Enhancing Research Through Columbia University's Multidisciplinary Digital Centers

1. Columbia’s Multidisciplinary Digital Centers: Mary Giunta Columbia University Libraries ASERL Annual Meeting November 19, 2008

2. Information Commons at Columbia University Libraries • University Librarian’s vision - information commons for: • Social Sciences • History & Humanities • Sciences & Engineering

3. Why Three Digital Centers? • CU Libraries organization • Library expertise • Space • Existing services, such as • Electronic Data Service • Electronic Text Service • More fully incorporate reference / research services

4. Lehman Social Sciences Library • Collection supports: • Anthropology, political science, sociology, international and public affairs, environmental policy, journalism, political geography • US Government documents • Map collection • Electronic Data Service

5. Lehman Social Sciences Library • Renovation – planning begun in 2006 • Summer 2007 two rooms renovated • Quiet study w/ laptops • Group Study • Summer 2008 – Digital Social Science Center

6. Quiet Study

8. Group Study Space

10. Digital Social Sciences Center • Lehman Social Sciences Library • Expand from existing services: • Electronic Data Service • Lehman reference service • Support advanced research in the social sciences • Serve graduate students, upper level undergraduates and faculty

11. Electronic Data Service • Joint venture between the Libraries and Columbia University Information Technology (CUIT) • Established in 1992 • EDS model for DSSC • Staffing / service • Equipment • Software

12. Electronic Data Service • Supports instruction and research that involve numeric and geo-spatial data resources. • Staff provide support in the use of data with statistical and GIS applications • Service staffed by Libraries and CUIT • High-end computers for processing large data sets • Equipment supplied and maintained by CUIT

13. Location • East Reading Room over 5000 square feet • CUIT lab in this space already • Electronic Data Service directly below with a connecting staircase • Reference offices adjacent • Good lighting

15. CUIT Lab

16. Project Plan • Program team assembled • Included various stakeholders • Libraries • CUIT • Finalize physical, equipment & staffing designs

17. Assessment • Student survey • Focus groups • Faculty interviews • Lehman reference staff discussion

18. Assessment: what we learned • More group study space • Scanning & printing are important • Presentation practice space • Quantitative data analysis software • Bibliographic software

19. Assessment: what we learned • Need to market our services better • Students go to peers and faculty for research & technology help before librarians • Faculty not expecting students to use very sophisticated technology for assignments

20. Assessment: how we applied results • Added presentation practice rooms • Added more scanners • Moved color printer into CUIT / DSSC space • Decided to place the information / reference desk in the consultation room • LCD panels with group study tables in DSSC • Developing marketing strategies

21. DSSC Objectives • Flexible workspaces, furnishings, diverse software, and high-end equipment to support collaborative group study and research in the Social Sciences • Visible and easy access to professional staff who can assist users with research and technical support questions • Space, equipment, and software to support presentation practice • Integrate DSSC into the services and equipment now offered by Electronic Data Service and CUIT lab.

22. Funding • Renovation • Construction • Furniture • Equipment • Staff

23. Renovation • Moved to offsite storage • Government documents • Microfilm collection • Refurbished space

24. DSSC • 22 Spatial/Numeric Data Stations • 4 Scanners • 4 Video Editing Stations (CUIT lab)

26. DSSC • Collaborative Design • Multiple chairs per desk • Convenient electrical access • Convenient network access

27. Group Study Tables

28. Presentation Practice Rooms • Created two rooms • Equipped one to start • Student feedback

29. Consultation Room • Converted office space into a consultation room • Opened up with a glass wall

30. Consultation room • Staffed • Monday-Thursday 11am-6pm • Friday 11am-5pm • Support staff • Provide basic information assistance • Walkie-talkie to call librarian • Librarians

31. Services & Staffing • Building on EDS model of service • Incorporating reference services • Staff visible • Staff with different expertise available • Librarians • CUIT staff • Library support staff • Graduate students • Reassigning and retraining staff

32. DSSC / EDS / CUIT lab • DSSC, EDS and the CUIT lab seamless service • EDS will continue to be the starting place for in depth assistance for numeric and geo-spatial data use • Experienced users can move into DSSC • EDS will also serve as our sandbox for testing new technology and applications • As new technology becomes integrated into our services will move into DSSC

33. DSSC Program • Reference /Research Services • Consultations • Training & Workshops • DSSC Webpage • Marketing Services • Ongoing assessment

34. Digital Humanities Center (DHC) • Butler Library • Expand from existing services: • Electronic Text Service • Butler Media Center • Support advanced research in history & humanities • Serve graduate students, upper level undergraduates and faculty

35. DHC • Primary support for digital formats: • Text • Still image • Moving image • Sound • Secondary support for: • Numeric & spatial data

36. DHC • Closer integration of content and technology • Single service point for DHC technical support and H&H reference service • Coordinate with subject librarians from Music, Area Studies, RBML, Avery & Starr East Asian • Collaboration with CCNMTL and CDRS • Writing Center consultants

37. DHC Planning • Assessment • Detailed estimate of equipment costs • Series of talks to highlight types of work users of DHC might expect to do • Discussions with Film Division • Identify & implement elements that can currently be introduced at the ETS

38. Digital Science Center • New interdisciplinary science building under construction. • Opening Fall 2010 • Will include a consolidated science library with the Digital Science Center

39. Consolidated Science Library • Consolidating collections & services for: • Biology • Chemistry • Physics & Astronomy • Psychology • Small paper collection will remain onsite • Classics in the fields • Greatly reduced print reference collections from 4 libraries • Select core journals (current) • Everything else to be moved to offsite storage

40. Digital Science Center • Central service point for science research • More interdisciplinary approach • Closer integration of content and technology • Need to better promote electronic resources • Develop instruction program

41. Commonalities • Combining reference services with support for various technologies and applications • Bringing specialists together to a combined service point. • Target users: • graduate students and upper level undergraduates • Groups or individuals requiring assistance from subject & technology specialists

42. Ongoing • Coordinating group to plan more fully integrated services across the three digital centers. • Strengthen individual components by having a common outlook. • Flexibility among • services: various roles / expertise • space configurations • Shared idea of service