The document summarizes the goals and activities of the Duke Libraries User Studies Initiative. The initiative aims to build skills in user studies among library staff and encourage collaboration through workshops and training events. As part of the initiative, two user studies were launched: a cultural anthropology study to better understand challenges and improve services, and an honors researchers study to understand student research processes and publicize existing services. The benefits of conducting user studies include improved understanding of user needs and publicity of library services. Success will be achieved by developing a cohort of library staff confident in conducting their own user studies.

1. YVONNE BELANGER EMILY DALY LINDA DANIEL DIANE HARVEY SHAWN MILLER LAUNC-CH CONFERENCE MARCH 8, 2010 Know Thy User: Duke Libraries User Studies Initiative

2. How can we know our users?

3. Librarians doing research? “ Practicing librarians face numerous obstacles to conducting research including funding, time, experience, support and access to research.” Koufogiannakis “ Since assessment work may be new, unfamiliar, and viewed as risky, time to learn and practice is essential. Risk taking and learning should be the norm in libraries.” Phipps and Lakos

4. User Studies Initiative GOALS Build skills Provide forum for discussion Encourage collaboration Create support structure & network Launch at least one user study 2010-11 ACTIVITIES Social science research overview Monthly workshops Special training events Online toolkit Data inventory

5. USER STUDY Cultural Anthropology

6. Goals of the study Better understand key challenges Improve library services and support

7. Study design First steps Interviews with faculty and graduate students Online survey

8. Conducting the interviews 2 interviewers Recording, note taking, transcribing Intranet site

9. Benefits & outcomes Success of response Follow-up Next steps

10. USER STUDY Honors Researchers

11. Goals of the study Better understand how students conduct research Publicize existing services Improve library services and support

12. Study design Pilot interviews Discussion with Associate Dean Discussions with faculty Recruitment

13. Conducting the interviews Interviews with 9 students at 3 points during research process Recording, note taking, reflecting Reporting

14. Benefits & outcomes Publicity of existing services to faculty and students Better understanding of students’ needs Next steps

15. What is success? Cohort of library staff who feel confident to do user studies Studies underway Studies planned “ Without a well-structured learning and training environment, the library will not keep up with new information opportunities and will be less effective.” Phipps and Lakos

16. Thank you! Thanks to Catherine Shreve for co-facilitating the User Studies Initiative and for creating the toolkit Questions? [email_address] [email_address] [email_address] [email_address] [email_address]

17. Works Cited Koufogiannakis, Denise, and Ellen Crumley. "Research in Librarianship: Issues to Consider." Library Hi Tech 24.3 (2006): 324. Web. Lakos, A., and S. Phipps. "Creating a Culture of Assessment." portal: Libraries and the Academy 4.3 (2004): 345–61. Web.