What is the future of public libraries?
Claire Schie, Jazmine Echevarria, Benjamin Jungblut, and myself were tasked with designing the future of public libraries. We started our process with extensive user research of the different user archetypes and their needs and discovered that libraries struggle to effectively promote their non reading based services and resources, causing a gap between the publics’ perception of the library and the library’s ability to serve their user base.
Research Questions
Research Methods
The Design Opportunity
How might we curate a personalized library experience that makes the library a safe, secure, desirable, and useful space for all library patrons?
How can patrons get more out of their library?
In order to balance the needs of the diverse user-set of a public resource, we organized our design strategy into 3 key pillars built to support users sense of safety, security, and confidence in their library system.
Find Your Place
Wayfinding
This is about how our concept supports patrons in finding the best place for them based on their needs.
Library users care deeply about feeling safe and comfortable in their chosen spaces. One patron shared how finding a perfect spot to work was critical, as some library spaces made them feel exposed and vulnerable.
Research and Testing Insight
We found the value of making maps that were well placed and provided information that empowered users to find new spaces.
We found users felt most confident and had the best experience choosing a spot when using a 3D map, as it allowed them to visualize spaces without relying on a legend. Additionally, the map's tactile features enhanced accessibility for users with visual impairments.
The Solution: The Live Map
Red LED's on seating elements display which seats are occupied.
A color map beneath the screen displays current noise levels within each space.
This information contextualizes the environement so users can find better spaces for their needs.
Find Your Passion
Resource Discovery
We found the value of making these new resources visually appealing and the effectiveness of using personalization to put the resources most relevant to our users at the forefront of their experience.
Research and Testing Insight
This is how our concept helps people find their interests and achieve their goals.
Many patrons stick to their routines, rarely exploring new resources. One administrator shared how a service for people starting small businesses went heavily underutilized, and how amazed people are when they find out it is available to them for free.
The current solution for libraries is a bunch of flyers that are overwhelming and ignored by patrons.
The Solution: The Resource Board
Patrons are guided toward the resource board. The screen uses a familiar virtual browsing experience with descriptive signifiers that prompt patrons to interact with the board. It initially displays a default gallery view and includes additional search filters patrons can use to customize their browsing experience.
When they tap their phone or card, the home screen converts o a personalized view, bringing forward resources more relevant to the patron's profile. Here, they can select an image to learn more information, with options to sign up or save it to their profile.
Find Your People
Community Connection
We found that the library already provides opportunities for people to interact and grow communities.
Libraries offer opportunities for solo activities as well as collaborative classes and programs. We aim to help everyone find their place within the library.
We explored ways to encourage patrons to utilize these existing social programs and spaces in hopes of bringing people together through their shared interests, without pressuring patrons to socialize.
The personalized library concept
Many library patrons have library cards but unless they are checking out books the library card serves little purpose within the library environment. What if your library card could do more? The initial ExLibris Concept focuses on how using the library card profile as a login point could help users throughout their library journey, personalizing the experience so they can get the most out of their experience.
System Impact
Safety:
When we designed this layout we referenced crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) principles and applied the concept of natural surveillance in our desk design. By positioning the desk to offer full visibility of the library space we ensure that librarians can easily observe the area, enhancing security and fostering a safer environment.
Extending the System:
By implimenting this "information nook" throughout the other floors of the library we help create an easy to follow pattern for users.
On the upper floors this curved nook features its own map, desk, and resource board, helping patrons orient themselves and easily seek assistance.
Building the Profile:
The more the patron uses library resources, the better the system will work for them, suggesting more and more relevant resources tailored to their interests.
Users can access this profile through their phone or a computer in order to add or edit their profile preferences and adapt how the system recommends resources.
Funding Support:
ExLibris creates a positive feedback loop that incentivizes more people to sign up for library cards, which is essential for how libraries secure funding.
The Power of Information:
Our system enhances resource utilization. By helping users find the correct resources, this provided libraries with valuable insights into community needs, and enables them to adjust their offerings to meet these needs.
In the future, we would like to explore how the system can further assist librarians and administrators in efficently managing resources.
See the Page Turners in Action
This was a team project for ID 3051: Interactive Product Design Studio. Our prompt was to create the future of the public library experience. I am so incredibly proud of our team and the work we created together. The concepting, testing, and development process was a wonderful collaborative process and any of us couldn't have come to our full final project alone. Check out more of their work on their portfolio pages:
www.linkedin.com/in/jazmine-echevarria
https://www.benjungblut.com
claireschie.myportfolio.com