“It’s All About U” Forum on Library User Studies

July 31, 2008Atlanta, GA VW, LB 11/08

Links• Lauren Pressley’s Blog - Wake Forest University

http://blog.zsr.wfu.edu/pd/2008/08/01/its-all-about-u-the-aserl-auburn-forum-on-library-user-studies/

• Speaker Bios – ASERL Websitehttp://www.aserl.org/documents/2008_Forum/bio_speakers.pdf

• Session Abstracts – ASERL Websitehttp://www.aserl.org/documents/2008_Forum/SESSION%20ABSTRACTS.pdf

Discovery processes

• Student Advisory Board• Observations• Focus Groups• Surveys• Visits to other sites• Conversations• “Going Native” (Law, John. ProQuest)

Generate “Buzz”

- Fox, Bob and Susan Whitner. “Georgia Tech’s User Studies of Their Physical Spaces”. Association of Research Libraries. ASERL Forum on Library User Studies, July 31, 2008.

Revelations• Google:

Students rarely use it as a primary research tool.Rather, they use it often for handy look-ups or to

supplement research.

• Facebook:Students never use it for course assignments.However, it is open in the background while they are

working.

• Parents:Millennials are always in contact with their parents.They are involved in their student’s work and research.

Trends/Findings• What the course instructor “recommends” is

golden. • Helping faculty and grad students embed content in

Course Management Software. Collaboration with IT.

• Personal Librarians• Follow a class throughout their 4 years• “Taking the mystery” out of the Librarian

• Dedicated User Experience Librarian

More Findings

• Users highly value library content, but there is a disconnect on how they get there!

• Students view abstract as essential research tools.

– Law, John. “The Realities of Virtual Space: Lessons from Observing Library Users” . ProQuest. ASERL Forum on Library User Studies, July 31, 2008.

Design Workshops

Easy Ideas

$5 Pizza

20 minutes

- Clark, Katie. “Translating User Studies into Everyday Services and Spaces”. University of Rochester. ASERL Forum on Library User Studies, July 31, 2008.

Interviews in Union

- Clark, Katie. “Translating User Studies into Everyday Services and Spaces”. University of Rochester. ASERL Forum on Library User Studies, July 31, 2008.

Sticky Note Brainstorming

Have participants make suggestions and then react to other’s suggestions.

- Mayhood, Erin. “A “SWAT team” Approach to User Studies”. University of Virginia. ASERL Forum on Library User Studies, July 31, 2008.

Opportunities

• NCSU Libraries has a University Library Committee comprised of students who meet once a month with Library representatives.

What role has assessment played?• Unevenly applied• Perhaps more mimicry rather than discovery• Tied to legacy & tradition• Increasing curiosity around assessmentInnovative libraries take assessment & customer engagement

seriously

– Fox, Bob and Susan Whitner. “Georgia Tech’s User Studies of Their Physical Spaces”. Association of Research Libraries. ASERL Forum on Library User Studies, July 31, 2008.

arch Libraries

Keeping the focus on user-centered goals

• Challenging to do• Planning processes need to be formalized,

strengthened & stabilized• Projects informed by the right kinds of

assessment• Learning how to interpret data• Always centered on the users’ needs

– Stuart, Crit. “What are We Learning, and What Does it Mean for the Future of Research Libraries”. Association of Research Libraries. ASERL Forum on Library User Studies, July 31, 2008.

Connecting with students & faculty

• Libraries must value and practice client communication throughout the organization ... cannot be handed off

• No more reticence, timidity, avoidance of the populations we serve

• We have to learn how this is done, with mentors and support.

– Stuart, Crit. “What are We Learning, and What Does it Mean for the Future of Research Libraries”. Association of Research Libraries. ASERL Forum on Library User Studies, July 31, 2008.

The new conversation

• Structured conversations• Informal conversations• Myriad casual contacts & immersions into our

clients’ world• Seeing and hearing in fresh ways• Creating excitement around what we learn, and

applying the knowledge to programming– Stuart, Crit. “What are We Learning, and What Does it Mean for the Future of Research Libraries”.

Association of Research Libraries. ASERL Forum on Library User Studies, July 31, 2008.