Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Small Budget + Big Transformation = Huge Impact: Creating The Collaborative Commons At The University Of Texas Libraries, Catherine I. Hamer

Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age

If your library building is not newly constructed or renovated in the last few years, your students have probably alerted you to their need for more electrical outlets, group study spaces, and collaborative work areas with integrated technology. Not to mention your tired looking furniture and outdated color schemes.

At the University of Texas Libraries, we responded to our students with the Collaborative Commons, a 3,500 square foot transformative makeover unveiled in August 2013. Informed by student input, it was designed to facilitate academic success by creating a vibrant, color-saturated study area with integrated technology, robust wi-fi, outlets for every …

Furniture Industry Panel, Mike Bahr, Michelle Carpenter, Mark Walters

Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age

Panelists from three major furniture designers, Haworth, Herman Miller and Steelcase, all located close to the Grand Valley campus, will share their stories about using furniture to revitalize and repurpose spaces for both large and small spaces. They’ll talk about matching function to form, designing for maximum flexibility, catering to the needs of different age groups, and, along the way, address what librarians need to bring to the table when they work with furniture designers.

"Excuse Me. Is That A Video Studio In Your Library?", Eric Kurt, Lori S. Mestre

Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age

Do you get questions from users who have the need to check out cameras or equipment to create a video for a project? Have you wondered what it would involve to create or convert a space that patrons could use for video or audio creation and editing? Does this all seem too daunting or expensive? It is doable and this presentation will give you examples of ways to create a program on limited funds.

Although many faculty and teachers now require student projects to be presented in a multimodal format, it is rarely feasible for each department or school to …

From The Commons To The Spartan Floor: Enhancing Digital Literacy Through Technology-Integrated Spaces, Christina Mune, Sharon Thompson

Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age

While Learning and Research Commons have become, well, common, in university libraries, San Jose State University’s Library has sought to move beyond the Commons or even makerspaces to create a technology-integrated learning environment within the library that addresses the digital literacy needs of our students while providing the comfortable, collaborative areas they seek. An entire floor of the library has been dedicated to this effort and christened the “Spartan Floor” (in honor of our school mascot). The Spartan Floor is made up of four components:

• Integrated technologies, including mediascapes, a touchscreen table, an interactive whiteboard, and digital signage.

• Student Computing …

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Hiring The Strength Of Weak Ties: Building A Team For Innovation, Jeff A. Steely

Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age

Network theory demonstrates the importance of “weak ties” for diffusion of innovation. Weak ties are the agents who bridge the gap between two otherwise distinct communities or cultures. Librarians often find themselves in this role, serving as conveners of interdisciplinary groups or interpreters of cultural practices. I believe we can strengthen our libraries’ ability to serve this connecting role if we apply some theory in both how we make hiring decisions and how we utilize professional development funding.

In this presentation I plan to bring together several concepts for understanding culture and connection to create a model for hiring and …

Conversations-Aspirations: Services Reimagined, David Votta, Michelle Bradley

Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age

In the fall of 2013, the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) staff began training in the process and framework of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation; part of ALA "Libraries Transforming Communities" initiative. The basic tenet of the Harwood philosophy is the concept of "Turning Outward"; literally changing one's orientation to the community and not inward to your own organization. From the Harwood Institute; "Turning Outward makes the community and the people the reference point for getting things done."

Concurrent with the training MCLS began utilizing the new skills to conduct Harwood "community conversations" across the region. Conversation attendees …

Re-Thinking Community Needs Assessment To Drive Value, Lanell E. White

Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age

Re-Thinking Community Needs Assessment to Drive Value

Lanell White, MSI

The information environment has continually changed over the past several years. Libraries face many challenges: changes in mission and strategy, restructuring, stagnant budgets, shrinking teams, increased scope of responsibility, and pressures to transform information delivery. At the same time, end users have grown to expect ubiquitous access to content across a variety of devices, with tools for learning, analytics, visualization, and productivity seamlessly integrated.

Now more than ever, it is critical to have a fact-based understanding of community needs so that the library can successfully deliver information products and services …

From Dandelion Seed To Cottage Garden: The Transformation Of User Experience In The Msu Libraries, Christine Tobias

Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age

The user experience movement is gaining momentum in public and academic libraries. While it is not a new phenomenon, its adoption and adaptation into a library’s organizational culture can bring unexpected challenges. In June 2014, the MSU Libraries created a User Experience (UX) unit in the Public Services division and in a short time, has established a solid and reputable team of UX practitioners. This success, however, was not achieved overnight.

The transformation of user experience at the MSU Libraries began as a solo effort of one librarian who understood the importance of assessment practices in library services. Through planting …

Architects, Tod Stevens, Karen Fairbanks, Jeffery Scherer

Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age

For whom are we designing libraries? Architects from Stantec, Marble Fairbanks, and MSR Design discuss how they strategically design libraries to align with the pressing needs of their communities. Panelists will explain how utilizing new data tools allows them to think differently about the design process; as well as how the shifting paradigm of academic libraries from books to social spaces is informing the built form. Three case studies in the Re-envisioning Branch Libraries research project will also be presented.

The Case For Change: Rethinking Library Services, Staffing, And Spaces, Elliot Felix

Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age

No abstract provided.