What makes a good workshop?

I have recently returned from this year’s EAHIL conference.  In addition to attending the conference I also co-delivered a workshop on planning for change in relation to your library service.  Whilst the workshop was a success, we received good feedback and I felt it had gone well,

https://twitter.com/karenbuset/status/1017707509874864128

I started to think about what makes a good workshop.

Before the Workshop:

• Initially you need a theme that is workshop friendly! And will appeal to participants.
• Ensure you and any co-presenters know what your individual contributions will be during the workshop session.
• Prepare your presentation and any handouts
• Work out what equipment you may need and ensure either you take it to the session or you have organised for it to be available when you arrive at the venue.
• A workshop checklist can be a useful reminder
• Do you need to contact attendees’ prior to the workshop?
• Would a pre-workshop assignment be helpful?
• Work out your timings

Photo by Juhasz Imre on Pexels.com

Workshop proper:

• Ensure the room is laid out in the way you need for your workshop
• Introduce the presenters and the topic
• Ensure the participants know the objective of the workshop
• Whilst no-one is especially keen on icebreakers, they are a good tool to start attendees chatting
• Set the context for the participants’ so they can begin at the start of the interactive element
• Assign the task(s) and make sure everyone is clear of what is expected from them
• Be strict and clear on timings and give regular updates on how much time is left
• Allow plenty of time for groups/individuals to feedback
• Obtain attendees permission if you would like to take photographs during the workshop and explain how you intend to use any images taken

Concluding the Worksop:

• Revisit the theme of the workshop
• Provide your contact details
• Ask if attendees would like any further references or copy of the presentation

None of this is ‘rocket science’.  However it can be easy to get swept up in the enthusiasm and momentum of your workshop and forget the basics.

I have delivered a number of workshops, after each one take the time to reflect on what went well and what could be improved on.  One outcome I will take away from this last workshop, is to allow more time for the groups to feedback to each other.  Should there be time available once everyone has provided feedback, have more tasks to hand just in case..

Photo by Tookapic on Pexels.com

Review of the 2018 EAHIL conference

The venue for this year’s EAHIL is the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama – Cardiff

The conference theme – “Inspiring, Involving and Informing”

The 2018 was a full conference with key note speakers including CILIP President Ayub Khan @ayubkhan786, Neil MacInnes – Strategic Lead – Libraries, Galleries and Culture Manchester City Council @macinnes_neil and Professor Judith Hall – Professor of Anaesthetics, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine at Cardiff University. Lead the Phoenix Project, a University partnership with the University of Namibia that seeks to tackle poverty and promote health.

Workshops included bench marking, managing professional failure and planning for major service changes in your library, (this workshop was led by my colleagues and I, @barker_eleanor, @librarianerrant).

A graphic artist depicted the conference and keynote sessions –

Visual notes from keynote at #eahil2018. Good example of #creativecommunications @EvidSynthTeam pic.twitter.com/WC8duQCm4s

— Morwenna Rogers (@Morwenna73) July 11, 2018

This is the first conference I attended which had a visual artist.  It was an enjoyable experience seeing Fran (https://twitter.com/fran_ohara) create the posters, interpreting and highlighting the speaker points.

Conference posters digital format only.  I wonder if this innovation will be continued in #EAHIL2019 – Basel.  I found in the main that it worked well and saves the burden of carrying/shipping A0 sized posters to the EAHIL venue plus the time and resources to display a paper poster.

Love the new electronic poster format at #EAHIL2018 pic.twitter.com/dPZp8RBChl

— Morwenna Rogers (@Morwenna73) July 11, 2018

In addition following perhaps the work of the venue and the conference theme there were performances by a couple of choirs raising awareness and highlighting the impact of dementia.

Very special end to very good day, created 3 #visualminutes maps, including 1 of old friend & #abcd legend @cormacrussell – met a lot of #eahil2018 conference attendees who love maps & visuals & ended day mapping 3 choirs – quite magical. Well done @EAHIL_2018 organising team pic.twitter.com/zyJ10PtIHF

— Fran O'Hara (@fran_ohara) July 11, 2018

All of the above fulfilled the conference theme for me.

