If you are interested in how users truly experience your library then you are not going to
want to miss User Experience in Libraries 8, which this year is taking place in Cambridge
(11-13 June 2024). If you've never been to the conference before, in brief, it's
an opportunity for library workers from academic and public libraries all over the world
to meet and share good practice on how to research and respond to library user needs and
behaviours. UX in Libraries (or 'UXLibs' for short) is different to most
conferences as it is highly interactive and always includes practical workshops and a team
challenge.
In addition to the wealth of talent and knowledge of our recently announced keynote and
plenary speakers (Elif Tinaztepe, Cassini Nazir, Loyce Witherspoon, Clodagh Reid, Imran
Afzal and Andy Priestner) we are now excited to reveal a fantastic range of workshop
leaders who will be offering hands-on workshops as part of the programme in Cambridge.
They are as follows:
REBECCA BLAKISTON & BOB LIU
> Anyone Can Design: Bringing Teams Together with a
Design Studio
Participants will learn about the 'design studio' method, a lightweight session
that can happen anytime and anywhere. They will find out how to engage stakeholders and
collaborators, understand what they'd like to include in a final design, and establish
the consensus and trust needed - all in the early stage of a UX initiative.
ANITA BENKO
> Using games to enhance the UX process
Participants will take part in a 'Code Names' game for the purpose of user data
analysis where players have to group different, random cards together by finding a common
theme. Replacing these cards with user findings and then matching seemingly unrelated
findings will prompt deeper thinking about research findings and help mitigate
confirmation bias.
CARL BARROW
> Lessons from a librarian turned paramedic
Participants will consider supporting distressed students or 'students in crisis'
and how to build easily navigable pathways to external services or how to incorporate
support services as part of the library offering. Carl, a former librarian turned
paramedic will apply his new experiences and processes to his old stomping ground: the
academic library environment.
DANIELLE DAUGHERTY & HEATHER CRIBBS
> Enhancing Organizational Empathy through
Continuous UX Modelling
Participants will learn how to create a customized UX Methods Matrix aligned with their
organization's UX Maturity Model to reinforce UX methodologies and gain a deeper
understanding of how users interact with both physical and virtual library environments.
Attendees will also consider how to be curious rather than judgmental about their
community of users.
JOSHUA J. HERTER
> More than footprints: Empathy-rich behavioural
mapping techniques
Participants will scope, design and administer a mapping study - a group table-top
simulation - calibrated to build empathy rather than solely report behaviour. Using dice,
cards, and - with any luck - laughter, they will create mapping data that tells
empathy-rich stories of the user experience.
MARJANNE GOOSSENS
> Body language as part of your UX toolkit to
(positively) influence participants and quality of data
Participants will explore how nonverbal cues can enhance curiosity and empathy and also
yield more comprehensive, nuanced and actionable UX insights. With the help of video
analysis participants will gain knowledge about their own and others' body language
and how it can influence their process and boost their confidence while conducting UX
research.
Whether you're new to UX work or an experienced practitioner, we are confident that
you will be inspired and energised by attending this year's UX in Libraries. You can
book your place at the conference at:
https://uxlib.org/uxlibs2024/. We do offer a limited
number of sponsored places at the conference, of which more details can be found at:
https://uxlib.org/2024/01/23/uxlibs8-sponsored-places/
We hope to see you in Cambridge!
The UX in Libraries committee
- Andy Priestner, Bryony Ramsden, Andrew Alexander, Julie Willems