Location
Session 7, Piedmont Ballroom
Start Date
22-10-2013 10:00 AM
End Date
22-10-2013 10:50 AM
Description
As academic libraries increasingly focus on user experience as a means of improving spaces, services, and collections, more librarians find themselves conducting studies of varying complexity to provide data supporting decisions. In January 2013, the NCSU Libraries opened a new library building, the James B. Hunt, Jr. Library. With numerous high-tech spaces, the Hunt Library is meant to define the library of the 21st century. For more than two years prior to and in the months since opening the building, subject specialist librarians have conducted studies to learn about user needs, especially those of faculty and graduate students. Faculty were interviewed in 2011 and again in 2013. For graduate students, interviews were conducted in 2011, followed by a survey in 2012, and an observational study in 2013. These studies helped form decision making as the building was taking shape, and also have provided “before and after” data to compare anticipated needs with actual practice now that the building is operational. This presentation will discuss the various methodologies utilized, how the data was analyzed, and interesting outcomes. Lessons learned in creating a culture which allowed librarians without previous assessment experience to participate regularly in practical user studies will also be discussed.
Included in
Before and After: Planning and Assessment of New Library Spaces and Services
Session 7, Piedmont Ballroom
As academic libraries increasingly focus on user experience as a means of improving spaces, services, and collections, more librarians find themselves conducting studies of varying complexity to provide data supporting decisions. In January 2013, the NCSU Libraries opened a new library building, the James B. Hunt, Jr. Library. With numerous high-tech spaces, the Hunt Library is meant to define the library of the 21st century. For more than two years prior to and in the months since opening the building, subject specialist librarians have conducted studies to learn about user needs, especially those of faculty and graduate students. Faculty were interviewed in 2011 and again in 2013. For graduate students, interviews were conducted in 2011, followed by a survey in 2012, and an observational study in 2013. These studies helped form decision making as the building was taking shape, and also have provided “before and after” data to compare anticipated needs with actual practice now that the building is operational. This presentation will discuss the various methodologies utilized, how the data was analyzed, and interesting outcomes. Lessons learned in creating a culture which allowed librarians without previous assessment experience to participate regularly in practical user studies will also be discussed.