My takeaways are the continuing impact and evidence to support the positive societal benefit that libraries provide – Reading Well scheme for example.  However, only 10% of GPs are aware of this initiative.  What more can we do to promote this?  Books are freely available and don’t have the side effects of medication.  Book lists are available on dementia, mental health, long term health conditions and for young people.  I was aware of the scheme to some extent as my library has purchased the Mood Boosting books.  Good health is about the connections that we have and we can all  contribute to our communities, of which libraries and librarians are a part.

For me the real benefit of attending EAHIL are the connections and informal conversations that you have.  The shared understanding no matter where you work and where you are based of a common language, comprehension of challenges and solutions. The opportunity to work with colleagues from a wide range of institutions in the workshops is a great bonus and one I appreciate.

Can Do Café and Peer Assist

I recently attended a Can Do Café event.  The main focus of the Café was a Knowledge Management Tool – Peer Assist.

Definitions – Can Do Café is a method to facilitate change.  In small groups you have a topic to debate.  Individuals move around the group joining in with different discussions.  A host updates the new joiners on the discussion.  Notes can be made and shared with the group. This more informal approach stimulates discussion and within the groups provides an opportunity for everyone to be involved.

Peer Assist – is a tool which supports a ‘learning before doing’ processes in which advice to solve a problem/make an improvement usually in a group setting.

Knowledge Management – is the process of creating, sharing, using and managing the knowledge and information of an organisation.^[1] It refers to a multidisciplinary approach to achieving organisational objectives by making the best use of knowledge.

The Discussion Item

Standardising the collection and use of statistics in a department.

Process

The individual seeking solutions to the issue seat in the centre of a small group (in my case about 6 people).  The group ask questions of the proposer, make suggestions and raise any concerns.  For each category the feedback is noted.  One of the group has the role of facilitator and time keeper.

Reflection

This is the first Peer Assist I have attended.  I found it to be very helpful technique to share a challenge.  The environment was supportive and encouraging.  The method made me stop and think about what we are doing, why and what the ultimate goal is.

The suggestions made are practical and have merit.  My next task is to meet with my manager to examine each one and establish what we start trying.

I also have a responsibility to feedback to the group so they are aware of has been tried and tested, what has worked or not and what lessons have learned.

If you have the opportunity to participate in a Peer Assist I would recommend it.

I would equally recommend attending a Can Do Café.  This type of event provides an opportunity to meet and discuss issues with colleagues and share experiences in an informal setting.

UHMLG Spring Forum 2018: Beyond our walls. Helping users beyond our core.

An interesting theme for this Spring Forum.   No matter where you work, helping our users, engagement and “Getting the message across” is pertinent to us all.

I found the day informative and inspiring.  Over the course of the day, it became very apparent how many different users, libraries can assist and in many ways that I had not considered.

Users are your membership, the public, not just limited to one country, engagement is possible in person and also virtually.  Help is required not just with day to day library queries but in providing spaces and environment that are conducive to learning and well-being.

Challenges’ include income generation, Working across countries does not mean that we all have the access to the same resources.  Don’t make assumptions’ that we KNOW what resources are required in the receiving countries.   Work with the staff ‘on the ground’.  Be an active listener and heed the information you are given.

We are all aware of providing information to our users and assisting with the ‘not so straightforward’ information questions and resources.  The Kings Fund (a charity founded by King Edward VII), specialises in grey literature and health policies.  They produce several alerts and bulletins including:

• Health Management & Policy Alert – stats, policy and practice, hard to find information and correspondence
• Health & Wellbeing Board Bulletin – local & national news
• Integrated Care Bulletin – partnership, co-ordination and collaboration focus

In addition to the training skills and literature searches that we are familiar with, the Kings Fund has a role in helping patients/general public find their way through complicated health information.

Their challenges include;

• Income generation and balancing this with the usual day-to-day tasks.
• Managing the impact that general elections have on their workload.

Moving outside the UK to working in partnership with LMIC (Low Middle Income Countries), we learned about the importance of collaborating with libraries aboard and the rewards and obstacles.  Librarians from the University of Cardiff are part of the Phoenix Project with the University of Namibia.  The project provides opportunities for shared learning and development across a number of university departments including the library.

The Oxford Book Transplant is an initiative by Oxford Medical Students.  Students take books in their luggage when they go on their electives as a way of saying ‘Thank You’.  The aim is to provide textbooks to hospitals and medical schools in LMIC.  The health library and NHS libraries are collecting points for books.

