Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Assumption Busters Learning What Students Really Need Judi Briden Digital Librarian for Public Services March 14, 2008

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Assumptions Our own experiences as college students still apply College students today... –are highly adept at using many technologies –are good at multitasking—it’s how they live and breathe –stay up late and sleep late

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries More Assumptions College students today... –are procrastinators and put off working on papers until the last minute –don’t evaluate resources they find –are afraid to approach the reference desk –feel rushed and think they don’t have enough time to do their papers

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries More Assumptions College students today... –learn all they need to know about doing library research in first-year writing classes –carry laptops everywhere – soon the library won’t need banks of computers Librarians only know about books Our library has plenty of quiet places – we simply need collaborative spaces

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Your Assumptions?

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Background IMLS grant in to study faculty work practices Libraries’ hired an anthropologist Used ethnographic methods Didn’t want to stop when grant project ended

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Question: What do students really do when they write research papers? Formal project Interest much broader and continuing Improve reference services, facilities and web presence Some of our methods...

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries “Retrospective” interviews Recently completed papers From receiving the assignment to turning it in Each step illustrated on a poster Interviews video-recorded and transcribed

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Data from the interviews –Research team and librarians co-viewed videos, transcripts and drawings –Co-viewing provided a shared experience for discussion and brainstorming Widespread staff participation

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries What Did We Learn? Students... Worked on papers in chunks, with days or weeks in between Asked family and friends for help choosing a topic or editing their papers Assumed Google searches included the library Did evaluate resources – just not by all the criteria librarians recommend Didn’t remember who gave their library session

Photographic Surveys

Mapping Diaries

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Design Workshops Web page –Warm-up exercise – create a device... –Mark-up our current homepage

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Design Workshops Library space –Walk-in participation –Imagine the library has a big, new, empty space... –Nineteen designs –Ideas carried over into actual library design for collaborative space

Mahogany bookshelves, Old style lamps Nice cozy feel Computer Lounge with g WiFi With Nintendo WiFi Connection Movies and video games on big projection screen

Click to edit Master title style Click to edit Master text styles Second level Third level Fourth level Fifth level 25 Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Five areas of interest Flexibility to meet a variety of needs Comfort with “family room” feel and attention to environment Technology - computers, printers, scanners, whiteboards, “mini Kinko’s”, chargers, etc. Staff support for checking things out, tech help, food, reference, writing Resources – books, magazines, DVDs, reference books and popular reading

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Evening Interviews in Student Union

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries What They Said Most cared about their papers and felt they had sufficient time to complete them Considered professors and TA’s the subject experts Some problems organizing and writing – knew about the college writing center Most used library catalog and databases, but equated librarians with books All expected to do well, or as well as needed

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Dorm Interviews

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Observations Stimulating - lots of distractions –music –video games –people My room is your room Freshman vs. Upperclassman

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries What are we doing differently? Gleason Library – 24/7 collaborative space Night Owl reference during crunch times Parent’s Breakfast at Orientation Experimenting with BI sessions and sharing ideas/experiences Closer collaboration with Writing Center and University Information Technology

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Implications Understand how undergraduates live and work Understand their use of library High staff participation and engagement Our students are not your students! –Try doing your own research –Start small and develop staff expertise

Gibbons_cmpd.pdf

Undergraduate Research Project University of Rochester River Campus Libraries