Finding Out What Your Students Need

Judi BridenDigital Librarian for Public Services

ACRL MD

September 18, 2009Capitol College, MD

Conduct Your Own Research

• By engaging in this type of research with your students, you are changed– More attuned to your users’ needs– Improved understanding of their diversity– More likely to act on what you learn– More confident in making changes– Research fosters teamwork among staff

• It’s fun!

• Observation• Solicit comments on flipcharts• Interviews, including

• Retrospective interviews• Photo surveys• Mapping diaries

• Design workshops - web pages & facilities

• Dorm visits

Stimulatecreativity

Reflect

Develop a question / Choose a method

Research ethics

Practice skills

Plan & conduct research

Immerse in the data

Co-view, discuss & brainstorm ideas & solutions

Test ideas with pilots / small experiments

Brainstorm

Stimulate

Creativity

Try It Yourself!

Stimulating Creativity

Mapping Diaries

Try It Yourself!

Library Homepage

• Circle what you use• X-out what you don’t

use• Add anything else you

need or want

Campus Map

• Mark 3 places where you feel comfortable

• 3 places where you feel uncomfortable

• 3 places you go a lot

Any Surprises?

Photo Surveys/Interviews

Create your own questions

http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/downloadables/Foster-Gibbons_cmpd.pdf

Available from ALA… or just search

on the Web

Undergraduate Research Project: Shared Results http:// tinyurl.com/f63dj

Studying Students

Judi Briden

jbriden@library.rochester.edu