The University of Rochester's River Campus Libraries use a participatory design process to build and improve library spaces, services and technology. The following links take you to information about participatory design in academic libraries and higher education. The map shows where others are doing projects that build on this work. The bibliography includes a range of descriptive and theoretical work related to these projects.
- AnthroLib Bibliography
- A collection of books, articles, sites and other resources related to user research in libraries and higher education
- AnthroLib Listserv
- Using ethnographic methods in library and higher education assessment
Allegheny CollegeObserved student behaviors in different locations throughout the library and the campus to improve library services.
American University of CairoParticipatory design of library, American University of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
American University of Central AsiaParticipatory design of the library and curriculum design, American University of Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
American University of NigeriaParticipatory design of American University of Nigeria Library (Yola, Nigeria)
American University of ParisUser research in the library of the American University of Paris, Paris, FranceContact: Michael Stoepel
American University of SharjahUser research in the library of the American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Ermirates
Arizona State UniversityConducted observations in the Library.
Brandeis UniversityRevamped the InfoCommons by collecting representations of an ideal space from staff and getting feedback on design alternatives from the community.
Brigham Young UniversityBYU undergraduate research projectA study of undergraduates done by undergraduates working with ananthropology faculty member and a librarian at Brigham Young University
Brock College"What Students Do When They Study in the Library"Contact: Doug Suarez
Bucknell UniversityResearch on student use of discovery tools at BucknellContact: Andrew Asher
California State University, FresnoThe Library Study at Fresno State
Carl von Ossietzky Universität OldenburgUser research during the design of learning spaces and library interfaces, e.g. web design and discovery system implementation. Contact: Kerstin Schoof
City University, New York"Studying Students at City Tech and Brooklyn College"Contacts: Maura Smale and Mariana Regalado
Claremont CollegesDesign workshops engaged students in designing their ideal workspace.
Colby College"Faculty Research and Teaching Practices"Contacts: Ellen L. Freeman, Instructional Technologist, Academic ITS and Marilyn R. Pukkila, Head of Instructional Services, Colby College Libraries
Colorado State UniversityStudy of graduate student use of technology
Columbia UniversityLibrary Intervention Strategies for Doctoral Students in the Humanities: 2CUL study of grad students and how the library can help them attain the PhDContact: Damon Jaggers
Cornell UniversityUser research for eXtensible Catalog2CUL study of graduate studentsStudies for renovation of Olin libraryUnobtrusive observations of library patrons in Uris LibraryContact: Kornelia TanchevaPersonas for new discovery systemContact: Zsuzsa Koltay
Georgia State UniversityEthnographic research used in the social media planning processContact: Sarah Steiner
Gustavus Adolphus CollegeA study by an undergraduate award winner of how undergraduates utilize space in academic libraries; see Zotero bibliographyContact: Julie Gilbert
Harvard UniversityDesign workshop with undergraduate students to inform the renovation of a collaborative library study space.
Ithaka S+RInterviewed graduate students to learn about their research practices.
John Cabot UniversityParticipatory design of library renovation and curriculum design, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy
Lebanese American University, Beirut CampusParticipatory design of Lebanese American University Library in Beirut, Lebanon
Lebanese American University, Byblos CampusParticipatory design of the library at Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
Linfield CollegeInterviewed faculty about how they use technology in teaching and the library for research.
Luther CollegeUsed various methods to learn about communication within the merged library and IT department.
Manhattanville CollegeEthnographic study exploring undergraduates’ use of “24-hour” study spaces during overnight hours
Mt. Holyoke CollegeStudied computer science faculty work practices to choose additional library resources for them and understand their needs.
Rice UniversitySakai Collaborative Project (March 2010)Fondren BRC project (2010)Small-scale study to inform the purchase of
a Discovery Layer: To understand how Rice researchers discover the
material
that they actually use in their research, a research team consisting of
Debra
Kolah, Marcel LaFlamme, Jane Segal and Leah Krevit interviewed: 2
faculty
members, 4 members of a nondepartmental academic program, 1 postdoc,
and 5
research analysts. The team adopted the
ethnographic research methodology developed by anthropologist Nancy
Foster
through her work at the University of Rochester. The team conducted
30-60 minute
semi-structured interviews with informants, asking questions about the
projects
researchers were working on, how they discover the information they
use, and
how often they use OneSearch. The team worked under very tight time
constraints: the research instrument was approved on April 5, 2011, the
interviews were scheduled from April 18-28, transcription and coding
took place
from May 2-13, and the final report was submitted to the Fondren
Library
Resource Discovery Tools Working Group on May 18.
Stanford UniversityAn internal software development project designed to capture local copies of born digital titles for local access and preservation, as well as capture work processes of selectors and acquisitions staff as they tried to accomplish the tasks needed to get this material.
State College of FloridaSCF Libraries Student Study – drawings of students’ “dream library” and moreContact: Tracy Elliott
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University's library has allocated a staff person to conduct user studies
The College at BrockportConducted observations of student travel patterns and engaged students in library design.
Tufts UniversityTisch Web Team Ethnographic Research Study (see Tisch Web Team in AnthroLib Bibliography)
University of California, Los AngelesHow UCLA students establish, organize and manage their academic information ecologies in their dormitory roomsContact: Diane Mizrachi
University of ColoradoA student team works with faculty to interview other students about what they like and dislike about the current library.
University of ConnecticutConducted the Assessment 360, a multi-instrument approach to how students interact with the library, and how they conduct research. LINK: “Assessment 360” www.clir.org/pubs/resources/Assessment360.pdf
University of DenverStudied student work practices for library renovation; used workshop techniques to improve website.
University of MaineSee Gfeller et al. in AnthroLib bibliography
University of MiamiUsed various methods to study faculty research needs and roll out a new library website.
University of MichiganImproved library website and electronic reserves through studies of students and faculty.
University of MontanaConducting a research project to better understand faculty research and publishing needs.
University of Nevada, RenoRecent projects include: (1) building observations before and after a redesign of one area of the library; (2) interviews with faculty members about how they conduct their research; (3) web usability studies with students to improve the library website and discovery interface; (4) student-led focus groups to improve services and resources in the learning commons.
University of North Carolina, CharlotteUNCC library staff anthropologist Donna Lanclos hosts a blog. Also see Wu and Lanclos, "Re-imagining the users' experience," Reference Services Review, 39(3):369-389.
University of North TexasStudied doctoral students’ work practices.
University of QueenslandNext Generation Learning SpacesSee publication: "The Library Space As Learning Space"
University of RichmondThe Ethnographic Working Group is made up of a few
library staff, an anthropology professor, and anthropology undergraduate
students.
University of Rochester, River Campus LibrariesExtensive participatory design projects in technology, facilities and service design; user research on students, faculty members and library staff; publications include Studying Students: The Undergraduate Research Project at the University of Rochester and Scholarly Practice, Participatory Design and the eXtensible Catalog
University of Southern FloridaStudies of campus spaceSee Beynan and Pettijohn in the AnthroLib bibliography
University of WashingtonUsed design workshop methods for website design.
University of WitwatersrandStudied doctoral students’ work practices.
Wesleyan UniversitySee Hobbs and Klare in AnthroLib Bibliography
York UniversityUsed participatory design activities to build new learning commons space with student input