The document describes several personas representing different types of library users at the University of Arizona. It provides backstories, demographic information, research habits, challenges and quotes for each persona, including undergraduates studying various subjects, graduate students, faculty, staff, donors, and visitors. The personas are intended to help library staff understand the needs of diverse patrons and keep the user experience in mind during service and collection development.

1. What are personas?
 Archetypes that represent
our users
 Based on user research
 Include personal details
 Help us keep user in mind
during development

2. Hi!
I’m Chey.

3. Cheyenne Williams
 UA freshman
 Undecided major
 18 years old

4. Generation Z
Now: Glued to her MacBook / iPhone

5.  Very outgoing
 Grew up in Tucson
 Lives on campus
 Works at Zia Records
 Travels by bike

6. Generation Z
Why the UA?

8. This semester:
Spanish
English 102
College Algebra
NATS
TRAD
I spend a fair amount
of time studying and
it helps me to work in
a group. I need the
motivation!
“
”

9. Research Process:
English 102 paper
on rising tuition
costs.
Needs to find
scholarly and
popular sources.
 Tried Google
 Professor suggested
Google Scholar
 Found Academic
Search Complete
and CQ Researcher

10. Uses the library for:
 Studying
 Charging stations
 Computers & printing
 Group study rooms

11. Challenges:
 Needs it now!
 Only knows what
teacher has shown
 Library is very big
 Doesn’t want to
ask for help

12. I was looking for a specific article,
but couldn’t find it in the library –
even though the catalog said you
have the journal. It didn’t show up by
keyword or author. I had to go back
to my professor.
“
”

14. Hey there.
I’m Emily.

15. Emily Davis
 MFA student
 Creative
nonfiction
 26 years old

18. Why the UA?

19. Generation Z

21. This semester:
Nonfiction writing
Craft seminar
Journalism elective
TA for English 101
Space is a huge issue
for me. I share a
communal office with
a dozen other TAs and
it is usually too noisy
for even office hours.
“
”

22. A lot of my research and writing
is experiential. I draw from my
time spent in nature, but I am also
constantly looking for books and
articles to use for background
information and inspiration.
“
”

23. Research Process:
For MFA thesis
writing a series of
essays about the
ecology of the
Sonoran Desert
 Library catalog for
known titles
 Goes to Amazon to
explore by topic
 Knows how to use Jstor
 Prefers print resources

24. Uses the library for:
 Finding articles &
books
 Quiet work space
 Equipment checkout
 Storing stuff

25. Challenges:
 Doesn’t know
where to start
 Unlikely to
use tutorials
 Needs help
teaching students
about the library

26. I was just looking for a book this
morning and typed in the two
authors, but got no results. I tried 5
different ways and still couldn’t find
it. I had to go to Google to get the
right spelling and then copy it over.
“
”

28. Greetings.
My name is
Brandon.

29. Brandon Green
 PhD Student
 Geosciences
 31 years old

31.  New father,
as of 2 months ago
 Has barely slept
in 2 months
 Uses a PC desktop

32. Why the UA?

33. This semester:
One class for PhD Minor
Studying for comps
Dissertation proposal
RA for advisor
Conference presentations, grant proposals,
and prepping first publication, oh my!
Free time?
What is that?
“
”

34. Research Process:
Gathering sources
for comprehensive
exams and
dissertation
proposal – covering
multiple fields
 Building off coursework
and recommendations
from his committee
 Likes Web of Science
because he easily follow
citation trails
 Prefers to read online

35. Uses the library for:
 Studying for comps
 Finding articles
 Reading ejournals
 Managing citations
 Finding GIS data

36. Challenges:
 Getting articles off
campus
 Not sure about
publishing his work
 Wishes the library
website was more
personalized

37. One thing I hate about searching the
library is I forget to log in to my
account and then it won’t remember
my search. Seriously? On any other
site it will still remember your
shopping cart after you log in.
“
”

39. Hello, I’m
Dr. Johnson.
But you can
call me Renee.

40. Renee Johnson, PhD
Research interests:
• Math education
• Social equity
• Upper elementary
• Algebra readiness

42. People call me the
‘dancematician’
“
”
Studied: ballet, tap, modern, ballroom
Currently: training for marathon, West African dance

