Digital Social Science Center: an Information Commons for Graduate Social Science Students Mary Giunta Head, Access Services & Technical Support, Lehman Library Jane Winland Director, Social Science Libraries

Space 2.0: Small-Scale Library Redesign Projects

October 3, 2008 Dartmouth Biomedical Libraries

Information Commons at Columbia University Libraries

• University Librarian’s vision information commons for: – Social Sciences – History & Humanities – Sciences & Engineering 2

Planning for the Digital Social Science Center

• Location • Project plan • Assessment • Equipment • Services & staffing • Program planning 3

Location

• East Reading Room over 5000 square feet • Columbia University Information Technology (CUIT) lab in this space already • Electronic Data Service directly below with a connecting staircase • Reference offices adjacent • Good lighting 4

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EDS and CUIT Lab

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Electronic Data Service

• Supports instruction and research that involve numeric and geo-spatial data resources.

• Staff to provide support in the use of data with statistical and GIS applications • Service staffed by library staff and CUIT staff • High-end computers for processing large data sets • Equipment supplied and maintained by CUIT 7

Electronic Data Service

• Joint venture between Libraries and CUIT • EDS model for DSSC – Staffing / service – Equipment – Software 8

Project Plan

• Program team assembled • Included various stakeholders – Libraries – CUIT • Finalize physical, equipment & staffing designs 9

Assessment

• Student survey • Focus groups • Faculty interviews • Lehman reference staff discussion 10

Assessment: what we learned

• More group study space • Scanning & printing are important • Presentation practice space • Quantitative data analysis software • Bibliographic software 11

Assessment: what we learned

• Need to market our services better • Faculty not expecting students to use very sophisticated technology for assignments • Students go to peers and faculty for research & technology help before librarians 12

Assessment: how we applied results

• Added presentation practice rooms • Added more scanners • Will moved color printer into CUIT / DSSC space • Decided to place the information / reference desk in the consultation room • LCD panels with group study tables in DSSC • Developing marketing strategies 13

DSSC Objectives

• Flexible workspaces, furnishings, diverse software, and high-end equipment to support collaborative group study and research in the Social Sciences • Visible and easy access to professional staff who can assist users with research and technical support questions • Space, equipment, and software to support presentation practice • Integrate DSSC into the services and equipment now offered by Electronic Data Service and CUIT lab.

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Cost Estimates & Budgets

• Renovation – Construction – Furniture • Equipment • Staff 15

Floor Plan - Body Lawson Architects 16

Renovation

• Moved Government Documents & microfilm collections • Refurbished space • Converted office space into a consultation room. Opened it up with a glass wall • Created two presentation practice spaces 17

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DSSC Furniture

• Herman Miller • Collaborative Design • Multiple chairs per desk • Convenient electrical access • Convenient network access 23

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DSSC Equipment

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22 Collaborative Workspaces

open, accessible, attractive - modular,

Presentation Practice Space

with projection, technology - 4-6 people

4 Group Study Tables

laptop support - large displays,

Consultation Space

enclosed office - 2 consulting spaces in 25

DSSC Collaborative Workspaces

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22 Spatial Data/Numeric Stations

– Dell Precision T5400 stations with 30” LCD or dual 24” LCD – ArcInfo/ESRI, Stata, Google Earth Pro, more – Assistive technology (ADA) support

5 Scanners

– Four 8.5x14” with document feeder – One 11x17” oversized with document feeder – Abby FineReader software

4 Video Editing Stations (existing lab locations)

– Apple Mac Pro, two 23” Cinema Displays – Final Cut Pro Studio, Logic 8 26

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Services & Staffing

• Building on EDS model of service – Staff visible – Staff with different expertise available • Librarians • CUIT staff • Graduate students • Reassigning and retraining staff 31

Consultation Room

• Staffed – Monday-Thursday 11am-6pm – Friday 11am-5pm • Support staff – Provide basic information assistance – Walkie-talkie to call librarian • Librarians 32

Staff Training

• Refreshers for all staff – Key databases – Key resources • Shared documentation with supervisor of CUIT lab – Documentation for DSSC – CUIT documentation for lab attendants 33

DSSC Program

• Reference Services • Consultations • Training & Workshops • DSSC Webpage • Marketing Services • Assessment 34