Author Archives: Joseph Watson

Workshop Report– “Spaces That Inspire: Gathering the Data and Acting on What our Students Tell Us About the Library as Place”

Workshop Report–  “Spaces That Inspire: Gathering the Data and Acting on What our Students Tell Us About the Library as Place”  by NERCOMP.  Description and schedule with names of presenters can be viewed here.  http://nercomp.org/index.php?section=events&evtid=141

This day long workshop turned out to be quite useful and I was impressed by how well organized it was.  I’d be happy to share more details with anyone who might be interested.

1st session: “Post-its, Pencils, and Placement: A Simple Technique for Getting Student Involvement in the Planning Process “ was sort of a repeat for me personally because the inspiration for it came from a Dartmouth Conference presentation by our own Carrie Macfarlane, to whom for which credit was duly given.  I’d seen Carrie’s presentation and also seen the technique in use here at Middlebury.   A large board is installed in a public place asking a single question.  Post-it pads are provided and students write answers on the notes and post them on the board.  This encourages a lot of interactive comments as people build off the ideas of others.  Themes surface and expand.  It’s quick and inexpensive.  They used it to gather information for a renovation project and they shared the results of the renovation that is opening next month.   Here’s  a link to the PowerPoint.  http://nercomp.org/corecode/uploads/event/uploaded_pdfs/Post-its,%20Pencils,%20and%20Placement%20-%20University%20of%20RI%20-%20Amanda%20Izenstark%20and%20Mary%20MacDonald_138.pdf

2nd session:  “Worth a Thousand Words. Letting Pictures Speak”  A very interesting and useful session.  The idea is to get a group of students in a room and provide each of them with large pieces of paper and various markers/pens/pencils, then ask them to draw their ideal classroom, study space, lounge, whatever.  Emphasizing  that there’s no right answer and that they’re designing their own personal ideal.   Allow them time to brainstorm visually on their own, then go around the room and ask them to describe their drawing. This exercise brings out common themes as well as unique ideas.  Notes are taken and a list of desired elements compiled.  We each drew our ideal classroom and then went around the room and looked at everyone else’s drawing.   I can imagine actually trying this here at Middlebury LIS.

3rd session: “Getting the Most out of Your Data: Methods for Collection, Coding and Use for Implementing Change in Student Learning Spaces” The most useful session of the day for me.  Basically they shared how they made use of the great quantity of data that is to be found within the comments fields of surveys.  Using a list of “codes” they categorize various comments and then use a spreadsheet to organize them by code.  The organized lists can then be shared with appropriate staff,(for instance those who oversee printing, reference services, the café, etc.)  for further evaluation.   I emailed the presenters and they willingly shared their list of 100 codes.  Key take away- they hired student assistants to go through all the comments and code them because they, just like us, don’t have the time to do it themselves.   Here’s the PowerPoint.

http://nercomp.org/corecode/uploads/event/uploaded_pdfs/Getting%20the%20Most%20out%20of%20Your%20Data%20-%20Sarah%20Hutton%20and%20Rachel%20Lewellen%20-%20UMass%20Amherst%20_137.pdf

4th session: “Resurrecting Elihu Burritt Library: The Challenges and Opportunities of Rehabbing Library Space” The presenters gave an overview of a recent renovation project and talked about future plans.  Not particularly applicable to me or Middlebury.

5th session: “Space Project Plans Writ Small”  We used a retro style game from a diner place mat (literally, the kind of thing that kids would get to fill out in a restaurant in the 60s and 70s) as a tool to get user input into the kind of space they’d like.   It’s the kind of thing you have to see to understand and an example of it can be seen in the ppt from the 3rd session.   I’m not sure what to think of this tool, but if we had an artist who could draw something similar, it might be interesting to give something like it a try with a group of student assistants.

The day ended with the very capable facilitator Susanna Cowan, Undergraduate Education Team Leader at Univ. of Conn., leading us in a review of the day.  Thanks to Hans Raum for pointing this workshop out to me!

Reminder: Preservation Open House and Lecture on Thursday!!

Remember, you’re invited to stop by the Preservation Dept. in Davis Family Library (LIB135) between 1 and 4:30 on Thurs.  See what we do to preserve the library’s collections, bring in your own preservation problems for advice, and then stay for the lecture at 4:30.

Also, please watch this short video that shows you how YOU can help us preserve one of Middlebury College’s most valuable resources!  (It’s less than two minutes long!  Come on, give it a go!)  Thanks!

Still from Preservation "commercial".

Library Preservation Dept. Open House — You’re Invited!

To mark National Preservation Week, the Preservation staff in Davis Family Library is hosting an Open House from 1-4:30pm on Thur., April 26th.  Stop by our workshop in LIB135 to see the various ways we preserve the library’s collections  and to watch our conservation technician at work.  Bring in your own book and paper preservation problems for evaluation by the staff.