Mission Botswana is part of Anglia Ruskin University International community Experience Project

In Tlokweng, this project is helping to renovate a library and football/sports area for children.

Benefits’ of the project include;

• Sharing experiences
• Teamwork
• Gaining new skills and confidence
• Employability
• Building partnerships’
• Supporting learning
• Well-being
• Imparting basic health practices – such as hand washing
• Engage with the children
• Reading and literacy support.

Academic libraries are a key resource to supporting student wellbeing, how and why will become apparent.  (Presentation from Antony Brewerton – Head of Academic Services – University of Warwick – @librarian_boy)

The University of Warwick asked students what their first impressions of the library are.  Responses include –

• “It’s very big”
• “There’s lots of books”
• “I feel really overwhelmed”

The library is very active in supporting their users.  They see part of their role in upskilling users and helping students settle into University life.  The library works with other university departments to provide a joined up approach.

Skills opportunities are available in information retrieval, presentations skills, project management, and time management.  A holistic approach is taken with local travel information provided, a calendar of events, amenities guide, and history of the place, resilience and well-being.

The Library is a venue for cultural events such as Kammatan.  Harvest Festival celebrated throughout May in Sabah Malaysia.  The Library promotes the NHS 5 Ways to Well-Being

• Connect (e.g. student network with staff)
• Be Active
• Give
• Take Notice (e.g. mindfulness sessions)
• Keep Learning (e.g. language exchanges).

As well as bringing therapy dogs into the library, rewarding significant milestones in a student’s educational life – handing in their dissertation.

Claire Allen from Evidence Aid & Isla illustrated a very positive example of the difference that librarians’ can make.  Isla has been volunteering with Evidence Aid.  Reading articles, writing a synopsis, indicating if it is a good or bad article.  Then uploaded on DropBox and then checked and published.

Benefits include;

• Keeping skills up to date
• Amassing new skills
• Sharing new skills with work colleagues
• Presentation skills
• Attending conferences to highlight the charity and how we can get involved
• Contributing to humanitarian issues

Evidence Aid was founded in 2004 following Indian Ocean Tsunami.  Mission – To alleviate suffering & save lives by providing the best available evidence on the effectiveness of humanitarian action and enabling its use.

Natasha Sheen informed the audience about The Hive.  The first academic and public library joint venture in Worcester.

The Hive opened in 2012 and comprises University and Public library services and the county archives service.  .

Facts and Figures;

• The Hive is part of Worcestershire Public Libraries of which there are 21 branches
• 275,000 + (book) items
• Natasha teaches info lit sessions, organises and co-ordinate events
• Natasha’s role is there to make a difference across the County
• Make a lot of academic journals available to the public through walk in access
• Works with different research depts. and groups, including Ecology and Environment RG – Gardening for wildlife, Mood Disorders Research Group, Association for Dementia studies and Centre for Palliative Care.
• Science Festival events, events to support children’s mental health.
• Marketing
• wide range of facilities for users with a range of accessibility requirements

Challenges;

• Getting people in
• Getting people to engage, (we are not university so how can it be for me?)
• Encouraging researchers and academics to get involved.
• People still work in silos.
• Overlap – more collaboration and communication needed so The Hive do not put on an event that has recently happened or vice versa.
• Measuring Impact.

 

The final part of the day, a series of Lightning Talks:

Chris Bark (Uni. of Coventry) – Supporting Other Users: Phoenix Partnership & Partner Colleges

Phoenix Partnership schools benefit from a direct relationship with the University of Coventry.  700 post 16 children use the library for study area, access to print books.  A LibGuide has been specifically written for this user group.  Whilst this is a great opportunity to break down barriers and provide an insight into HE as always it is not without its issues.  For example, should this group have access to electronic resources?  What about pressure on spaces especially during exam times and competition for resources.  I don’t have an easy answer to these questions.

Iain Baird – (Academic Librarian – Uni. of Teeside) talked about the Succeed@Tees initiative.

A Learning Hub created within the Library about 5 years ago.  Primary aim being an Academic Skills support centre.  Staffed with 2 former librarians and a specialist.  Courses include;

• Academic writing
• Apostrophes’ & how to use them,
• Using CINAHL
• Referencing
• Critical Thinking
• Critical Writing
• Presentation Skills
• Reflective writing

I am sure I am not alone in thinking I could benefit from some of the above sessions.

