Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5098-6758 - Tobler-Gaston
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
10-23-2025
Abstract
The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library has a history of conducting kindness audits that evaluate our physical space. The “Kindness Audit” has been an internal effort to reflect on how welcoming, accessible, and responsive our library environment is to all who use it. In Fall 2024, a working group reimagined this effort with a broadened lens: incorporating the physical space, the welcoming atmosphere, and the usability of the library website.
This presentation outlines the process and purpose of this updated audit. We designed and distributed a qualitative observation paper survey for our physical space and the option of a physical or Qualtrics survey for the website portion, inviting anonymous feedback from all library employees—faculty, staff, and student workers. We also partnered with Dr. Parker Krieg’s service-learning class, whose students contributed valuable insights by completing partial surveys. Flyers with QR codes and links to the website survey were posted near computers and printers, encouraging a wide range of participation. Each member of the working group also completed the survey to model engagement and bring their own insights into the conversation. We received 16 paper surveys, five of which filled out the website portion and 17 Qualtrics surveys returned.
Survey participants were asked to observe and reflect on multiple areas: all three public floors of the library, the staff-only workspace, and the library’s website. Responses focused on how each space felt in terms of comfort, accessibility, noise levels, usability, and overall atmosphere. Data were compiled using Excel to track common themes, and comments were analyzed in Word for qualitative patterns.
The importance of this work lies in the library’s commitment to creating welcoming and inclusive spaces for all students, faculty, staff, and community member, especially in a time when those efforts feel under attack. We’ll share how we synthesized the feedback into a clear report with recommendations, and how this process serves as a model for infusing equity, empathy, and community care into everyday library decision-making.
Recommended Citation
Tobler-Gaston, Jennie and Schwartz, Lori, "Kindness in Action: Leveraging Qualitative Data to Assess and Enhance a Library's Physical and Digital Space" (2025). Criss Library Faculty Proceedings & Presentations. 171.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/crisslibfacproc/171
Script
NLA Kindness audit slides_ada.pptx (29318 kB)
Power Point Slides
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Comments
This presentation was presented at the Nebraska Library Association Conference on October 23, 2025. The authors have licensed this work under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license.
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