When Users Talk...We Listen: Connecting with our user needs

Abstract

<p>Today's libraries are seeking innovative ways to "retrofit" their services, products and physical spaces in order to meet the needs of a new generation of library users. To better understand our evolving user needs, we used both low-tech and high-tech methods to collect feedback, including: comment books in the library, electronic surveys of selected courses, in-class discussion, course assignments, audience response systems, user interviews , and email requests for comments to the teaching faculty.</p> <p>This poster demonstrates the variety of methods we have used to gather user feedback and some of the changes that were implemented in response. Among these changes were: comfy furniture in student-suggested areas, more whiteboards in more library locations, a popular fiction collection, signage to help users with locating printing stations and reading call numbers, a presentation practice room, and a "quickprint" station. We are also trying to maximize the marketing value of collecting user feedback and are asking ourselves, "What can we do next to connect with (and respond to) our users?"</p> <p>If you have suggestions for gathering user feedback, please consider contacting us and sharing them.</p> <p>This poster was presented at the Academic Library Association of Ohio Annual Conference in Wilmington, Ohio on October 24, 2008.</p>