The outcome of the Learning Hub is that it has had a very positive impact on teaching sessions.

Emma Silvey – (Assistant Librarian Clinical and Outreach – Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation)

The library in the Trust has a well-being zone used by staff and students.  The library work with other depts. in the Trust to promote services especially during Libraries Week.  Library staff visit colleagues working off site and organise pop-up libraries in the hospital.

Jane Shelley – continued with the theme of outreach and promotion with the libraries at Anglia Ruskin University participating in University open days and special events.  Local schools visit the campuses to discover the HE experience and libraries have been involved in these visits.

So – I have traveled to London for the meeting but heard of libraries working internationally with Evidence Aid, The Phoenix Project, Mission Botswana and Oxford Book Transplant. Library doors are open to the public, school children, physical and virtual users.  Barriers are being broken down with access to resources and perceptions of HE, libraries and what libraries can do.

Our library is very service orientated.  Users from all areas of HE, research and the NHS.  We take our services out of the physical library space and into student common rooms, hospital concourse, sports and social club for example.  Of course there is always more that we can try.

There is a very real positive impact on society just from the projects and stories heard in this Forum.  Encouraging messages of collaboration, partnerships, widening engagement and raising awareness.  The last presentation of the day included “nothing is impossible – the word itself is I’m possible”.  A great ending.

Slides from the Forum can be found – https://tinyurl.com/y7od57nk and https://tinyurl.com/y8tcyn8z

 

Breakthrough the Library – Libraries@Cambridge Day Conference 2018

The 2018 Libraries@ Cambridge Conference is over.  I am trying to assimilate all of the presentations, ideas and conversations.  My one take home message is – Reaching out further and also engaging our communities.  Break down barriers, include NOT exclude.

The theme of this year’s one day conference is – Breakthrough the Library. 

Dr Jessica Gardner (@CamUniLibrarian) Cambridge University Librarian and Director of Library Services opened the proceedings.

The keynote speaker is Dr Meredith Evans (@mre1920) – VP/President Elect of the Society of American Archivists and Director of the Jimmy Carter Library in Atlanta.  Meredith talked about a project she was involved with whilst working at library in Washington University in St Louis.

‘Documenting Ferguson’ – is a community project recording in real time events and reaction surrounding the police shooting of an unarmed Afro American teenager – Michael Brown.

Ferguson Public Library offered a vital space to share images/posts captured by the local community and provide a safe haven.  To represent all viewpoints, local authorities were contacted for the photos, recordings etc.  No response was received.

All received content was used and made accessible.  No censorship was applied.  The captured content was not available via ‘standard news sources’.

Increasingly we have seen footage and comments in national and international new reports that are not from mainstream resources.

This project highlights the role that libraries have. It also presents information professionals with some difficult questions.  Presenting information which maybe “unpalatable”, making content accessible, legality and ethics of using Tweets for example, the challenge of capturing content.  Issues that concern us all.  However of course the library community = everyone, library staff, users and non-users, teaching staff, reception, cleaners and maintenance staff for example.

The next session was “Game On: Enhancing Engagement, Interaction and Reflection in Library Workshops – Dr J. Adam Edwards & Dr Vanessa Hill. (Middlesex University).

Information professionals are helpful right?  Sometimes too helpful.  We often tell people 4/5 times more detail then they will take in.  Adam and Vanessa’s practical session provided Games to help instil information, helpful to library members without swamping them.

Think about what information is needed.  Use handouts for example to backup and provide additional information.  Students need a variety of styles and learning opportunities, books, presentations, activities etc.

Games can be used to explore decision making, leadership, management.

Adam & Vanessa tried out a couple of activities with the audience. In groups we had to rank different media types conveying Currency v Authority. Using cards with duplicate types, including books, eyewitness accounts and academic journals.  To demonstrate evaluation skills.

I liked this next exercise and saw the value.  Very simply – describe what you see in the photo above.  Depending on your audience you can expect to receive lots of differing responses.  Useful to convey the use of synonyms and key words.  This is an exercise that could be used with the teaching we do in the library I work in.

