Closer Than You Think: Librarian Perceptions vs. User Needs
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Charleston Conference Thursday, November 4, 2010 5:45 - 6:30 PM Speakers: Heather Blaine - Credo Reference; Erin Dorney - Millersville University; Julia Gelfand - University of California - Irvine
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Closer Than You Think: Librarian Perceptions vs. User Needs
- 1. Session title here Closer Than You Think: Librarian Perceptions of User Needs
- 4. What is the most important capability of online reference? A. Appropriate for citation in student work B. Discovery outside the library (search engines, virtual learning environments, social networks) C. Linking to other library resources D. Linkage to free web content E. Quality of Content
- 5. What is the biggest challenge your users face? A. Finding a starting point for their research B. Finding appropriate resources for their needs C. Overwhelmed by too much content D. Putting their chosen topic into context E. Understanding the vocabulary around their topic
- 6. Survey of 1,000 students…
- 7. What is hardest about doing research for school? A. Finding appropriate resources B. Overwhelmed by too much content C. Putting my chosen topic into context D. Understanding the vocabulary around my topic E. Finding a starting point for my research
- 8. What is most important to you in an online resource? A. Available to me outside the library (search engines, social networks, Blackboard, etc.) B. Easy linking to other trusted sources, like library databases C. Easy to use interface D. Linking to free web content E. Quality of content F. Source can be cited in my bibliography
- 9. The results…
- 10. What is the most important capability of online reference? Quality of Content 50.5% and 48.6% Easy to use interface 20.6% and 7.10% Source can be cited in my bibliography 9% and 17.9% Available to me outside the library (search engines, social networks, Blackboard, etc.) 7.4% and 8.7% Easy linking to other trusted sources, like library databases 5.6% and 12.6%
- 11. What is hardest about doing research for school? Finding appropriate resources 43.5% and 36.6% Finding a starting point for my research 19.2% and 19.3% Overwhelmed by too much content 17.4% and 19.1% Putting my chosen topic into context 9.2% and 15.5% Understanding the vocabulary around my topic 6.7% and 3.3%
- 12. What is hardest about doing research for school? context, overwhelmed, lack of time Narrowing extensive content to relevant content. Not knowing how to navigate through the resources Insuring that all important and relevant resources have been looked at.
- 16. Julia Gelfand University of California, Irvine jgelfand@uci.edu
- 17. Marrying Librarian Perceptions with User Need • Became increasingly important in late 1970s with new field of Information Literacy • In time, standards for different disciplines were introduced and focused on basic research skills, information evaluation, and appropriate bibliographic citing of references • With advent of digital resources, information literacy became a more serious role for librarians
- 18. Tripartite Librarian Roles • In academic libraries most subject librarians participate in the following activities and are responsible for service in: – Providing reference services, now being conducted via digital communications, individual consultation, and for walk-in users via a Reference Desk setup – Engage in instruction & outreach to classes, individual students where librarians are responsible to compliment faculty teaching & assignments • Support research through collections & outreach – Serve as bibliographers to build & maintain collections in all formats within defined scope & budget
- 19. Changes on the horizon • Expectations of digital as the format of choice • Reshaping traditional reference collections to be more digital • Users less eager to use print • All books & resources are potential reference sources – using the “find” command • Linking citations to content management systems • Mobile applications are on the rise in popularity
- 20. Issues with online reference tools for Librarians & Users: •Compatibility - with Google or Wikipedia products •Discoverability - – outside of OPACs, (i.e. Subject Guides, browsability, searchability, clickability) •Legitimacy – credibility and authority control •Transferability – filters to citation tools (BMS), supports cut & paste •Remote access is easy •Usage increasingly dictates collection – patron driven models – reference may not be different commodity
- 21. Challenges & Benefits for the Library • Transition to digital resources is expensive & does not include everything – Backfiles – why buy again in a new format content already in collections (print, microforms, VHS, etc) – Economics – available (declining) budgets & sustainability – Reconfiguring space is new norm in libraries to support collaboration, innovation and study space – Providing assistance in evaluating information & how to use and apply content – Promoting new & emerging technologies – moving target • Short term vs long term planning - Responding to current needs
- 22. If Reference content is ONLY available in print and price is not a consideration, how likely are you to purchase or acquire it? A. Yes, if it fits collection profile B. Unlikely if use is not guaranteed – for specific users or required by assignment C. Will pass & see if an eFormat emerges D. Will seek alternative content in digital format E. Definitely not – only seeking to grow Reference collection digitally
- 24. say what?!
- 27. sharing
- 30. cc image credits handy little iPhone by Leeks at http://www.flickr.com/photos/observatoryleak/3187926964/ Help by LiminalMike at http://www.flickr.com/photos/revcyborg/5228173/ It's Quatchi!! Pt. 2 by Bensonkua at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bensonkua/3258958203/ Connected by julian nistea at http://www.flickr.com/photos/inistea/4075566557/ SHH by Elizabeth Welsh at http://www.flickr.com/photos/subtleromance/4018064852/ If You’re Not Confused by B Tal at http://www.flickr.com/photos/b-tal/163450213/
- 32. Session title here Continue the conversation…. http://corp.credoreference.com/charleston
Editor's Notes
- Final image forthcoming
- Final image forthcoming
- Reverse slide 23 and 24
- Fix bullets
- * they want it fast and easy, easy, easy! * are we still using jargon in our signage, communication, within our interfaces and even in our marketing? * how can we make things clearer, make their experience better so that they come back the next time? * information overload - help them sort through (quickly!) so they don't click away * help them find the appropriate resource/starting place by using clear and friendly language. once they get started they're pretty good at finding things (although they don't always know what to do with them - which I will address in a few minutes)
- * "anytime, anywhere" access to friends, entertainment, news and... * information (yay! & thank goodness because everyone in this room today, vendors and librarians have dedicated their careers to information in one way or another!) * 85% of Americans now own a cell phone *http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Gadgets/Overview.aspx * 22% of all adults (representing 28% of internet users) signed up to receive alerts about local issues (such as traffic, school events, weather warnings or crime alerts) via email or text messaging. * http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Neighbors-Online.aspx
- * experience at the reference desk with two students talking to one another * use that in your marketing! * let students recommend, review, analyze resources * they want to share them - on social networks and maybe... * somewhere on the library website? are we giving them the opportunity to talk about the "library brand" to their peers? * viral marketing - spread person to person
- * this is not about us. * are we listening to user feedback, comments, questions? * how can we improve our resources and services to contribute to information fluency? * think about the drinks many of you are holding - concrete example of the Charleston conference organizers taking your feedback into consideration, improving your experience, making this conf stand out (as long as you don't drink so many you forget ;))
- * you might think that none of these things relate to reference. but they all contribute to overall perception of the library, encouraging (or discouraging) users from your services, resources, and employees. * how can we be friendly flexible facilitators for the discovery, adaptation and creation of knowledge?
- Invitation to join a community forum on getting the most out of eresources – librarians, publishers, vendors [and even students] are invited to participate. The online community will include forums for sharing of best-practices, brainstorming, learning from one another and more. More information can be found at the site listed here.