Don't Wait, Do It Yourself with Brian Matthews

Redesigning the cultures of academic libraries

Do it yourself = building something new to you or to your organization (usually something brand new)

DIY Basics (partial list):

making something
making something (better or unique)
challenge the norm
personal interest

DYI for libraries:

GT: customized the catalog with something other than a vendor system
Google scholar script (wag the dog) by GT programmer
Former GT librarian created ERL conference to fulfill a need for a specialized area (electronic resources)
GT Circ area (no more fines, more responsibility, greater influence, displays, assessment, furniture, leisure collections, equipment)
Student technology desk/environment (multimedia studio)

Encouraged Possibility (elements of a DIY culture...as was done with student multimedia studio) partial list
Purpose, problem, or platform (goal)
Ownership/interest
questioning/attitude (drive)

Design Thinking

IDEO Method in 5 steps
1. Understand (figure out user needs/challenges)
2. Observe (watch people in real-life situations to find out how they work, what confuses them, likes/dislikes, etc.)
3. Visualize
4. Refine
5. Implementation

Nightline: The Deep Dive (DVD & on youtube)

Empathic design
triggers of use
user customization (work-arounds)
intangibles attributes (emotions)
unarticulated needs
find problems and solutions
what-ifs

Designing/redesigning space
GT wanted collaborative space

Critical factors of success

Collaboration among students
Is critical to student perception of successful learning
Fosters partnering
Supports diversity
etc.

Design principles
Stimulate & inspire individuals & groups

Group study space
Preserve but improve upon it. Worked closely with the people that work in the space.
Immersion by Brian to "live" throughout the library while office was redone.
Ongoing process (various plans, trials, etc.)

Groups study
space
laptop use (support, power, noise, printing, etc.)

Printer support
What are they printing? Posters, color, stapling, etc.
Paying for printing (originally was 100 pages per week per student, now tied in with ID cards)

Assistance services
TA's taking over a library space without telling the librarians they were coming. Librarians approached them to set up a space for them to use.
Text a TA

Social interactions
Bring in a professor, buy him/her food in the cafe and they are there for an hour or so in a sort of open office hour.
Fun events, dodgeball, etc.

Impacting the curriculum
Video, papers, maps, 3d modeling, volunteering, presentations, etc.

Second Life
Set up accounts, but didn't advertise. Professors caught on have built three islands for class assignments


Wikis

Genres
Lit crit class that they needed to find an image for

Social Driven Instruction
Computer sci students felt that instruction needed to be online. More of a social event where library stuff could be promoted throughout conversation

Designing a Culture of Innovation

create a bug list (find solutions
assessement = ongoing
think/talk/act about design (IDEO)
2nd opinions
feedback
show & tell
make the news (student paper)
work in "their space"
Share insights
use crayons to map/express yourself

Brainstorming

do it regularly
start broad
don't let the boss speak first
no round-robin
go for quantity
number your
build & jump
space assessment

Book: The Ultimate Question,Fred Reichard (?) is where Brian finds questions that he asks of focus groups, individuals, etc.

Users can provide us with our greatest insights