Effectiveness of acoustic furniture

[Janet Clarke]

Dear colleagues:  I am seeking information about the effectiveness of sound-absorbing furniture in public spaces.  If you have such furniture or wall/ceiling paneling to reduce noise in public spaces, I'd like to ask for your observations either on this thread or offline.  And happy to share summary if anyone else is interested.

Thank you in advance!

Janet

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Janet H. Clarke

Associate Dean, Research & Learning

Stony Brook University Libraries

W-1518, Melville Library

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY 11794

t: 631.632.1217

f: 631.632.7116

e: janet....@stonybrook.edu

ALA Medal of Excellence, 2025

Library Journal Mover & Shaker, 2025

Clarke, JH., Kretz, C., and Fena, C. (2025). "It's not scary: A university-high school collaboration to rethink approaches to information literacy." Journal of Academic Librarianship 51 (103146).

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[Eden Ewing]

I am also interested in this and my library is actively looking into our public spaces, measuring sound using noise meters, etc. which could also include purchasing sound absorbing furniture or paneling to reduce noise.

Eden Ewing

User Experience and Assessment Coordinator

University of Texas at San Antonio

Libraries and Museums

[Cowan, Susanna]

Count me in!  We have some library spaces (across different libraries) with serious noise issues.  I’d love to learn what others know/have experience of! 

Thanks for the thread, Janet.

Susanna

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SUSANNA M. COWAN PHD MLS

Assessment Strategist

(she/her/hers)

 

UConn Library | Homer Babbidge Library

369 Fairfield Way Unit 1005 | Storrs, CT 06269

lib.uconn.edu/

 

From: Eden Ewing <edenw...@gmail.com>
Date: Friday, April 17, 2026 at 9:04 AM
To: ARL ASSESS <arl-a...@arl.org>
Cc: janet.clarke <janet....@stonybrook.edu>
Subject: [ARL-ASSESS] Re: Effectiveness of acoustic furniture

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[Maloy, Frances]

Hi All:

Here is one solution- there are two large open spaces on either side of the center walkway.  The furniture is Bix Lounge from Steelecase.  They are very comfortable and popular (this was taken this am- not a busy time).  The lounges are alternated with regular tables to save on costs.  An architect once said to me that if you can't see the person talking it is easier to block them out.  I think these lounges have also changed the atmosphere of the large open space to a more cozy feel so students naturally lower their voices.  

While not perfect, it has really helped with behavior/noise control. 

Sincerely, 

Frances Maloy

College Librarian

Schaffer Library

Union College

807 Union Street

Schenectady, NY 12308

518-388-6739

mal...@union.edu

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

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