1 / 25

Enhancing Academic Libraries through User-Centered Research

This study explores how academic libraries can adapt to the evolving needs of their users, particularly undergraduates and graduate students. Led by Susan Gibbons, a University Librarian at Yale, and informed by anthropological methods, the research aims to identify real versus perceived user needs, enhance library services, and improve physical and digital spaces. Through retrospective and in-situ interviews, the project uncovers barriers faced by students, guiding the design of ideal library environments that foster research and writing success.

saeran
Télécharger la présentation

Enhancing Academic Libraries through User-Centered Research

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Inspiring Change:Studying Users to Improve Academic Libraries Susan Gibbons University Librarian Yale University

  2. University of Rochester Anthropologist in the Library Work-Practice Methodology • Xerox PARC (David Lindahl) • IMLS grant (Nancy Fried Foster) 2003-04: Faculty work practices (institutional repositories) 2004-06: Undergraduate students (research & writing papers) 2006-08: Graduate students (dissertations) 2008-09: How people search (eXtensible Catalog) 2009-10: Science library buildings in digital age 2010- : Undergraduate students

  3. Anthropologist in the Library • Goals • Real vs. Perceived User Needs • How can we improve our services, digital presence and physical facilities? • Adapt to the changing needs of our users

  4. 3 Examples • Undergraduates • Paper research and writing • Graduate students • Dissertation process • Life of a student • Schedules & technology

  5. Black Box Question Improve library support of undergraduates • What makes an “A” paper? • What happens between assignment of research paper and completed paper?

  6. Methods Retrospective Interviews • Volunteer students • “Shadowed” throughout semester • Interviews

  7. Parent Freshmen Orientation flickr.com/photos/tompagenet/2288339121/

  8. Writing & Research Not a linear process Student can’t always recognize where their problem is

  9. Subject Librarians? Limited knowledge of role of subject librarian http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlsonlibrary/sets/72157622006503335/

  10. 3 Examples • Undergraduates • Paper research and writing • Graduate students • Dissertation process • Life of a student • Schedules & technology

  11. Dissertation Question Improve library support of graduate students • What are the barriers to successful dissertation completion?

  12. Methods InSituInterviews • Show us where and how you work

  13. No Common Experience • Emulating their faculty • Disciplinary differences

  14. Significant Disciplinary Differences Sciences = team member; collaboration; grant-focused Humanities = lone scholar; isolation; informal support groups Social sciences = article driven; prior publications “glued” together

  15. Methods • Design charettes • Draw in detail your ideal library space

  16. Design Workshop • Ideal library space for graduate students • No undergraduate students • Solitary, but with others • Variety of seating/tasks • Lots of outlets, good lighting

  17. Selections of Furniture • “Mature” but not “corporate” or “doctor’s waiting room” • Interior designer developed • Color boards • Carpet designs • Sample furniture • Invite graduate students to comment and “vote”

  18. Messinger Graduate Student Study North & South

  19. Timing is Everything Desire tool to help with citations • RefWorks and EndNote “Right now I am just too busy to do the extra effort to get used to a new system.” “I’ve never used EndNote or anything like that. Been tempted to learn it but I don’t know, just haven’t had a good opportunity.”

  20. 3 Examples • Undergraduates • Paper research and writing • Graduate students • Dissertation process • Life of a student • Schedules & technology

  21. A place in the library where you feel lost

  22. Picture of your room, showing your computer

  23. What do you always • carry with you?

  24. New Understandings • Barriers to entry need to be lowered • Blending of academic & social • Importance of physical spaces • Symbolic • Neutral • Tolerance of change • Embrace experimentation

  25. More information Repository of article, papers and presentations by the River Campus Libraries http://tinyurl.com/2a75pjg Studying Students: The Undergraduate Research Project at the University of Rochester, published by ACRL, 2008 Available as FREE PDF download, http://hdl.handle.net/1802/7520 Scholarly Practice, Participatory Design and the eXtensible Catalog, published by ACRL, 2011

More Related