2020 LibTech Conference

How often does your library make decisions about services offered without checking with library users first? Are library administrators or external agents making decisions on behalf of library patrons without understanding their needs? Are you puzzling over why some of your programs are poorly attended, or services under utilized? Do you sometimes feel like you are floundering in the dark, trying to make sense of patron behavior? Have you done usability testing, but need to go beyond that to learn even easier methods for assessing and improving library services? In this session we will discuss ways to know your users better through some powerful UX techniques like: creating user personas, diagramming user journey maps, conducting focus groups and surveys, field studies, and card sorting. This session, conducted by a librarian at a university and a UX professional from the private sector, will include hands on demonstrations and group work showcasing both qualitative and quantitative UX methods. Attendees will leave with ready models to put to work in their library.

In this interactive session, attendees will work in small groups to complete an escape room activity! Librarians at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) developed escape room activities for outreach and instruction. The activities challenged students to work together to solve puzzles before TIME RAN OUT. Inspired by escape room activities at public and academic libraries, our goal for these escape rooms was to offer students an opportunity to engage with the library and information literacy in a new way. Attendees will learn about the digital and analog tools UMD librarians used to create and implement escape room activities, learn tips and tricks from the creation process, and work together to reflect on how they can create escape room activities at their own libraries. Beginning and experienced puzzle-solvers are welcome!

Do makerspaces belong in libraries? Are librarians makers? As makerspaces become more prevalent in libraries, many librarians are questioning their role in the community of tinkerers and creators known as the "Maker Movement."

Gender imbalance and a lack of diversity in makerspaces can lead to impostor syndrome, or “a false and sometimes crippling belief that one's successes are the product of luck or fraud rather than skill” (Merriam Webster). Impostor syndrome can affect anyone, but studies suggest that women and people of color are more likely to experience these feelings of inadequacy.

This session will share the findings of one librarian’s examination of her impostor syndrome and consider factors that can contribute to self-doubt in library makerspaces. She will share the results of conversations and interviews with her peers, as well as strategies for managing impostor syndrome. Participants will then take time to reflect on a time when they felt out of place or unsure of themselves. Attendees will be broken into small groups for discussion and to share their own approaches for conquering impostor syndrome.

As technology permeates learning and instruction, academic libraries have an opportunity to reimagine services to meet the needs of their communities in novel and meaningful ways. In this session, you will learn how our library conceived and implemented a digital media lab after determining that our campus lacked spaces and support for students and faculty to create digital content outside of the classroom setting. The digital media lab is supported by a dedicated staff member, open to the entire campus community, and situated around sound-isolating booths designed for recording and editing. The service model encourages our community to become comfortable learning new technologies, to master the use of communication tools, and to be proficient communicators in an interconnected world. In this session we will discuss the development of the space and its service model, the myriad possibilities for utilizing the equipment, and our work with campus partners in the planning and implementation phases of this project.

Protecting user privacy has long been a stated professional value, but how much do library principles and practices really line up? Do librarians within the same institution agree upon what we are doing--and should be doing--to protect user privacy? Our interactive session will share the work of the recently formed Privacy Task Force at the University of Minnesota Libraries and also facilitate conversation around this complex topic. The Privacy Task Force is charged with inventorying how user data is collected, stored, and protected; engaging staff in conversation about user privacy; and making recommendations about library policies and practices. We will share why this group was formed, what we have learned thus far, what we still hope to do, and what some of our challenges have been along the way. We will share themes that surfaced as we inventoried current practices that we believe attendees will find both relatable and thought-provoking. During our session, participants will have the opportunity to consider and discuss illustrative user data privacy scenarios. Our session will be contextualized with insights and perspectives emanating from the broader national conversation currently happening around this issue. By sharing how one large university library is approaching this issue and engaging participants in real-life scenarios, we hope to avoid easy answers and provide space for reflection and lively discussion.

Accessibility can be intimidating, but no fear! You don’t have to be an expert to start learning on your own, or spreading awareness in your library. Come learn and discuss digital accessibility best practices for all types of libraries, see how easy it can be to get started, and learn how digital accessibility affects the ways users interact with libraries online. Then see a model of Accessibility Pop-up Workshops for internal training including lesson plans, handouts, and resources on a range of topics including how to create accessible documents. Leave with these tools and adapt them for workshops in your own library, or simply use them as an individual training guide. This informative presentation will intermix formal learning opportunities with small group discussions to share your knowledge and discuss accessibility in your library, all while gaining confidence to start implementing and sharing knowledge of accessibility best practices no matter your position in the library.