Library Design & Technology

Anthony Chow, Ph.D.aschow@uncg.edu Assistant Professor

Department of Library and Information StudiesThe University of North Carolina at Greensboro

--Jacquelyn White

Librarian, Forsyth County Public Libraryjacquelyn.p.white@gmail.com

--Camilla Bahr

Study Introduction Personal examples User Trends Literature Review Research Method Findings Discussion and Recommendations

Overview

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How are patrons using technology and

interacting with library space? What are the library trends for design and

technology usage? Case studies of Greensboro and Charlotte

public libraries

Introduction

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At work My kids

Global communication Content creation

At our public library

Personal examples

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What the data tells us (Sources: ALA 2010; Chow& Bucknall, 2011) People are using libraries more than ever in all areas of

librarianship 86% of families with school-aged children reported visiting the

library (ALA, 2010) 18-24 (80%), 35-44 (73%), and 25-34 (70%) Top reasons for visiting a public library (more than one

choice):1. Books or associated media (77%)2. Training and Education (41% listed as top choice)3. Entertainment (35%)4. Resumes, job searching, careers (22%)5. Access to technology (17%)

Users Drive Technology Solutions

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New article: What Students Don’t Know (Kolowich,

2011) Digital natives, including top students, are not very

information literate Technology competence does not translate to information

literacy (growing up Google does not mean you know how to use it)

Virtual Reference study (Chow & Croxton, 2011) Faculty and staff prefer email and telephone Students prefer online chat (age was significant factor

and covariate) Familiarity and convenience were the primary factors

User Technology Trends

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Nationwide public library study (Chow, Bridges, & Commander, 2011;

n=1,219) 50% websites managed as part of his/her job 72% indicated no usability testing at all 49% offered virtual reference services (email – 83%, chat – 39%)

Virtual users – 1 billion accounts worldwide largely 97% of all virtual accounts belong to 25 or under

10-15 year olds, 46% 15-25, 29% 5-10, 22%

Virtual worlds and public libraries (Chow, Baity, Zamarripa, et al., 2011)? Collaborate with other library professionals worldwide; educational promise My kids?

40 accounts between them across six different worlds Social interaction and engagement Customize characters and do things they normally can’t Play games and help their characters “grow”

User Technology Trends

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“Investing money in technology and updated

design to tempt more patrons to use their services, technology and spaces” (Mattern, 2007)

PAT or Public Access Technology (Bertot, 2009): includes public-access computers, wireless (WiFi) access, ILSs, online databases, digital reference, downloadable audio and video, “…users want a customized experience while

using technology designed for the general public, not the individual user…” (Bertot, 2009)

Literature

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Six tenets in Library Design (Harrington, 2001)

:1. Self-service and operational efficiency2. Extreme flexibility and integration of

technology3. Green/sustainable buildings4. Collaboration between public and

school/college libraries5. A renewed interest in aesthetics6. Customize the library to the local

community

Literature (2)

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“So despite predictions of the death of the library due to

the information revolution and the availability of digital resources, new library buildings are attracting renewed attention, and in some cases, increased usage.” (Turner & Davenport, 2005).

“Libraries always have had a role in bringing communities together. Now, more than ever, they are serving multiple roles — as after-school youth centers, senior centers, job centers, and extensions of the town square. In many cases, libraries share locations with schools or community centers. As the pace of change in modem life accelerates, library design is changing too.” (Schatz & Williams, 2010).

Literature (3)

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“ ‘Just because we all have mobiles doesn't

mean there still isn't a desire among people to interact with one another,’ cautioned architect Dennis Humphries of Humphries Poli, suggesting four-place computer stations where a family can use a computer together.” (Kuzyk & Fialkoff, 2011)

Literature (4)

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Administrator Interviews (2) Natural observations of two downtown

libraries Observations were conducted on four different

days with variation of time frames Observational Checklist created in Google Docs

Form Sample

120 people 70% of those observed were male, with 84

males compared to 36 females

Method

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Downtown library

Users sat at computers but did not use the reading tables for reading or computing

Rather they sat at smaller tables on the outside edges of the reading tables either reading or using their own digital devices

The book store model – personal privacy

Findings

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Findings

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Findings (2)

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Findings (3)

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Gender # observed

Females 36

Males 84

Total 120

Interaction with Staff 5

Findings (4)

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Space Usage

Tables and chairs across from stairs 14

Main computer stations (circular computers and those in front of Reference desk)

