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

“It’s All About U” Forum on Library User Studies. July 31, 2008 Atlanta, 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 Website

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

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  1. “It’s All About U” Forum on Library User Studies July 31, 2008 Atlanta, GA VW, LB 11/08

  2. 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 Website http://www.aserl.org/documents/2008_Forum/bio_speakers.pdf • Session Abstracts – ASERL Website http://www.aserl.org/documents/2008_Forum/SESSION%20ABSTRACTS.pdf

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Library Outreach Does Work!

  6. 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

  7. 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.

  8. Users will go where their needs are met.

  9. Easy Ideas Design Workshops $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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

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

  13. What role has assessment played? • Unevenly applied • Perhaps more mimicry rather than discovery • Tied to legacy & tradition • Increasing curiosity around assessment • Innovative 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

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

  17. “Know thy user. And you are NOT thy user!” Arnie Lund – Microsoft

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