Finally to illustrate classification schemes and loan types/periods – members of the audience were asked to ‘be a book’ with related titles and various loan types.  ‘Librarians’ were then asked to ‘order’ the collection.  I can envisage using this method to help teach referencing, planning a project or obtaining feedback for example on the library that I work in.

For more information and useful ideas head to http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/MDXGames

The afternoon session started with a series of Lightning Talks – from library staff.  These short talks are a great way to inform the library community of new developments, special projects and share ideas.  Topics ranged from creating an advent calendar to assist with systematic reviews – opening up space and collections at Christs College Library and my favourite – Jasper – ‘The Marshall Library’ Cat.  The very positive impact of bringing a three legged ginger puss to help stressed students during exam time.  At the hospital I regularly see therapy dogs and occasionally visitors walking dogs.  I can see a role for well-being for all by having a library pet!

The library commitment to Open Access and Data proved very very successful with Stephen Hawkings PhD thesis now digitised and freely available.  University of Cambridge computers crashed due to demand.

A journals data analysis project is underway to discover where researchers are publishing and how journal subs are being used.

So although the conference is over for another year.  The talks, themes, knowledge and ideas continue.  Over the next year we need to make libraries easier to use and navigate, be aware of the needs and pressures of the people that make use of our services and spaces and equally be there for the ones that don’t.

 

 

October Reflection

Well,  its been about a month since we welcomed the new students to the School of Clinical Medicine and the Medical Library.  The number of new students has increased and library staff are enjoying meeting and helping the new intake as well as being reacquainted with familiar faces. Many are enjoying the refurbished library space and its great to receive the very positive feedback.

Changes since the start of the new academic year, we have a new print system – DS Print.  This gives more flexibility in using print services across the University and adding credit and wi-fi printing.

Library staff across University of Cambridge libraries are preparing for the implementation of ALMA (the new LMS).  We are familiarizing ourselves with ‘the look and feel’ of ALMA and will be attending (and in some instances) delivering training.  Colleagues are testing the system and much more is being undertaken on data and record cleaning and management.

The first booksale for over a year – not possible when we were in our temporary accommodation.

 

The installation of the Non Print Legal Deposit PC.  Let me explain – Cambridge University Library is one of six libraries entitled under the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 to receive material published in the United Kingdom and Ireland.  The other libraries are the British Library, the Bodleian Library in Oxford, the national libraries of Scotland and Wales, and Trinity College Library Dublin. Since April 2013 legal deposit legislation has also covered material published digitally and online, so that the Legal Deposit Libraries can provide a national archive of the UK’s non-print published material, such as websites, blogs, ejournals, and ebooks. Many publishers are choosing to deposit digitally.  The Medical Library has a dedicated PC in which users can engage with this material.

Display of some of the current print journals that the Medical Library holds –

More print journals can be found in the dedicated journals room near the library desk.  Of course, in addition to print journals there is an extensive range of electronic journals accessible via the library catalogue – iDiscover and NHS Athens.

As well as the highlighted changes, we are still serving our users, running training sessions, attending inductions for new staff, promoting library services via Pop-Up libraries in the main concourse of Addenbrookes hospital, running E-book training for library staff and student drop – in sessions.

It feels like usage and footfall has increased overall, the library has a definite buzz, the start of the new academic year has gone well, long may it continue!

 

Partnership and Collaboration at the Midlands and East Health Libraries Summer Conference 2017

The 3rd one day conference was held at the ABAX Stadium in Peterborough.

Colleagues from the Eastern region and East and West Midlands converged to share their experiences of collaboration and partnerships.

Ruth Carlyle  (Head of Library and Knowledge Services across the region) opened the proceedings.

David Farrelly, Regional Director for Midlands and East Health Education England, gave the keynote speech. He talked about need to champion our services and accomplishments.

Doug Knock – (Library & Knowledge Services Manager at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) – talked about the Impact Toolkit and the differences between feedback and impact.  About collecting evidence and then using the evidence you have, rather than collecting info/data for the sake of it.  The Gumi Bear of Evidence was making its final appearance at this conference.

Several presentations and activities over the day had particular resonance for me.

Mo Hussain and Wendy Marsh – East of England, Public Health England – on supporting Collaboration Between the Public Health Community & NHS Libraries.  Using bespoke software to tailor services, providing access for local authority public health teams to EBSCO Discovery, Public Health England e-journal content, training guides and KM events.