34

Tables and chairs along the back walls left of stairs

3

Tables and chairs beside genealogy stacks

11

Personal computers near genealogy 8

Personal computers & tables in the Business connection center

12

Personal computers & tables next to periodicals

5

Other 11

Findings (5)Library Technology Used

Public Access Computers

66

Printers 2

Copiers 1

Wireless 19

Microfilms 2

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Personal Technology

Personal Technology Used

19

Type Used

Laptop 15

PDA 1

Mobile device 1

Other 2

Findings (6)Space Specifications

Number of computers

29

Number of printers

4

Number of copiers

3

Number of tables for 1 person

26

Number of tables for more than 1 person

26

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1998 the space has not gone through any

renovations since then relatively new yet the space felt dated. The

colors are muted and dark, yet only appear in the furniture and carpet

Conclusions & Recommendations

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Remember top reasons patrons are coming to the public

library:1. Books or associated media (77%)2. Training and Education (41% listed as top choice)3. Entertainment (35%)4. Resumes, job searching, careers (22%)5. Access to technology (17%)

User and Technology Match

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User and Technology

Match

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User Centered Design – needs analysis and

“functional” spaces based on patron usage patterns and needs

Flexible, comfortable spaces recognizing “privacy” aspect of technology

Some patrons need to use computers while others just need to access the wireless network and a place to work

Ubiquitous computing expected – computing needs to be where the sources are.

Recommendations

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“Going green can be the solution to budgets

that can't budge…The solution: a hybrid building that will produce as much power as it uses.” (Brown, 2007)

"Nobody really knows where technology is headed next," said architect Peter Bolek, Holzheimer, Bolek + Meehan, "[so] flexibility is key. You need to have the infrastructure in place to accommodate …the change" as libraries shift from hardware to being the "connection point or portal." (Kuzyk & Fialkoff, 2011)

Recommendations (2)

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Usability of technology and library space

Utility (is it useful) and ease-of-use (efficient and effective)

Well designed website based on user priorities and testing

Library space designed to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of information seeking through technology

Flexible, scalable, and designed for specific functional purposes – Books and media, training, entertainment, careers/jobs

Technology and Users

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New book:

Library Technology and User Services (Chow & Bucknall, 2011)

Q & A

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Thank You!!

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ALA (American Library Association) (2010), The State of America’s Libraries – 2010. Chicago, IL: ALA. Alexander, P. (n.d.). Should You Lease or Buy Your Tech Equipment? Entrepreneur.com. Retrieved on August 24, 2011

from http://www.entrepreneur.com/technology/managingtechnology/article80230.html Chow, A., Baity, C., Zamarripa, M., Chappell, P., Rachlin, D. and Vinson, C. (2011), ‘Virtual Library Information Use and

Users: A systems perspective’. Unpublished, Greensboro, NC, USA. Chow & Bucknall (2011). Library Technology and User Services. Oxford, England: Chandos Chow, A., Bridges, M. and Commander, P. (2011), ‘What does a typical library website look like? Results from a

nationwide study.’ A paper to be presented at the North Carolina Library Association, October 4-7, 2011, Hickory, NC, USA

Chow, A. and Croxton, R. (2011), Academic libraries, information seeking behavior, and virtual reference services: are there differences between university faculty, staff, and students? Reference User Services Quarterly, in press.

Chow, White, & Bahr (2011). Public library space and technology. A paper to be presented at the Biennial North Carolina Library Association , October 4-7, 2011, Hickory, NC, USA

Experian Hitwise (2011), Top 20 Sites & Engines. Accessed 14 April 2011, from Experian Hitwise: http://www.hitwise.com/us/datacenter/main/dashboard-10133.html

Kolowich, S. (2011). What Students Don’t Know. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved on August 24, 2011 from http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/08/22/erial_study_of_student_research_habits_at_illinois_university_libraries_reveals_alarmingly_poor_information_literacy_and_skills

McDougall, P. (2010), Tablets Will Replace One in Three PCs, Study Says. Accessed 11 April 2011, from Information Week: http://www.informationweek.com/news/storage/systems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=228800307

w3schools.com (n.d.(b)), Browser Statistics. Accessed 19 April 2011, from w3schools.com: http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

w3schools.com (2011), OS Platform Statistics. Accessed 14 April 2011, from w3cschools.com: http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_os.asp

References

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