2. IN THE (RELATIVE) BEGINNING…
Duke University Archives. Perkins Library Reference Desk, 1970s
3. REVITALIZING REFERENCE
April 2013 reference stats
Tech/copier/printer: 33%
Traditional ref: 14%
Catalog/reservations: the rest
1st floor desk redesign
Automation: from zero to 50%
self-checkout in less than 2 years
4. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS MEMORIAL LIBRARY, IL
“We are about helping people. One of the things I like
to say is that we are one of the only institutions in our
society that helps one person at a time. We are not
satisfied until they’ve had their needs met.”
Kent Oliver, Nashville Public Library Director
5. ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY, MI
“A library is a growing organism.”
S. R. Ranganathan, mathematician and librarian
6. WESTPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY, CT
“A library's function is to give the public in the
quickest and cheapest way information, inspiration,
and recreation. If a better way than the book can
be found, we should use it.”
Melvil Dewey
7.
8. USER EXPERIENCE (UX)
What is user experience?
• involves a person's emotions about using a
particular product, system or service
Why study UX?
• Make tools and services easier to use
• Improve efficiency of workflows and
processes
We are not our patrons
Think like our users!
9. 8 PRINCIPLES OF USER EXPERIENCE
• You are not your user
• stop making decisions that are good for you, but not your
patrons
• Your users are not broken
• Good UX requires empathy
• Good UX requires research
• attitudinal vs. behavioral
• UX research starts with listening to your patrons
10. 8 PRINCIPLES OF USER EXPERIENCE
• Easy has to come before interesting
• Good design is universal
• Good design is intentional
• why is ____ where it is?
• be intentional about every design
decision
• Good design is holistic
• building, hours, furniture, service
desks, lighting, signage, etc.
Bad!
16. USER EXPERIENCE & DESIGN @ WML
• Service desks
• Website
• Seating areas
• Self-checkout
• Return bins
• Signage
Blair Library, Fayetteville, AR
17.
18. TRENDS
Maker spaces
Digital media labs
Technology help
Mobile devices
Satellite programming
Abandoning Dewey Decimal
Eliminating rules
Community partnerships
Redesigning circ/reference areas
Unique Collections
19. “It’s not about the
library trying to
do everything, it’s
about partnering
and being a
larger part of
something to
help support our
community”
24. Who will be the future
library advocates?
Who will be the
Friends?
The Trustees?
When the next library
building comes to a
vote at town meeting...
Who will stand up
25. WESTERVILLE’S VISION
The Westerville Public Library will be a
leading public library in America.
Through innovation and imagination we
will provide an environment where
people of all backgrounds and ages may
dream their dreams, exercise their
imaginations, feed their intellects,
nurture success and otherwise enhance
their lives.
Editor's Notes
All
Marissa
Joanna
Curtis
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JoannaOld values and missions are still relevantLiteracy is a core missionNot an “abandon the books” outlookChildren’s early literacy campaign speaks to the ever present need for literacy advocates. If libraries are a united front advocating for literacy, so even it we add bells and whistles to get people engaged, they still end up in the library (kind of like, you can lead the horse to water…)
JoannaMaker spaces Westport Public LibraryDigital media labs Skokie Public LibrarySatellite programming Kitsap Regional Library – Ferry talesTechnology petting zoosQR Codes Dover (pop: 2265)Abandoning Dewey Decimal Us, DoverEliminating rules Dover, generally libraries are trying to get away from the “Sshh” reputationCommunity partnershipsMusical Instrument Check-Out Program – Lopez Island (Wash.) Library“The Lopez Island Library offers a collection of musical instruments available for patron checkout. All the items come with carrying cases, tuners, and how-to guides, and a practice amplifier for the electric guitar. The items circulate for 28 days, like other library items.”LibraryFarm – Northern Onondaga (N.Y.) Public Library“The LibraryFarm is an organic community garden on one-half acre of land owned by Northern Onondaga Public Library in Cicero, NY. Anyone can ‘check out’ a plot for no cost. Its purpose is to teach and learn ‘food literacy,’ as well as to preserve knowledge that our grandparents might have had but that never got passed down, and to provide fresh organic produce for local food pantries.”Santa Suits – Patrons start reserving them in September at the Bolivar County Library System in Mississippi.Telescopes – “The Portland Public Library, Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick and Raymond Village Library in Maine
Librarian Justine Hernandez started the Seed Library in January 2012. She says “Those are just some of the possibilities at the Pima County Public Library’s Seed Lending Library. – ArizonaBasalt Public Library and the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute)
Partnerships This summer Seattle public library team up w/ Seattle fire fighters and they will be reading the stories at storytimeInteractivity:Storyville: An interactive early literacy and learning center for children ages birth to five and their caregivers. A child-sized village that includes developmentally appropriate books and activities.http://www.bcplstoryville.org/storyville_about.htmlStoryville was designed and created to foster early literacy and school readiness skills. We know through scientific research that success in school begins at birth and that the ages of birth to five are critical learning years.The engagement of parents and caregivers with their young children through reading and playing together is key to their child's success. Storyville is a place where books and purposeful play come together to provide valuable experiences that nurture young children and support parents and caregivers in their role as their child's first and best teacher.Misc:Memorial Hall Library in Andover has an “Awesome Box” kids return awssome stuff there and then it goes on a special display—giving the library to the patrons—you get to classify as awesomeMultnomah County Library – Black story timesForeign language storytimesProgramming:Worm racesDuct tape wallets
Hard not to feel disadvantagedTrendsetting libraries often have:-Large staff-Big money-Rich local resources-Famous patrons (NYPL had original library endorsement written by the likes woody allen)-Independent libraries-New buildingsHere we have:-Small staff-Good budget-Old building-Limited local resources-Consortium constraintsStar Libraries – We’re in the 1-5 million rangeMost of the top scoring 4/5 star libraries in our range where in larger cities, on the upper end of the budget spectrum. But still, they have more people to reach.
Why do all this when we’re here to stay?We’re doing wellWell funded Haven’t had to cut hoursProgram attendance is excellentChildren's programs are robust, and their circ is steadyInnovative Neighborhoods Desk consolidation E-reader circ CSA pick-up siteTech helpLibraries rebranded as “tech hubs”WMLtech help sessions – 60+ in 4 monthstechnology program attendance – big!Mobile devicesDevice ownership: 40% of Americans 18+ have an e-reader or tablet, or bothDecreasing laptop/desktop computer purchasingWMLwebsite visits: 5% mobile visits last year, up to 20% this yearTech help topics