From our East Region Peter Ransome  – Library Manager,  James Paget Library and Ali Thayne – Dementia Care Lead, gave an excellent demonstration of collaboration at its best.  The library works with local public library services, Alzheimer’s Society, MP’s, local voluntary services.  Within the dementia team the library attend meetings, run literature searches, purchase tailored resources, current awareness services and support initiatives within the team/hospital.  From Ali’s perspective evidence of literature searches had provided evidence to buy realistic new born baby dolls and dignity gowns for patients (like a Onesy with fastenings at the back).

Lunch – post lunch presentation on voluntary services, information and patients – Ruth Carlyle.  Ruth highlighted the challenges the NHS is facing and why greater collaboration and partnership is needed.Patients and the public need access to information to support decision making for themselves and families.  A quite sad statistic – 42% of over 16 year olds do not understand general health information.  Ruth mentioned the Information Standard Kite Mark, an identifier to show information that is clear, accurate, evidence-based, up-to-date and easy to use.  Health libraries, charities, voluntary organisations, local authorities etc. can work together to help promote this.

Then small breakout sessions.

I attended Ian Rennie – (LKS Manager Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust) Pop -Up Libraries – the Medical Library at Cambridge hosts regular pop up libraries – however we have a different interpretation to the term.  Ian has a ‘Library in a Box’ which he takes to teams on pre-arranged visits.  The box contains books, training materials, library guides for example.  Ian stays with the team to answer queries, provide training where appropriate and be the face of the library.  Ian has a very distributed user base.  Here at the Medical Library in Cambridge we take publicity and information materials into the main hospital concourse to highlight that there is a library service that NHS can utilise and raise awareness of the services available.  So a different interpretation of a Pop Up library.

Photograph below is the Cambridge Medical Library take on Pop Up Library, taking a portable display, leflets, range of books, goodies into the main concourse to raise awareness with NHS staff of the library service and what it can offer and mean to them.

My next break out session was run by Pip Divall – (Clinical Librarian, Leicester) – Sharing Best Practice. Discussion ensued on the definition of best practice – relevant, timely, efficient, how to share ideas – conferences, meetings, social media, LQAF, can do cafe and that it is OK to mention your failures as well success, view it as a learning opportunity. We can’t always get things right 100% all of the time.

The final session for me was CA$H! – Current Awareness Service for Health – a collaborative service provided by a network of library and information staff who monitor and capture content across a range of subject areas.

Then closing remarks and prize giving.  The East of England were well represented in poster submissions, amongst the regional libraries Colchester General Hospital Library and the Warner Library at Mid Essex Hospital, as did our Library Manager Isla and myself and a colleague – great to have our work recognised.

The theme of partnership and collaboration was excellent and timely.  Libraries are very outward facing and recognise the strength of external relationships with other depts. and organisations.  In times of cut backs and making your brand more recognised it can make a substantial difference.

The presentations and workshops fitted the theme well.  Standouts for me are Public Heath England’s work with public libraries, working with the voluntary section and providing patient information, a different view of pop up libraries and Peters presentation on working with the dementia team and it illustrates how much we plan and aim for such working partnerships the timing on both sides needs to be right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hosting Erasmus Visitors

At the end of June, the Medical Library welcomed 2 librarians from Rīga Stradiņš University Library.  Inga Batare and Gunta Vasariņa visited as part of the Erasmus programme.

Inga and Gunta spent 2 very full days in Cambridge.  Inga is Head of the Information Resources Usage and Maintenance Department – responsible for effective information resources providing for students and other users.  Gunta – is a librarian in Information Resources Usage and Maintenance Department.  Usually stationed in library information centre or Open Access Loan service point. Gunta’s main task is to help  students to use library services, other duties are  related with maintenance of stock.

Day one was spent at the Medical Library.  Inga and Gunta met members of the team to discuss their roles including document supply, reader services, training and teaching information and research skills to library users, cataloguing, collection management and user centred service design.

We heard from Inga and Gunta about Latvia and working at their university library.  Between them they have worked for the university library for over 15 years.  Each main town in Latvia has a university.  The library offers PCs, books, databases, E-books and has a self service circulation system.  All book stock is RFID.

