Developing a research methodology to explore whether the architecture and environment of reading rooms has an effect on readers' behaviour, and specifically handling

Abstract

This article begins to address the question of whether the architecture and environment of archive reading rooms has an effect on readers' behaviour (focusing on handling). Relevant literature from the archival discipline, architecture, environmental psychology and other fields is explored and the development of a methodology to investigate the question is described. The methodology involves systematic observation of architecture and readers' handling, qualitative discussions with staff and questionnaires to measure readers' perceptions of the environment. The methodology was tested in four reading rooms, but the results were inconclusive and pointed to the difficulty involved in proving links between the environment and behaviour. Nevertheless factors which may affect handling were identified and it is recommended that individual institutions review reading room design, availability of reading aids and reading room procedures if they wish to improve handling.

Keywords:

• archives
• reading rooms
• handling
• architecture
• environmental psychology

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the staff of Cambridge University Library Manuscripts Reading Room, the Borthwick Institute for Archives, the Elsevier Reading Room at the John Rylands Library and the Cadbury Research Library who so kindly accommodated my research. Thank you to Rachael Abbiss, who helpfully shared her experiences of using reading rooms as a PhD candidate in history. I'm very grateful to my supervisor, Dr Andrew Flinn, for all the help and guidance. Last, but not least, thank you to all at Churchill Archives Centre who listened to my ideas and have been very supportive throughout the process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

^1. Preservation Advisory Centre, Using Collections, 1.

^2.Wood, “Fetish of the Document”; and Kennett, “Objectivity and Subjectivity”.

^3. Mbembe, “Power of the Archive”, 19.

^4. Bell et al., Environmental Psychology, 393.

^5. Voordt and Wegen, Architecture in Use, 150.

^6. See note 4 above.

^7.Becker, “Closing the Design-Research gap”.

^8.Gropius, The scope of Total Architecture.

^9. Lee, Psychology and the Environment, 15.

^10.3XN, “3XN architects”.

^11.3XN, “Karlshamn Cultural Center”.

^12.3XN, “Architecture and psychology interact”.

^13.Architectural Record, “Building Types Study”.

^14.Tower Hamlets Borough Council, “Idea Store”.

^15.Arch Daily, “Kanazawa Umimirai Library”.

^16.Architectural Record, “Shunde Library”.

^17.Iowa State University, “Interior Design Programme”.

^18. Council of Interior Design Accreditation, “Professional Standards 2011”.

^19.Nasar, “Book Review: John Zeisel”.

^20. Zeisel, Inquiry by Design, 11.

^21. Ibid., 11 & 15.

^22. Scott, “Ecological Psychologists after Barker”, 297.

^23. Bell et al., Environmental Psychology, 124.

^24. Ibid., 103–104.

^25.Wohlwill, “Levels of Environmental Stimulation”.

^26. Bell et al., Environmental Psychology, 105–108.

^27. Broadbent, “Programme for architectural psychology”, 314–315.

^28. Bell et al., Environmental Psychology, 373.

^29. Lee, Psychology and the Environment, 22.

^30.Franck, “Ghost of Physical Determinism”.

^31. Ibid.

^32. Broadbent, “Programme for Architectural Psychology”, 325–326.

^33.Ballantyne, “Mr Peal's Archive”.

^34. Wood, “Fetish of the Document”, 33.

^35. Murdoch, “Beauty and the Book”, 58–59.

^36. Sommer and Sommer, Practical Guide to Behavioural Research, 60.

^37.Preservation Advisory Centre, Using Collections.

^38.Osgood, Suci and Tannenbaum, Measurement of Meaning.

^39. Ibid., 37.

^40. Sommer and Sommer, A Practical Guide to Behavioural Research, 167.

^41.Kasmar, “Lexicon of Environmental Descriptors”.

^42. Sommer and Sommer, Practical Guide to Behavioural Research, 8.

^43. Preservation Advisory Centre, Using Collections, 1.

^44. Ibid., 6.