User Research
Libraries are impacted by the ways in which individuals engage with technology; how they seek, access, contribute, and use information; and how and why they demonstrate these behaviors and do what they do. We're collaborating with librarians to shape their services around a set of expectations that have been influenced by consumer technologies and modern research and learning environments. By providing the library community with behavioral evidence about individuals’ perceptions, habits, and requirements, we can ensure that the design of future library services is all about the user. Our efforts are amplified by strategic partnerships and focus in these two areas:
Presentations
Investing in Library Users and Potential Users: The Many Faces of Digital Visitors and Residents
Muscat (Oman)
Silipigni Connaway shares results from OCLC's Digital Visitors and Residents work, which identified how individuals are engaging with technology, acquiring information, why they make their choices, and how libraries can use this information to make decisions to reach users.
Topics: Digital Visitors and Residents, User Research
Mitigating Microaggressions in Virtual Reference
This presentation reports results from qualitative content analysis of a large, longitudinal, random sample of QuestionPoint virtual reference service (VRS) sessions, how microaggressions can make their way into VRS, and how to mitigate this happening.
Topics: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
Update on Value of Academic Libraries Initiative
Denver, CO (US)
Silipigni Connaway gives an update on the ACRL initiative on Academic Library Impact, including details on how the research was conducted; and she describes areas of focus for libraries, which include communication, collaboration, mission strategy & alignment, teaching & learning, student success, and learning analytics.
Topics: Student Support
Teaching Research Methods in LIS Programs: Approaches, Formats, and Innovative Strategies
Denver, CO (US)
Silipigni Connaway moderates this panel that describes the rationale for teaching research methods, reviews competencies and guidelines of research, research methods in LIS pedagogy, and discussion and knowledge sharing by the panel.
Topics: Research Methods
Survey Research
Virtual
This presentation covers popular LIS research methods, describes the advantages and disadvantages of different types of survey research, describes data analysis tools and methods, and uses the OCLC Research Report Seeking Synchronicity as an example of this work.
Topics: Research Methods