Transcript What is the 21st Century Library for NYU?

NYU
Graduate Student Academic &
Research Experience
ARL Fall Forum
Lucinda Covert-Vail & Carol A. Mandel
12 October 2007
21st Century Library for Faculty and
Graduate Student Research
• Focus on the research environment
• Conversations across 25 disciplines
– 65 interviews with faculty
– focus groups with graduate students
• Literature reviews
• Team reviews (faculty, administrators, librarians)
• Idea and Inspiration Book (tool for thinking about
the libraries)
• Study conducted with the assistance of
Katzenbach Partners, LLC (KPL)
• LibQUAL+
*
Conversations Probed…
• Rhythm of research
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Preferred research and work environments
Information resources
Tools for thinking
Collaboration
Communication modes for disseminating research
• Tools for teaching
• Role of the library
• User experience
Key Dimensions of the Graduate
Student’s Environment
• Scholars in training
• Spaces and surroundings
• Scholarly community /
interdisciplinarity
• Discovery and access
• Tools for teaching
Spaces & Surroundings
• “Early in my career, I spent a lot of time
doing research. Now, later in my career, I
need a lot more spaces for writing.”
(Anthropology)
• “I like having wireless, multi-tasking,
listening to music, and taking breaks.”
(Education & Jewish Studies)
• “…it’s hard when the undergraduates next
to you are flirting.” (Education)
Community
• “It can be very stimulating to feel like you are a
part of a community of scholars.” (Anthropology)
• “Experiences that brought me in closer contact
with others who are doing similar work would be
useful.” (Humanities)
• “My research is very multi-disciplinary and farreaching. I have had to stretch and learn about
finance and banking, areas in which I had very
little experience and expertise.” (Humanities)
Findings
• Desire to feel part of intellectually stimulating
and energizing communities
• Places to interact, both intentionally and
serendipitously – “neutral” spaces
• Complexity of disciplines, interdisciplinarity
• Tools and connectors for interaction
• Value of behavioral aspects of user
experience
Discovery
• “50 percent of my library use involves the virtual tools
like data searches & downloading services…I generally
don’t linger in the library – I get the information I need
and leave.” (Politics)
• “There’s a gap between technological innovation…and
my knowledge and skills in accessing it. I’m constantly
worried that I’m missing something.” (Humanities)
• “I use CatNYP, BobCat and others to make sure that I’m
getting the broadest perspective.” (History)
• “I didn’t realize there was a librarian for the business
collection – I have struggled to find the right resources
& would welcome help in the area.” (Humanities)
Findings
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Universal dependence on virtual tools
Personal control
Personalization
Convenience, efficiency, fluidity, transparency
Assistance – lack of awareness about services,
inexperience with sources, research strategies
• Expectation/desire to access physical collections and
tools for thinking in different ways, dissatisfaction with
tools
• Changing perception of discovery tools
Tools for Teaching
• “It seems like it will be hard to plan the
syllabus, especially because it requires
you to break out of your current research.
I will probably rely on past syllabi as
inspirations for the one I am creating.”
(History)
• “I try to put together readers that minimize
the costs for students.” (Sociology)
Findings
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First time course development
Pushed beyond comfort level
Increased reliance on primary sources
Limited awareness of library/university
support services
• Reluctance to approach faculty advisors
Strategic Implications
• Create more spaces and mechanisms for
inspiration
• Enable collaboration and connections within
and across disparate disciplines
• Make the discovery, access and delivery
process more efficient and more powerful
• Expand services beyond traditional
conceptions of the library
• Rebrand the expectation of “library”
New York University Libraries
Lucinda Covert-Vail
[email protected]
Carol A. Mandel
[email protected]
NYU 21st Century Library Project: Designing a
Research Library of the Future for New York
University. Report of a Study of Faculty and
Graduate Student Needs for Research and
Teaching
http://www.library.nyu.edu/about/KPLReport.pdf