43. This semester:
Undergrad course on teaching math
Grad course on research methods
Working with teachers in rural AZ
schools
Developing outreach program
centered on percussive dance.
I’m crazy busy,
but I love my
work!
“
”

44. Research Process:
Looking for
materials for both
research and
teaching
 Relies on Google Scholar
 Often keeping up with
field or particular author
 Has trouble with UA
search tools, but uses
interlibrary loan
 Wants to quickly get to
full text

45. Uses the library for:
 Getting full text
 Requesting video
streaming
 Getting new books
 Requesting book chapters
 Campus Repository
I’m not too different
than my students in
that I’m always on
the go.
“
”

46. Challenges:
 Needs help with
data management
 Grad students lack
basic library skills
 Not confident in
library search tools

47. When I came to the UA I played
around with the library website,
but knew there were articles I
should be seeing that I wasn’t.
That was big concern. I still go
back to my old institution’s
website to find things.
“
”

49. Buenos Dias.
I’m Donald
Lopez.

50. Donald Lopez
 Friend of the Library
 Library donor
 Semi-retired
architect (UA ‘71)
 Long history with UA

51. Uses the library for:
 Genealogical and
historical research
 Events and exhibits
 Spanish language books
 Work space/accessing
electronic resources

52. Howdy.
I’m Craig.

53. Craig Hinson
 Visiting from Texas
 Making documentary
about UFO sightings in
the Southwest
 Has digital camcorder,
but laptop recently
broke

54. Uses the library for:
 Checking email, internet
 Specialized software
 Finding primary source
material
 Checking out materials

55. Welcome.
I’m Elle.

56. Eleanor Berry
 Library Information
Associate on AIST
 Works desk at Main
and Fine Arts
 Content Manager
 At UA Libraries 8 years,
finishing BS degree

57. Uses the library for:
 Finding answers to
customer’s reference
questions
 Finding contact
information for other
library staff
 Answering questions via
email and chat

58. ______________ was involved in the “riot” on University Blvd following
the UA men’s basketball defeat last month

59. Hi!
I’m Chey.

60. ______________ spent his/her summer vacation hanging with:

61. Greetings.
My name is
Brandon.

62. ______________ is the owner of the domain name:
http://www.mathinyourfeet.com/

63. Hello, I’m
Dr. Johnson.
But you can
call me Renee.

64. ______________ is currently reading this book:

65. Hey there.
I’m Emily.

67. Greetings.
My name is
Brandon.

69. Hello, I’m
Dr. Johnson.
But you can
call me Renee.

71. Howdy.
I’m Craig.

72. ______________ is slightly obsessed with self-tracking and uses
wearable technology to monitor his/her caloric intake, physical activity,
and sleep

73. Hello, I’m
Dr. Johnson.
But you can
call me Renee.

74. Which persona spends the most time at Fine Arts Library?

75. Welcome.
I’m Elle.

76. Which persona spends the most time at Science-Engineering?

77. Hi!
I’m Chey.

78. Which persona spends the most time at Main?

79. Hey there.
I’m Emily.

80. I like reading stuff online, but ebooks
seem to be hit or miss. Half the time
the library says they have an
electronic book and they don’t. Or
you can only view it in a way that is
so awkward to read.
“
”

81. Greetings.
My name is
Brandon.

82. ______________ graduated from the University of Arizona

83. Buenos Dias.
I’m Donald
Lopez.

84. ______________ hiked 2,600 miles on the Pacific Coast trail two years
ago.

85. Hey there.
I’m Emily.

86. I checked out a book the other day
and it was so weird – who checks out
books? I used the Express Checkout
and it was cool. I don’t think I’ve
checked out a book since I was in,
like, first grade.
“
”

87. Hi!
I’m Chey.

88. ______________ is currently reading this book:

89. Greetings.
My name is
Brandon.

90. ______________ is thinking about going to law school

91. Hi!
I’m Chey.

92. This persona spends the most time using library’s citation management
tools

93. Greetings.
My name is
Brandon.