The Jan./Feb. 2008 issue of American Libraries features an article by the omnipresent Stephen J. Bell on the benefits of taking a design approach to the delivery of library services. By Googling his name I also came across this interesting handout on “Librarianship by Design” — basically a bibliography of design-related resources for librarians — and the blog Designing Better Libraries.
The American Libraries article provides a handy overview of how libraries might leverage user experience design techniques (and specifically the IDEO method) to ensure that their patrons enjoy happier, or at least less frustrating, library interactions. I was surprised however that Bell didn’t really pursue the importance of integrating patrons’ online and physical experiences — a key point of emphasis in the MAYA design group’s work on the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, which Bell highlights – or spend much time exploring the importance of taking a user experience approach when implementing social software and Web 2.0 technologies, which are all the buzz in the library world these days. I’d really like to see him tackle those topics in depth, through specific case studies….
