LLAMA LOMS – Donald Kirkpatrick’s four levels of evaluation
Posted by acohen in Library Planning Research on February 21st, 2010
Donald Kirkpatrick’s four levels of evaluation for assessing training effectiveness is a useful model for organizational development (OD). The evaluation (reactions, learning, transfer, results) is a good approach to conceptualizing the project and the outcome.
LLAMA LOMS is a good group to discuss organizational development (OD). It is a dynamic group that discusses current issues and longer term plans for OD.
LLAMA LOMS activities are at each ALA convention. The groups discuss current events, history and the organizational culture of libraries.
ACA is a representative for the “library as place.” We are concerned with strategic planning, organizational development and library space plans. The strategic planning process is a useful way to integrate OD in the long term.
Evaluation Methods for Library Space
Posted by acohen in Library Planning Research, Social Library Issues, Space Planning, library technology, work in progress on February 12th, 2010
There are complex, complicated and simple library building projects. Our clients typically ask us:
- How much space do we need?
- How much does it cost?
- How long will it take?
- How many stakeholders should we interview?
- How satisfied are the stakeholders?
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Complex Areas of Research:
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E-resources and E-tools, Curriculum Development, Collection Development.
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Chaotic Areas of Research:
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Technologies that Transform Learning and Education Environments.
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Simple Areas of Research:
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ACA’s Best Practices in Library Building Planning.
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Complicated Areas of Library Research:
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Analysis of Building Designs, Space Plan, Flow and Use of Resources.
ACA’s approach incorporates a quantitative analysis of library services and operations. This is done with a series of survey instruments that capture customer data (visits, temperature, humidity control, # of seats, # of computers, # of staff, type & # of collections). The outcome is a building program of library services including user seating, collection, staff and operations.
This blog is focused on the Narrative Evaluation of Library Space, Services and Operations.
The Children’s Library
Posted by acohen in Library Planning Research on November 24th, 2009
Virginia A. Walter’s article, “The Children We Serve.”
The examples of different types of children who should be served:
the child as reader
the child in the information age
the child in the community
the global child
the empowered child
what about the gamer child..
“In everything bad is good for you” (Riverhead, 2005), Steven Berlin Johnson contends that video game players create new skills. In fact, many experience high levels of virtual decision-making that improve cognitive abilities.
Each child should have access to a myriad of learning spaces – blended with books, computers, notes, cell phones and calculators.
new ideas in library service
Posted by acohen in Library Planning Research on November 23rd, 2009
It is interesting to see the changing going on in ‘library as place’ – the Netflix library has arrived at the Hayward Public Library.
$2,99 – three items a month
$4,99 – five items a month
$8.99 – ten times a month
There are no late fees…
According to the Library Hotline, November 16, 2009 – “The Fines Free Library Loan program, the first of its kind, aims to lure back library users who find their accounts blocked, that is 20% of total users give up on the library.” The program estimates just 2% of the public would have to join the program for the library to receive significant income from circulation.
Have we moved into the age where the cost of circulating a book can be turned into a net gain?
KAUST
Posted by acohen in Library Planning Research on November 16th, 2009
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KAUST LISTEN TO NPR’S LATEST INSTALLMENT
The Ecology of Information: Library Walls
Posted by acohen in Library Planning Research, library technology, work in progress on October 21st, 2009
The library building can communicate with us through the use of media walls. One design idea is to integrate communication into the walls. For example, Büro Hirzberger’s office space in Vienna features “Digital Wallpaper”, or illuminated walls that “stream” video and realtime content.
The Book that Contains all Books
Posted by acohen in Library Planning Research, Social Library Issues, library technology on October 19th, 2009
The Kindle is a product that has made history today. It is available globally to anyone who wishes to take advantage of e-book reading technology.
Today’s e-book revolution brings many in the field back to the 15th century. Scrolls were replaced by books and the masses began to become literate. The library of the future will contain e-book readers and it will do its job.
Stephen Marche states in “The Book That Contains All Books. “The introduction of the printing press brought a change to the nature of reading.” Don’t worry it took years for the scrolls to be replaced by the book. We will continue to see the book as a commodity in the art of learning and education.
Special Library Collections and the Future Library
Posted by acohen in Library Planning Research, Space Planning, work in progress on October 18th, 2009
The Chronicle of Higher Education Wired Blog posted a futurist idea of the “library as place.” It is a building block that we believe is part of any building project.
What is the relevance of Special Collections? And how does it relate to the library of the future? We believe that Special Collections are part of a laboratory of ideas. Something libraries can offer to enhance their experience. Jennifer Howard states, “Don’t lock your special collections away in neglected corners of the library — use them to teach students about the possibilities and principles of research. Such collections should be put to use as laboratories where students work hands-on with primary documents, incorporate them into original research projects, and even publish the results in institutional repositories.”
The discussion was held as part of the Coalition for Networked Information’s fall forum.
Changing Libraries – “Readers Wade Into Digital Lending”
Posted by acohen in Social Library Issues, library technology, work in progress on October 15th, 2009
The NYtimes article “Libraries and Readers Wade Into Digital Lending,” illustrates that libraries can provide digital services. As a matter of fact, some library patrons are already using the library in new and innovative ways. So, it is not surprising that digital lending is starting to occur in community colleges, academic and public libraries.
Some libraries are ready to make the digital leap so down-loadable e-books is a reality not a possibility. For example, Michael Colford, director of information technology at the Boston Public Library, stated “People still think of libraries as old dusty books on shelves, and it’s a perception we’re always trying to fight,” “If we don’t provide this material for them, they are just going to stop using the library altogether.”
Library as Place – Disney is moving toward a better retail place.
Posted by acohen in Library Planning Research, Social Library Issues, Space Planning, library technology on October 14th, 2009
Disney’s Retail Plan is a Theme Park in its Stores, is another example of retailers recognizing the need to create a place. They hired Steve Job’s retailing team at Apple to help them develop interactive learning spaces.
The ‘Library as Place’ is an important aspect of the new service/space paradigm. For example, “the world does not need another place to sell Disney merchandise – this only works if it’s an experience,” said Jim Fielding, president of Disney Stores Worldwide.” In relation to Library Space Planning, people want space to interact with the library material and they need additional types of working environments to do it in.
The ‘Library as Place’ is an important factor in the way we interact with information. For example, by using RFID librarians can equip packages to respond when the customer passes the interactive display. In the future Disney Stores, “Computer chips embedded in packaging will activate hidden features. Walk by a “magic mirror” while holding a Princess tiara, for instance, and Cinderella might appear and say something to you.” – Barnes, Brooks, “Disney’s Retail Plan Is a Theme Park in Its Stores,” NYTimes, Oct. 13, 2009.
