Be Our Guest: Create Your Own Pixie Dust at the Library

originally posted in Cognotes, Monday,  June 27, 2016 – Orlando
By Meredith Myers,
American Libraries

Rusa President's Program 1966_3

Room W110B in the Orange County Convention Center was packed tighter than Disney’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on the first day of summer vacation. Instead of magical pixie dust, RUSA chose Dave Cobb to make every-day librarians into user experience designers, all with the click of his mouse.

“We tell stories in physical places,” he said, as photos of colorful museums and libraries splashed across the screen in perfectly timed clicks.  As the vice president for creative development of Thinkwell Group in Los Angeles, Cobb has spent years designing roller coasters and attractions for theme parks.  “People often say that I design roller coasters.  No.  I tell  stories  with roller coasters. Libraries are no different. We need to understand the user. Our audience has an audience.”

He suggested asking,  “What is unique about your location?  Who is your audience, and what are their expectations of your library? How are you inviting your audience to take ownership of their library?”

In telling stories, librarians can create Be Our Guest: Create Your Own Pixie Dust at the Library an emotional resonance with patrons, thus inspiring them to tell their own stories.  To illustrate, Cobb filled the screen with swimming metaphors: “waders” being the largest audience, “swimmers” being most curious, and “divers” being true fans – his message being that one should design library spaces for all three types of users. He added a new category of “mer-people,” speaking of those who have been submerged too long. (Which is probably how most librarians feel after a long day of meetings and toting free books from the Exhibits.)

Panel responders were John Blyberg, assistant director for innovation and UX, Darien Library, Darien, Connecticut, and Steven Bell, associate university librarian, Temple University. Bell spoke of being intentional and creating passionate users, and also asked if the patrons or librarians are emphasized.

“Pay attention to the employees,” Bell suggested. “Fix what is broken. Change can’t just be at the circulation desk. You are all user experience designers.” See? No pixie dust needed. Thanks, RUSA.

#nameRUSA: Give Us Your Feedback by Friday, July 15!

nameRUSA

You can help by doing the following:

RUSA members represent a wide variety of interests and professional activities, including readers’ advisory, interlibrary loan, genealogy, user experience and all kinds of library public services.  Many of us once identified as reference librarians, but recognize that our membership is changing in addition to our professional roles. We find ourselves wondering how best to brand ourselves and the services we provide.

Our association name is important and we need your help.  We want to make sure that our association continues to support and represent our members’ needs and interests, while also speaking to potential members.  We want to also encourage participation from non-members.

#nameRUSA: Give Us Your Feedback!

nameRUSA

RUSA members represent a wide variety of interests and professional activities, including readers’ advisory, interlibrary loan, genealogy, user experience and all kinds of library public services.  Many of us once identified as reference librarians, but recognize that our membership is changing in addition to our professional roles. We find ourselves wondering how best to brand ourselves and the services we provide.

Our association name is important and we need your help.  We want to make sure that our association continues to support and represent our members’ needs and interests, while also speaking to potential members.  We want to also encourage participation from non-members.

Please join us and participate in a lively conversation about the future of RUSA.

You can help by doing the following:

Friday events @ALA Orlando:

  • Learn more at RUSA 101 on Friday, 3-4 pm, Hilton Orlando, Room Florida Ballroom 1-2

Saturday events @ALA Orlando:

  • Come and share your views on Saturday 8:30-10 am at the Hilton-Bayhill 30 room
  • Join us at the Network Uncommons on Saturday 10:30 – 11 am (next to the ALA Membership Pavillon)

We want to hear from you! RUSA Virtual Town Hall – June 15

RUSA is hosting a Virtual Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at 3PM CT / 4PM ET to give all RUSA members (and prospective members!) a chance to ask questions about the organization and give input on our current and future directions. RUSA President Anne Houston and RUSA Vice-President Alesia McManus will be present at the Town Hall to answer questions.

We invite you to submit questions and suggestions ahead of time or ask them during the Town Hall. You can submit your question here up until June 10th: http://goo.gl/forms/7pHP8S4Yy3.

We look forward to talking with you!

To attend the meeting please click on this link
http://ala.adobeconnect.com/r8iomgg8ab7/
or
dial in using: 1-866-717-7547
with participant code: 72620830#

On June 15th!