class
because of noise and distractions around, so he went to
the library to work calmly.

 Background 

Vipul is an third year engineering student. He has always been a hard
worker and wants to do well for his finals and tests. But, he gets easily
distracted therefore sometimes it become hard for him to focus on his work.


Behavior/Personality

Hard worker, ambitious, time conscious ,well-organised, Introvert,
disciplined


- Comfortable working space


- To Get his project done 

- Ambience 

- Wants to save time

-Find a quiet and conducive 
 - To do well for his finals 

Name – Vipul Jain
 Motivation environment to focus 

Goals - Wants to focus while working 

Age – 21
 - Charger points
 

Gender - Male

Occupation – 3rd Year student

Location – Chandigarh
 -When there is no charging point near 

by

Devices – Laptop, Mobile
- Feeling dizzy while studying 

Phone

Frustrations -Too much silence sometimes 

become boring
 Apps used

- Get hungry in between of work 

 STAGES
 MORNING
 CLASS
 LIBRARY
 CLASS


- Wakes up at 6 am
 - Attends first lecture
 - Reaches the library
 - Returns back
User Action
 - Gets ready for college
 - 2nd lecture is free
 - Finds a seat for himself to class to
- Have his breakfast
 - He plans to utilize his with less people around
 attend his
-Catches his bus at 8 am 
 free lecture to complete - Start to complete his lectures ahead

-Reaches college 
 his project. But, due to project 


 the distractions and noise





 in the class ,he goes to


the library .


 


 


 

Emotions


 
 


 
 


 


 -Feels lazy and sleepy
 - His laptop battery was 

Pain Points
 - Feels hard to

 
 concentrate 
 running low 
 -----


 
 
 - Distractions and noise - Was not able to find a 


 
 in class
 plug point as those are 


 
 on corners of wall
 

Touchpoints
 Phone
 Laptop, phone
 Laptop, phone
 
 Phone


 


 used

Applications WhatsApp, Alarm Instagram
 PowerPoint, Chrome, Notes
 PowerPoint, Chrome, Notes
 
 Chrome, Notes


Features
 -Have a good sleep
 -Can use noise -Can switch to a seat
-----

cancellation headphones
 near a plug point

-Sit at a quite place

SCENARIO
Shalini who is a Mass communication student loves to
read novels and books but due to her hectic schedule
of classes and work, she is not able to read, so she
went to the library where she can read and refer to
books in a comfortable and quite environment.

 Background 

Shalini is a second year Mass communication student, who is good at
studies and also have great interest in reading books.


Behavior/Personality

Extrovert, Imaginative, Got easily distracted, dependent, lazy
,well-organised, Love to read.



- Perfect reading space
 - To study well

- Study environment 
 - To perform well in test 

Name – Shalini Kapoor
 -Silent place to read
 - Practice photography

Age – 19
 Motivation Goals - Stay concentrated 

-Some extra free time for herself 

- Read books

Gender – Female

Occupation – 2nd Year student

Location – Mohali
 - Is sick of being chased by friend 

Devices – Laptop, Mobile -Students passes by library cause 

Phone, Camera
 distraction

Frustrations
Apps used

 STAGES
 MORNING
 CLASS
 LIBRARY
 CLASS


- Wakes up at 7 am
 -Attends lectures
 - Reaches the library
 - Returns back

User Action
 - Gets ready for college
 - Does assignments
 - Finds a corner seat so to class to
- Uses public transport to -Started reading notes on that se can read quietly attend her next
reach university
 her phone
 and peacefully
 
 lecture

-As the lecture end, she 


 realized she had time to go 


 and read books 
 

-Plans to go to library and 


 read 
 


 





Emotions


 






 


 


 


 -As the front wall was
Pain Points
 -----
 -----
 -Feels she could

 
 made of glass so

 
 
 everyone peeped inside

have some more
time left


 
 -Felt uncomfortable






 

Touchpoints



Phone
 Laptop
 Books



-----




 used

Applications Alarm, Spotify, Instagram
 Chrome, Notes
 -----
 Alarm





Features
 -----
 -Can sit on a seat facing - Need to have a
-----

towards the wall
 balance schedule of
work

 SCENARIO
Issuing of books becomes a lengthy process as ID
cards are not provided to some students(freshers), so it
becomes difficult for the librarian to identify and issue
books.

 Background 

Kuldeep is working as librarian since 2 year. He had done M.Lib and now
working hard to get more experience.


Behavior/Personality

Ambivert, Independent, hard worker, time conscious, well-organised,
disciplined, loves reading.


- To keep record of each and

- Professional development 
 everything 

- Want more quick and easy - Manage and check daily task 

access to system 
 - Make required books available 

Name – Kuldeep Singh
 Motivation - To get more experience
 Goals - Need to request more books

Age – 27

Gender - Male

Occupation –Teacher
 - Too busy at work sometimes 

- It is time consuming to issue books to
Location – Zirakpur

new students who didn’t get id card yet
Devices – Laptop, Mobile as we have to check other id proof for
Phone
 Frustrations that 

- Desk is small to keep all stuff and Apps used

computer 

- Needs to ask every student about the
lecture schedule

 STAGES
 MORNING
 LIBRARY
 END OF DAY


-Reaches library
 -Students come to issue -Summarizes all the

User Action
 -Switches on computer
 books
 received and distributed
-Sets up his desk
 -They are not having ID books 

-Prepares the book list
 cards











Emotions


 


 




 


 -Tired

Pain Points
 -----
 -Difficulty in issuing

 


 
 

books

-Takes long time than

 
 usual





Touchpoints



Phone, Computer
 Computer
 Computer



 used

Applications WhatsApp, Excel 
 Library website
 Excel


Features
 -----
 -Arrange ID cards As -----


soon as possible

 Recommendations
Central Library:

• We could provide more plug points.

• Their should also be separate sitting for single person.

• Also some tables faced towards the wall.

• E-books should be shared online (via phones, etc.) instead of pen drives or cd or memory card.

• Locker facility should also be available for valuable items.

• Is not accessible for some departments



Design Library:

• Chairs could be more comfortable.

• Sofa seats should be fixed.

• Lights should be more bright in the corner spots.

• Could provide more number of books of some departments (e.g. UX/UI). 

• Should have more number of e-books. 

• Could have a small coffee corner so that students can focus if they are feeling sleepy.

• Bag safety concern should provide locked shelves.

THANK
YOU