Presentation Notes - References

FOR-Learn hhttp://forlearn.jrc.ec.europa.eu/guide/0_home/index.htmttp:/forlearn.jrc.ec.europa.eu/guide/0_home/index.htm

UWO. Western Libraries: Libraries-as-Place & Libraries-as-Space Strategic Plan 2007-11.

Eberhardt, George. The Whole Library Handbook (2006).

Gibbons, Susan. The Academic Library and the Net Gen Student (2007).

Durrance, Joan C. and Karen E. Fisher. How Libraries and Librarians Help (2005).

Council on Library and Information Resources.
“Library as Place: Rethinking Roles, Rethinking Space” (2005).

ALA. The Condition of U.S. Libraries: trends, 1999-2009 (December 2009).

Presentation Notes - Diagnosis or Tools to work with

Evidence–based methods for the health sciences are a well established model to engage with. In space planning exercises we can use a number of tools to develop evidence for the desired library space plan.

1. Scoping - looking at the future a la Foresight Planning
2. Work-practice Study - another name for ethnography or studying people at the work.
3. Stakeholder Analysis defining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to our new GRC.
4. User-Centred Outcomes - drawing on assessments made to produce outcomes desired.
5. Participation in Faculty & Admin Processes - presenting our case to colleagues.

Presentation Notes - Prognosis = WorkPractice

I recently had the pleasure of listening to Dr. Peter Jones from OCAD and redesign.

He explained the trajectory of user experience design. And this reminded me of the need to ground our work in the daily practices of our users.

Such a grounding can help exclude long-winded discussions about what to do when no one knows the shape of the future we are facing. Respond to needs, incremental change that reflects user demands, and building partnerships is the best way forward.

Then we can draw on our successes to free up resources that a variety of players agree on, rather than dreaming up happy scenarios on our own.

Presentation Notes - The Background

Before prescribing a space plan solution we need to turn to the latest information we have on libraries: what are they ? How are they changing ?

Western Libraries: Libraries-as-Place & Libraries-as-Space Strategic Plan 2007-11.

Gibbons, Susan. "The Academic Library and the Net Gen Student" (2007).

Council on Library and Information Resources.
“Library as Place: Rethinking Roles, Rethinking Space (2005).

ALA. "American Academic Library Trends 1999-2009" (December 2009)

This helps to frame the user groups and stakeholders. Clarifying needs and possibilities within assessment made in the past draws on the strength of the Western Libraries culture of assessment.

Presentation Notes - The Problem

To prepare for the interview I reviewed some documents that inform my library practice so I could answer your question:

“The allocation of space for the Graduate Resource Centre in the new building has not yet been determined. You are concerned that the GRC's existing proportion of space within the Faculty does not adequately meet the teaching, learning and research needs of the Centre's clientele. You firmly believe that facilities and services provided by the GRC must be considered during the space planning process for the new facility.
What would you do to ensure that library and information facilities, resources and services figure prominently in the space planning process?
What strategies would you adopt to advocate for an appropriate allocation of space in the new building?”

My starting point: I am user- centred and approach library work as an extension of social networking. I recently participated in The Human Library, did anyone here see that at OLA ? Or LPL ?

People to People - Introducing the Library

I had a great time being a human 'book' at Guelph's Main Library this spring. I also enjoyed the time I spent with Regina Public Library's Library Director, Jeff Barber at OLA where he volunteered to be 'read for 1/2 hour by me.

This idea, The Living Library, originated with a journalism student in Denmark hoping to reduce violence against ethnic minorities. It seems to have been wildly successful and was just in London at the public library.

This is not a new concept, but reveals our work. Whether the library loans books, DVDs or whatever, the interaction is person to person - author/creator to reader - and a potential new creation starts. Using programming ideas like this, it is possible to generate activities that lead to a library being the social, cultural and intellectual centre of campus.

Pop Quiz

I have a brief test for those of you interested in London's music scene. I had the pleasure of hearing some great home grown music yesterday. Can you guess who it was ? Please select which of the following represents our local music scene.

a) Shad
b) Claire Danaher
c) Talbot Duo
d) All of the above.

Space and the lack thereof

The largest question facing anyone planning a move into new premises is how to manage this process and still remain friends. As anyone who has wallpapered a room with their spouse can attest - this kind of activity can be damaging to your relationship !

There is never enough space and always too many demands to fit the budget. Trying to pinpoint who are the users, what are their immediate needs, and how to address them should focus the discussion and drive debate with evidence rather than personal preferences.

But then again, this is academia, and just what is evidence, what is a user, what is the subjective ??? These issues can really bog you down if you want to start down that cultural narrative garden path into the thorny bed of..., oh let's just let that metaphor die right now.