Tag Archives: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

‘Design thinking toolkit for libraries’ released

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Aarhus Public Libraries has announced the release of the Design Thinking Toolkit for Libraries. The toolkit can be used by any front-line library staffer to adapt to library users’ changing needs.

Chicago Public Libraries and Aarhus Public Libraries worked with design company IDEO to find out how design thinking methods might best be adapted and applied to a library context. The final result is Design thinking for libraries, a comprehensive new resource for any library leader or staff member hoping to advance their library by using human-centred design methods.

The toolkit guides you through Design Thinking so you can start coming up with solutions to everyday challenges within the library. Design thinking, or human-centred design, is all about starting with people — the users that visit your library. IDEO have been using similar methods to envision new products, services, spaces, and experiences in other business areas. IDEO created this toolkit specifically for the library setting in close cooperation with the project teams in Chicago and Aarhus.

The toolkit comes in two parts: the toolkit guide, and the accompanying activities workbook. If you don’t have much time then download the ”At-a-Glance-Guide” which introduces how you might get started using design thinking over the course of one day.

The toolkit is created with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – The Global Libraries initiative.

 

 

Know your community, Improve your technology services

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Understanding your community is essential to providing patrons with the technology services they need. The Impact Survey is an online survey tool designed specifically for public libraries that want to better understand their communities and how people use their public technology resources and services. Written and validated by research staff at the University of Washington Information School, this free tool is designed to quickly and easily provide busy librarians with useful data on how their patrons use library technology services. The program saves libraries the time and costs associated with writing, programming, analyzing, and reporting an in-house survey.

The Impact Survey asks patrons about how they use library technology services like public computers, wireless networks, online resources, digital literacy training, as well as outcome oriented use in specific areas such as education, employment, health and wellness, eGovernment, social inclusion and eCommerce.  The site also has links to a webinar and support is avaiable – well worth a look.