The RSU University  is over 50 years old.  There over 40 library staff employed at the university and there are libraries on a number of sites in Riga and Liepāja .  The libraries support the fields of medicine, public health and social sciences.  On the last Friday of the month, the library in which Inga and Gunta are based closes for cleaning!  I can’t imagine that happening on such as regular basis here.  In 2004 – the World Health Organization opened a deposit library within the main library.

We invited colleagues from nearby libraries to come and exchange ideas and information with our visitors.  I think everyone found the afternoon to be an interesting and worthwhile experience.

On Day 2 Inga, Gunta and I visited a number of Cambridge libraries.  The morning was spent at the Betty and Gordon Moore Library – initially with Yvonne, Head Of Science Information Services.  Yvonne gave us a tour and history of the library and we shared ideas on service development and refurbishing library spaces.  Then some time with Sue – on cataloguing and finally Georgina – research support librarian.  Georgina gave us an insight into her role and recent projects, including the 23 research things programme.

In the afternoon, Kay gave us a tour and history of the Squire Law library.  Then onto the University of Cambridge Library.  Lindsay informed us all of the development of the E-books service, issues and the variety of ways that E-books can be ordered.  Matthias explained the work of the Office of Scholarly Communications and his role.  Finally a tour of the library and the history and development of the University Library as we know it today.  We also had a look at the current exhibition – “Discarded History – The Genizah of Medieval Cairo”.

It was  interesting and insightful to spend time with Inga and Gunta.  I also learnt more about the organisation I work for and the variety of roles within it.  I think we often under estimate the value of spending time with our colleagues working in different departments to our own,

I would like to thank all of my colleagues for making Inga and Guntas’ visit memorable.  I appreciate the time and effort that was dedicated to this visit.  I have received very positive feedback from both visitors.  Inga has a number of ideas that she would like to develop as a result of this visit.  I hope we get to hear how they progress.

Riga Stradins University Library and Riga itself look well worth a visit – you never can tell!

 

 

EAHIL 2017 – Running a workshop – internationally

 

During EAHIL 2016  in Seville – I got talking with Muharrem Yilman – librarian at the | University of Oslo: Medical Library, Ullevål Hospital.  We both have an interest in service development and user centred design.  We agreed to develop and host a workshop on User Experience for EAHIL 2017.

Distance was no object.  We submitted our abstract and waited with fingers crossed.  Once we got the ‘go ahead’ – via emails, Skype and a meeting when I was in Norway (on library business), we planned and developed our workshop.  We structured and timed the session, divided the areas between us and devised practical activities for attendees.

Prior to the start of EAHIL 2017 we contacted all attendees to welcome them in advance.   Then DUBLIN!.  Muharrem and I met up on the pre-workshop evening to go over the final details.

Workshop 11 – “User Experience (UX) Design for User-Centred Libraries – Thursday 15th June @11:00 – Muharrem and I were ready to go.

There was some setting up to do – laying out the room with flip charts, sets of coloured pens, Post – It notes  and sheaves of paper for each user.

The room where the workshop was held has historical significance.  Mary Robinson (Ireland’s first female president) signed the Declaration in this room.  Set into the centre of the table is a specially commissioned piece of glass commemorating this event.

We nervously waited for our participants to arrive.  Over 20 people attended representing 11 countries.

The aim of the workshop is to introduce user experience methods, which can be used in libraries to gain greater insight and depth into user needs and behaviour.  This information can then be used to develop library services and rethink the use of physical spaces.

After a short introduction to user experience and the methods were would be trying, the group began their first activity.

Graffiti Wall.  Flip charts were distributed around the room and questions were posed, requiring users to respond.  Everyone was then encouraged to walk around the room and look at the comments people had raised in relation to the library they worked in and then respond to the comments.

The next activity was a cognitive mapping exercise – drawing your library.  You have 6 minutes and every 2 minutes the pen is swapped for a different colour.  Highlighting what is drawn at a particular moment.  In small groups people shared information on their drawing.  In addition to examining what has been drawn – omissions from the drawing can be equally telling.  For example my first cognitive mapping of my library excluded users!  (Very common in the group I was in!).  For more information on cognitive mapping – click here

The final activity was writing a letter – either a love letter

or break-up letter

Each person wrote a letter to their library  – comfy chairs, PC area, document supply.  Then in small groups each person read their letter aloud, whilst the others listened.  The letter was read several times, allowing observers to note points made, observe vocal tones and body language.  Ideally this would then be used as a basis for a more in depth conversation /semi – structured interview which can be recorded.  We did not have time to take this forward in our workshop.  Further information on the letter writing technique can be found here.

