Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Assumption Busters

Learning What Students Really Need

Judi BridenDigital Librarian for Public Services

March 14, 2008

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Assumptions

• Our own experiences as college students still apply

• College students today . . .– are highly adept at using many technologies– are good at multitasking—it’s how they live

and breathe– stay up late and sleep late

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

More Assumptions

• College students today . . .

– are procrastinators and put off working on papers until the last minute

– don’t evaluate resources they find– are afraid to approach the reference desk– feel rushed and think they don’t have enough

time to do their papers

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

More Assumptions

• College students today . . .– learn all they need to know about doing library

research in first-year writing classes– carry laptops everywhere – soon the library

won’t need banks of computers

• Librarians only know about books

• Our library has plenty of quiet places – we simply need collaborative spaces

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Your Assumptions?

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Background

• IMLS grant in 2003-2004 to study faculty work practices

• Libraries’ hired an anthropologist

• Used ethnographic methods

• Didn’t want to stop when grant project ended

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Question: What do students really do when they write research papers?

• Formal project 2004 - 2006

• Interest much broader and continuing

• Improve reference services, facilities and web presence

• Some of our methods . . .

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

“Retrospective” interviews

• Recently completed papers

• From receiving the assignment to turning it in

• Each step illustrated on a poster

• Interviews video-recorded and transcribed

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

• Data from the interviews– Research team and librarians co-viewed

videos, transcripts and drawings– Co-viewing provided a shared

experience for discussion and brainstorming

• Widespread staff participation

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

What Did We Learn?Students . . .• Worked on papers in chunks, with days or

weeks in between• Asked family and friends for help choosing a

topic or editing their papers• Assumed Google searches included the library • Did evaluate resources – just not by all the

criteria librarians recommend• Didn’t remember who gave their library session

Photographic Surveys

Mapping Diaries

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Design Workshops

• Web page– Warm-up exercise – create a device . . .– Mark-up our current homepage

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Design Workshops

• Library space– Walk-in participation– Imagine the library has a big, new, empty

space . . .– Nineteen designs– Ideas carried over into actual library design

for collaborative space

Mahogany bookshelves,Old style lampsNice cozy feel

Computer Loungewith 802.11g WiFi

With Nintendo WiFi Connection

Movies and video games on big projection screen

Click to edit Master title style

• Click to edit Master text styles

• Second level

• Third level

• Fourth level

• Fifth level

25

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Five areas of interest

• Flexibility to meet a variety of needs• Comfort with “family room” feel and attention

to environment• Technology - computers, printers, scanners,

whiteboards, “mini Kinko’s”, chargers, etc.• Staff support for checking things out, tech

help, food, reference, writing• Resources – books, magazines, DVDs,

reference books and popular reading

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Evening Interviews in Student Union

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

What They Said• Most cared about their papers and felt they

had sufficient time to complete them• Considered professors and TA’s the subject

experts• Some problems organizing and writing –

knew about the college writing center• Most used library catalog and databases, but

equated librarians with books• All expected to do well, or as well as needed

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Dorm Interviews

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Observations

• Stimulating - lots of distractions– music– video games– people

• My room is your room

• Freshman vs. Upperclassman

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

What are we doing differently?

• Gleason Library – 24/7 collaborative space

• Night Owl reference during crunch times

• Parent’s Breakfast at Orientation

• Experimenting with BI sessions and sharing ideas/experiences

• Closer collaboration with Writing Center and University Information Technology

Whoooo’s working late?

Night Owl Librarians

Help with assignments and papers

Sunday – WednesdayMarch 26 - 29 and April 2 – 5

until 11 PM

Call: 275-4478 Rush Rhees Reference

275-4465 Carlson Library Reference

IM: askURlibrary

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

Implications• Understand how undergraduates live and work• Understand their use of library• High staff participation and engagement

• Our students are not your students!– Try doing your own research– Start small and develop staff expertise

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

Undergraduate Research Project

University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

http://tinyurl.com/f63dj