+libthe additive library

a concept by Anson Cheung

No, you can’t cite Wikipedia.

Libraries contain a wealth of information. However, their linear and antiquated ways of searching for information, and seemingly limited resources turn tech saavy students to the internet. Though yielding fast and infinite results, the web’s often dubious reliability and sheer abundance makes it unsuitable for most academic study.

It’s more than just books...

A library is not just books. It is a collection of resources spanning various mediums that are linked to each other through a system. The usefulness of a library depends largely on the way information is organized and retrieved, and the interactions between users and the system and between users and other users. A small library that is well organized with a tightly knit user base may be far more useful than a giant, resource rich library with many individual users.

How might we make the library more intuitively organized, more efficient, andits users more connected?

Inspired by Web 2.0....

...powered by mobile technology.

...powered by mobile technology.

A new way to use the library.

Add-Lib is a service design concept that uses mobile technology and ideas from web 2.0 to enhance the library so that it is more efficient, intuitive, and constantly growing. Users not only absorb information from the library, but also add to it and collectively improve it so the next experience becomes even better. Through forming user groups, users can share information and resources to enhance each others learning.

Grouping up.

Add-Lib recognizes that users don’t always get their information from the system, they get it from each other. Add-Lib facilitates this exchange by introducing a social layer to the library system. Users are encouraged to form groups in the system based on a common course, subject, or interest. These groups allow users to share resource lists (books, DVDs, other library materials), digital notes, information tags and access all of this through their mobile devices.+lib

library database

+libStreamlining.

Add-Lib moves the center of library activity from the computer catalogs right into the mobile device in your hand. Aside from being able to search the library catalog from your device, Add-Lib uses mobile technologies that are now standard to deliver another layer of information. Augmented reality technology allows you to get location specific directions to your resource, and also allows you to browse information tags. With their mobile device users can tag resources, take digital notes, then continue looking for more information on the fly.

+lib +lib

Tag. You’re it.

Just like the internet, Add-Lib encourages users to create and improve content as well as absorbing it. Using their mobile devices, users can tag specific sections of resources with relevant keywords. These tags are shared with others in the same user group, and also added to a library wide database. In addition to searching the library catalog in the usual fashion, users can browse tags through their mobile device, enabling them to find specific information and be led to other relevant resources much faster.

industrial designIDEO

materials

design process

prototyping

music

RFID

mobile technology

digital media

experimental design

manufacturing

sustainability

It gets better.

By allowing users to add to and manage their library, the Add-Lib database grows and improves with every user interaction. Relevant, specific information becomes easier to find and resources become interconnected in intuitive ways. Users are encouraged to participate by tagging resources and contributing to groups, as this will only improve their next experience as well as the library as a whole.