1. Using Library User Studies to Improve Academic Libraries Susan Gibbons Vice Provost & Neilly Dean River Campus Libraries University of Rochester sgibbons@library.rochester.edu November 5, 2010

2. University of Rochester Private College Upstate NY 5,066 Undergraduates 3,065 Graduates 1,331 Faculty 3 nearby campuses – Medical Center – Eastman School of Music – River Campus

3. Anthropologist in the Library Work-Practice Methodology – Xerox PARC (David Lindahl) – IMLS grant (Nancy 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- : Refresher on undergraduate students

4. Anthropologist in the Library Goals – Real vs. Perceived User Needs – Improve our services, digital presence and physical facilities – Adapt to the changing needs of our users QuestionMethods Data Gathering Findings Change

5. 3 Examples Undergraduates – Paper research and writing Graduate students – Dissertation process Science research – Physical library use

6. Black Box Question Improve library support of undergraduates – What makes an “A” paper? – What happens between assignment of research paper and completed paper? QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

7. Methods Retrospective Interviews – Volunteer students – “Shadowed” throughout semester – Interview QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

8. QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Helicopter_WikiWorld.png QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

10. Freshmen Orientation flickr.com/photos/tompagenet/2288339121/ QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

11. Writing & Research Not a linear process Student can’t allows recognize where their problem is ResearchWritePolish Paper ToolsResearchWriting QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

12. Subject Librarians? Limited knowledge of role of subject librarian http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlsonlibrary/sets/72157622006503335/ QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

13. 3 Examples Undergraduates – Paper research and writing Graduate students – Dissertation process Science research – Physical library use

14. Dissertation Question Improve library support of graduate students – What are the barriers to successful dissertation completion? QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

15. Methods InSitu Interviews – Show us where and how you work QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange Student images removed

16. No Common Experience Emulating their faculty – Disciplinary differences QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange Student images removed

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

18. Methods Design Workshop – Draw in detail your ideal library space QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

19. Design Workshop Ideal library space for graduate students – No undergraduate students – Solitary, but with others – Variety of seating/tasks – Lots of outlets, good lighting QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

20. 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” QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange Student images removed

21. Messinger Graduate Student Study North & South QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

22. 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.” QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

23. 3 Examples Undergraduates – Paper research and writing Graduate students – Dissertation process Science research – Physical library use

24. Science Question Role of science library in digital age – Much of science literature is online, but science students are still in the library. Why? – Is library space unique? QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

25. Methods Observations – Building into zones – 3x day for 1 week – Noted: Activities Group/individual Academic/recreation Stuff QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

26. Observed Students Doing Academic Work vs. Recreation 85% academic work 15% recreation QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

27. Reply Cards 100 cards collected – What are you doing here in this seat right now? – How long have you been here? – Why are you here and not someplace else? – If we made you move this minute, where would you go? – When is the very last time you were in this seat? QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

28. Reply Cards 63 quality of space 14 convenience 9 habit 4 books/materials only available here 4 to be alone 4 to be with friends 1 to use computers 3 to study QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

29. Design Workshops 20 science students “perfect” configuration of floor of science library QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange Student images removed

30. Findings …we find that students want to study amidst the collections…they want to be in a place with the sort of scholarly gravitas that the library affords; they say it makes them more serious… From “Report on the Use of Carlson Library” by Nancy F. Foster, June 2009 QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

31. Findings …studying in the library is part of becoming a scientist; it provides the setting, props, and people that students need in order to adopt the habitus, that is, to acquire the habits of mind and ways of being in the world that can only be learned through participation in a scholarly community. From “Report on the Use of Carlson Library” by Nancy F. Foster, June 2009 QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

32. Physics/Optics/Astronomy Library Closure proposed

33. Roll of POA Library “Having physics books proximal to physics studies is important---those stacks are used when people study, do homework, and browse to expand their minds.” “The POA provides an environment for our students to get support from their peers, to work together on difficult assignments, to discover what resources are available to help them write scientific papers and lab reports, to access materials that support their classes, to meet their classmates and faculty in a less formal setting than the classroom, etc.”

34. Change Designing & Creating “People Spaces” – Replace/remove paper journals – Unique to disciplines? – Fund-raising with stories and evidence QuestionMethods Data Gathering FindingsChange

35. More information? 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 http://hdl.handle.net/1802/7520 http://tinyurl.com/2a75pjg Repository of article, papers and presentations by the River Campus Libraries