Comments on: User Experience Librarian – The Next Bandwagon? http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/ Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:05:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: A library is a gerund « Collections 2.0 http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/comment-page-1/#comment-38409 A library is a gerund « Collections 2.0 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:34:09 +0000 http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/#comment-38409 [...] always been about enhancing the user experience. There are even librarians whose title is “user experience librarian.” My holiday ruminations had actually been driven by trying to digest an article by Lorcan [...] [...] always been about enhancing the user experience. There are even librarians whose title is “user experience librarian.” My holiday ruminations had actually been driven by trying to digest an article by Lorcan [...]

]]> By: Nancy http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/comment-page-1/#comment-6704 Nancy Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:37:18 +0000 http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/#comment-6704 I suppose my library might be jumping on the bandwagon, but my Director and I have had a lot of discussions about re-titling my current position (which is simply Librarian at this time) to better reflect what it is I do in my library. What I do is develop services that will encourage our students to actually use the library and its resources. I've implemented everything from chat reference and embedded librarian programs to drop-in workshops and book club discussions. It isn't so much about the tools as it is about the experience. When my Director and I first discussed my title, we thought about Outreach Librarian, but I'm also responsible for technology. Then we thought of Digital Services Librarian, but I don't rely on technology for everything. When we heard of other libraries having UX Librarians, it seemed like a perfect fit. So while I agree that the UX Librarian title might be the current fad and incorrectly used at many libraries, in my case it does a great job of actually telling someone what it is that I do everyday. Of course, coming up with a new title is one thing. Getting our administration to officially change it is another. :-) I suppose my library might be jumping on the bandwagon, but my Director and I have had a lot of discussions about re-titling my current position (which is simply Librarian at this time) to better reflect what it is I do in my library. What I do is develop services that will encourage our students to actually use the library and its resources. I’ve implemented everything from chat reference and embedded librarian programs to drop-in workshops and book club discussions. It isn’t so much about the tools as it is about the experience.

When my Director and I first discussed my title, we thought about Outreach Librarian, but I’m also responsible for technology. Then we thought of Digital Services Librarian, but I don’t rely on technology for everything. When we heard of other libraries having UX Librarians, it seemed like a perfect fit. So while I agree that the UX Librarian title might be the current fad and incorrectly used at many libraries, in my case it does a great job of actually telling someone what it is that I do everyday.

Of course, coming up with a new title is one thing. Getting our administration to officially change it is another. :-)

]]> By: recap of the week, part 1 « Catch and Release http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/comment-page-1/#comment-5754 recap of the week, part 1 « Catch and Release Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:24:32 +0000 http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/#comment-5754 [...] (a snazzy way of expressing our need to really identify our user’s feelings that I picked up on here).  I have also been thinking more about the guys Live|Work in the UK and their service design [...] [...] (a snazzy way of expressing our need to really identify our user’s feelings that I picked up on here).  I have also been thinking more about the guys Live|Work in the UK and their service design [...]

]]> By: brian http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/comment-page-1/#comment-5403 brian Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:41:59 +0000 http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/#comment-5403 Wal-Mart greeter? Wal-Mart greeter?

]]> By: Walt Lessun http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/comment-page-1/#comment-5391 Walt Lessun Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:37:22 +0000 http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/#comment-5391 MLS required. Experience as a WalMart greeter a plus. MLS required. Experience as a WalMart greeter a plus.

]]> By: Jim Nichols http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/comment-page-1/#comment-5390 Jim Nichols Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:30:54 +0000 http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/#comment-5390 My worry: If you get a UX librarian, then maybe everybody else in the library feels like they are off the hook when it comes to improving service. My hope: That the UX job duties include training and empowering everybody else in the library for improving service. Everybody in the library should know how their work impacts the user, how to assess if the desired impacts are achieved or not, and how to make needed improvements. The UX librarian should be mostly in a consulting and leadership role. My worry: If you get a UX librarian, then maybe everybody else in the library feels like they are off the hook when it comes to improving service.

My hope: That the UX job duties include training and empowering everybody else in the library for improving service. Everybody in the library should know how their work impacts the user, how to assess if the desired impacts are achieved or not, and how to make needed improvements. The UX librarian should be mostly in a consulting and leadership role.

]]> By: Suzanne Chapman http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/comment-page-1/#comment-5388 Suzanne Chapman Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:50:29 +0000 http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2008/02/13/user-experience-librarian-the-next-bandwagon/#comment-5388 Fantastic post. I’ve also been tracking this new trend because I’m one of those Usability/Interface Design Librarians for a digital library. Even though my job description isn’t as explicit as your description, I do consider UX to be one of my responsibilities. I hire a few interns every semester from the UM School of Information to work on various library usability projects. The majority of them are specializing in HCI (human-computer interaction) and very few are LIS students. My impression is that LIS students don’t feel they have the technical background to tackle the HCI topics or even that they don’t realize this type of job in a library is even an option. And most HCI students aren’t particularly interested in working for the library (beyond a semester internship). Even though these students get the same degree (MSI) they are pursuing drastically different career paths. Fantastic post. I’ve also been tracking this new trend because I’m one of those Usability/Interface Design Librarians for a digital library. Even though my job description isn’t as explicit as your description, I do consider UX to be one of my responsibilities.

I hire a few interns every semester from the UM School of Information to work on various library usability projects. The majority of them are specializing in HCI (human-computer interaction) and very few are LIS students. My impression is that LIS students don’t feel they have the technical background to tackle the HCI topics or even that they don’t realize this type of job in a library is even an option. And most HCI students aren’t particularly interested in working for the library (beyond a semester internship). Even though these students get the same degree (MSI) they are pursuing drastically different career paths.

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