If you had to do it differently what would you wish you had done in terms of
soundproofing during past construction or renovation projects? Broken by the
type of library.
Public Library
1) no
2) We should have used some of the items mentioned in the next question.
3) wall between us and next business
4) Soundproofing circulation area
5) I would have double glazed all the glass at the Central Library (We are almost
entirely glass on one half of the building). I would have added sound panels to one
of our concrete buildings.
6) Considered using panels, or some sort of sound absorption
7) Ensure sound proofing in teen area; meeting rooms; media room
8) Installed acoustic ceiling panels or baffles
9) Main building 100 years old and not much has been done as far as soundproofing.
Perhaps with renovations this would be one item to add.
10)thicker windows
11)NA
12)better acoustics throughout building
13)Build a separate room for children's programming.
14)I wish we had a small meeting room with soundproofing for groups to work on
projects without having to try to be quiet.
15)We're happy with the library the way it is. We just can't soundproof the patrons.
16)couldn't be done
17)sound or impact proofing better between floors
18)Better windows, separate YA room
19)nothing
20)We would have installed some type of soundproofing - nothing was done.
21)We did it in 2001 and it has worked beautifully
22)Better soundproofing of adjoining meeting spaces; more space of public activities,
better separated from quiet space.
23)N/A
24)I would like to have portable soundproofing screens so that we could move them
around as needed based on existing conditions
25)more soundproofing in interior walls double paned windows dividing doors
between lobby and library
26)No
27)NA
28)We are in our original historic 1894 building and there aren't many options for us.
Academic Library
1) Covered pipes with sound proofing materials
2) Double paned the windows
3) required heads-up from contractor so as to announce extreme noises
4) Sound proofed the study rooms. Made the staircase more soundproofed. Moved the
2 meeting rooms to the front of the library so that people could go directly there
instead of walking through the library talking.
5) More temporary walls, moveable dividers, sound proofing panels in group rooms
6) Apparently there is no really good solution for our problem (according to an
architect)
7) Had more individual separated carrels in the lab.
8) Extend the wall between the Circulation Desk and the rest of the library clear to the
ceiling.
9) maybe
10)Of the few study rooms we do have, improved soundproofing during their
construction during a 1995-1997 renovation would have been preferred. This
includes more than better glass, something should have been with the walls.
11)n/a
12)Adding some sort of baffling and soundproofing the walls between our study rooms.
13)Soundproofed group study rooms
14)sound absorbent floor covering
15)added ceiling tiles with sound proofing
16)Redesign of library completely!
17)Add acoustic sound absorbing tiles to walls, search for better, more modern sound
absorbing ceiling tiles. The choices I was given were smooth or an older grooved
look. The smooth looks great but sound echoes.
18)Walls between library and tutoring center.
19)rethought glass rooms; little soundproofing here for groups
20)individual and group study rooms, more separation between first and second floor
(currently open)
21)We just wish we had the funding for any renovation projects.
22)Figured out a way to change the main stairwell so noise wouldn't travel up and
down all four floor.
23)there needs to be wall covering on the huge (30' high) block wall to dampen noise
24)Added some! Not have pathways through quiet rooms
25)Made the commons area smaller and designed the facility to be less open. Create a
hallway that clearly demarcates the noise OK areas from the Quiet Please areas.
26)Better staff space for soundproofing, and more study rooms.
27)In one building, we would have made the top floor the quiet floor rather than the
collaborative zone. We are going to revisit some of our ideas about zoning,
28)Acoustic panels
29)windows did nothing for noise - the noise is from within - however, I would put up
window coverings of a fabric that muffles sound
30)We would have put the café elsewhere, enclosed it or made it much smaller with
only drinks sold
31)The walls are real problems even with some gaps around internal pillars. Any room
adjacent to the restroom is almost like being in the restroom.
32)Acoustic panels or digital noise abatement would be welcome.
33)?
34)When additional rooms were being created with existing space it would've been
HUGELY helpful to include some sort of noise-dampening materials.
35)Add separate HVAC to allow interior wall to go all the way to the ceiling.
Table 4 Does your library currently use any of the following: Acoustic
Panels, Acoustic Foam, Acoustic Insulation, Acoustic Baffles or
Acoustic Ceiling Tiles and Enclosures?
Table 4.1.1 Does your library currently use Acoustic Panels?
Entire sample
No Answer
0,00%
Yes
10,64%
No
89,36%
Table 4.1.2 Does your library currently use Acoustic Panels? Broken out for public and
academic libraries
What is your type of library?
Public
Academic
Yes
8,16%
13,33%
No
91,84%
86,67%
Table 4.1.3 Does your library currently use Acoustic Panels? Broken out by Librarians
FTE
Librarians FTE
1
2-5
More than 5
Yes
3,70%
10,00%
16,22%
No
96,30%
90,00%
83,78%
Table 4.1.4 Does your library currently use Acoustic Panels? Broken out by Number of
Distinct Library Buildings
Number of Distinct Library
Buildings
1
2 or more
Yes
No
11,39%
6,67%
88,61%
93,33%
Table 4.1.5 Does your library currently use Acoustic Panels? Broken out by Selfassessed level of library noise control problems
Self-assessed level of library
noise control problems
Not really a problem
Occasionally
Often a problem
A big problem
Yes
No
7,14%
9,52%
14,81%
9,09%
92,86%
90,48%
85,19%
90,91%
Table 4.2.1 Does your library currently use Acoustic Foam?
Entire sample
No Answer
0,00%
Yes
1,06%
No
98,94%
Table 4.2.2 Does your library currently use Acoustic Foam? Broken out for public and
academic libraries
What is your type of library?
Public
Academic
Yes
0,00%
2,22%
No
100,00%
97,78%
Table 4.2.3 Does your library currently use Acoustic Foam? Broken out by Librarians
FTE
Librarians FTE
1
2-5
More than 5
Yes
0,00%
0,00%
2,70%
No
100,00%
100,00%
97,30%
Table 4.2.4 Does your library currently use Acoustic Foam? Broken out by Number of
Distinct Library Buildings
Number of Distinct Library
Buildings
1
2 or more
Yes
No
1,27%
0,00%
98,73%
100,00%