See how a book goes from this…

…. to this!

Preservation Week is a collaborative effort supported by the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services, a division of the American Library Association, Library of Congress and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.  To learn more about it see http://www.atyourlibrary.org/passiton

Consider coming by the Preservation Dept. on your way to the Annual Rucker Lecture at 4:30! 

For more information contact Joseph Watson,  jwatson@middlebury.edu  443-5487

Warm temps in Davis Family Library

Many people have asked about the warm temperature inside Davis Family Library today so I’m writing with a quick status update–   we’re experiencing technical difficulties with the climate control system and Facilities Services hopes to have it fixed tomorrow.  We regret any discomfort or inconvenience this may cause.

Cell Phone Booths in Davis Family Library – Location Update

In response to complaints about people having cell phone conversations adjacent to quiet study areas in Davis Family Library, LIS recently purchased to cell phone booths.  These almost completely sound proof booths are proving to be quite popular.

Cell phone booth in the NE corner of the upper level of Davis Family Library

After consulting with LIS staff and the Student LIS Advisory Committee, and after seeking suggestions through this blog, we have relocated the two booths in Davis Family Library.  They are both on the upper level in more low profile locations so there is less of an aesthetic impact on the architecture of the building.  One is in the NE corner closest to Twilight Hall opposite elevator #2, and the other is in the SW corner closest to the Axinn Center next to group study room LIB301F.  When you’re on the upper level of Davis Family Library and you want to make or receive a cell phone call, please take advantage of the private booths.

Cell phone booth locations on the upper level of Davis Family Library

 

Upcomming Collection Shift in Davis Family Library

Library moving company W. B. Meyer has been hired to shift part of the book collection in Davis Family Library during the week of Spring Break, starting on Monday the 26th.  This is being done to make room for the expansion of classroom LIB140 in June.  First, the Gov Docs collection will be consolidated to the east end of the compact shelving that it currently occupies.  (This is possible because Hans Raum and Ginny Faust have been weeding the collection for the past two years, significantly reducing it in size.)  Second, three ranges of books just to the east of LIB140 on the Lower Lvl will be moved to the emptied shelves at the west end of the compact shelving in the center of the Main Lvl.    The stacks sequence will remain the same but the break between the floors will be slightly different.   The movers will be done by Friday of that week.  Contact Joseph Watson with any questions or concerns.  A public notification of the move will be forthcoming in a few weeks.

Options for locating the new cell phone booths.

Update as of 2/29– After consulting with the Student LIS Advisory Committee who independently preferred the same option that LIS staff preferred, we have asked Facilities Services to move the two booths. Both booths will be on the upper level. One will be opposite elevator #2 and the other will be in the corridor between group study LIB301F and the south wall of carrels. The one that is opposite elevator #2 is still quite adjacent to the most staff who occupy shared offices in the building, it’s just that the adjacency is vertical, after a short elevator ride. Thanks to everyone who participated in the decision making process.

Post as of 2/24–  A group of LIS staff recently attended an open meeting to consider various options for locating the two new cell phone booths.   Below please see a summary of our conclusions.  If you were unable to attend the meeting but would like to share some ideas, please either comment here or email me (jwatson@middlebury.edu)  Also, if you prefer, feel free to stop by my office so I can point out the options on a floor plan.

 Cell phone booth location notes:

-General agreement that it doesn’t make sense to put a booth on the Main Lvl.

-General agreement that it makes more sense to put both booths on the Upper Lvl. because the signal will be more reliable and it’s more likely they’ll be used.  However we also agreed it makes sense to check back in with stakeholders who weren’t at the meeting to get their reaction to this before proceeding.  It’s a difficult call.  (LOL!  “call”, get it?)

-No general agreement on the ideal placement of the two on the Upper level.   In order of popularity the three options are:

  1. Kitty corner.  One opposite elevator #2 in the alcove with the recycling bins and the other in the separate little hallway between group study 301F and the carrels on the south wall.  The advantages are a low aesthetic impact, at separate ends of the upper floor.  The disadvantages are the low profile for finding them, one of them is near assigned study carrels where people might be bothered, the other displaces a few nicely located lounge chairs, the possibility of providing too much privacy for mischief.
  2. By elevators on east end.  One each in the alcoves opposite elevators #2 and #3.  The advantages are the low aesthetic impact and the feeling that it’s a semi-private spot. The disadvantages are the low profile for finding them, the nearness of assigned study carrels, the possibility of providing too much privacy for mischief.
  3. Center of east end.  next to the public access computers that are adjacent to the East Reading Room.  Advantages are the ease of finding them, that they’re not very near anybody studying, and they could be easily hardwired with a land line phone.  Disadvantage is the high aesthetic impact.