After some information on data analysis and decoding your results – we gave some examples of other UX methods for consideration and then lunchtime and the workshop had concluded.

The emphasis of our workshop was practical.  We both really enjoyed the planning and running the session.  Hearing the positive responses of our attendees and how they would use the techniques we have introduced to them was very encouraging.

 

EAHIL 2017 – Dublin Workshop

I was fortunate to attend the latest EAHIL programme.  This year was a workshop year.  Although there were keynote and plenary speakers, the main focus was on small group workshops.  I will write about some of the workshops I attended.

Attendance was high, weather was great and the practical workshops helped delegates to overcome shyness, nerves and engage in order to get the most from their preferred workshops.

My first workshop was brilliantly entitled – “WOW: Workshop on Workshops”.  As I was co-leading a workshop later in the programme I was keen to find out what I could do to make it the best ever!

After an introduction to the speakers and timetable for the session the leaders – Niamh O’ Sullivan and Jane Burns – shared their insights and experiences.  Icebreakers (much as we might moan about them) are a good way to introduce group members to one another.  Active participation on behalf of the group and prizes are good to include.  (Sadly there were no prizes in the workshop I was leading – other than the glory of taking part!).

Props can encourage engagement – in a circle of 20 people we were throwing and catching a 3D model of a helix

After splitting into small teams we were each given a different task to complete  – my group was devising a workshop for librarians on marketing. No group had time to complete the task, however we enjoyed working together and used the framework and tips we had discussed so far.

• Pre -workshop – establish who your audience are.  Think about setting a pre-workshop assignment.
• Prep – organise your supplies, props and prepare your presentation
• Introduction- Introduce yourself and your topic.  Get the group to introduce themselves.  Set the outline for the workshop
• The Work! – Assign tasks and explain clearly.  Help as require but DON’T interfere and get in the way
• Obtain feedback and sum up.
• Follow up – provide any further references / reading, give your contact details and post workshop ask for their feedback.

 

The Co-operation and bench marking workshop – introduced a technique of “Brain Writing” – a more structured method than brain storming.  We worked on 6-3-5 concept – 6 participants per group, generating 3 ideas and a time limit of 5 minutes.

Our brief was to generate new indicators which can be used for library comparison/bench marking.  At the end of the workshop the groups had identified the following;

1. Measuring librarians as authors on published papers
2. Hits on library web pages
3. The number of collaborations your library/dept. has
4. The number of successful research funding bids
5. Number of retweets from your library Twitter account
6. Amount of time library services/help have saved staff time (good idea – but not easy to measure or get feedback from users on this.

Then we got a little a silly ….  number of gifts bought into the library.

We have a very generous set of users, so I think my library would measure up quite well against others!

One workshop that I was especially interested in (and which preceded the workshop I was running) was – “Design for Libraries” – Dr Johanna Archbold – RCSI.

Johanna took a more methodological approach to user design – providing the history of user design and linking user design to the organisational strategy.

Johanna then gave examples of work currently ongoing at the RCSI.  The library will be refurbished over the next few months and the staff are keen to hear their library users views.  One piece of work I particularly liked related to chairs!

• What kind of chair are you?
• What features of the chairs you can see – would you select to make the best chair ever?
• What style of chair would be best for PC use/long studies/quick searching.

The final workshop I would like to mention – was the final workshop of the EAHIL programme.  “Partnerships for leadership exchange” –  Lotta Haglund & Andrea Sutton

This workshop looked at what made good leaders/managers in different countries and what differences and similarities there were.

In 2 rows facing one another we had 3 minutes to talk about examples of management, leadership and challenges within our organisations.  The clock chimed and we all move around to share with some one else.  Although time was tight we did have the opportunity to speak with everyone.  We then feedback points we had collected from our discussions.

Many different workshops,following different topics and formats.  I enjoyed all that I attended.  I have mentioned a number here which really did ‘strike a chord’.   I thank the organisers and presenters for all their hard work, imagination and patience.