[Final Report recently posted on the IPA website at http://www.csufresno.edu/anthropology/ipa/]
We are excited to announce the acceptance of a session of papers we organized about our Library User Experience Study. We include the session abstract here and posted all of the paper abstracts at TheAnthroGeek.com
Practicing Anthropology in the Shelves: Designing Academic Libraries via Ethnography, a Presentation at the 108th Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Philadelphia PA
Session Abstract: Anthropology is most relevant to the public when it improves the lives of non-anthropologists. Practicing anthropology, as a type of research done to solve practical problems with relevant stakeholders who stand to gain or lose from a project, has a long tradition outside academia. Conversely, practicing anthropology on a college campus, across disciplines is a relatively recent phenomenon. Responding to this year’s theme, the papers on this panel speak to an “academic public” comprised of non-anthropologists across college campuses. Acknowledging one potential “end” of anthropology as an independent university discipline, panelists illustrate a bright future for practicing anthropology amongst this “academic public”.
Using ethnography to empirically investigate the factors that influence human relations between each other and their environment, practicing anthropology helps provide stakeholders invested and interested in this research to adopt effective and efficient responses to the problems relevant to them. California State University Fresno’s Institute of Public Anthropology (IPA) is an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in California’s Central Valley through practicing design anthropology. By utilizing a mix of traditional and innovative methodologies, members of the IPA are able to make ethnographic approaches relevant to areas normally ignored by academic anthropology programs. The papers on this panel represent some of the latest research on user experience based upon a 15 month ethnographic investigation of CSU-Fresno’s Henry Madden Library.
In the first paper, Visser presents the context of the study, illuminating the relevance and use of traditional university libraries to “21st century students”. The following two papers by Barela, Arnold and Dotson provide a detailed explication of the background and methods of this study while emphasizing the strategies involved in ascertaining emic conceptualizations of “scholarship” (Barela) and ”library resources” (Arnold and Dotson) by predominantly ”first generation” college students. The next pair of papers by Mullooly, Ruwe and Scroggins explore some of the initial findings and that have evolved from the Library Study in terms of student/librarian disjunctures: disjunctures of the meaning of “reference” (Mullooly and Ruwe) and of perception of time (Scroggins). The final paper by Delcore concludes the presentations with a discussion of the relevance of this sort of investigation to the evolution of design anthropology in relation to a variety of publics. Nancy Fried Foster, a leading voice in anthropological investigations of libraries, will discuss the papers at the close of the session.
The papers represent practicing efforts that analyze pressing issues in the contexts of scholarship, design, integration and innovation. Each presentation will be a rapid, data rich presentation (following the Pecha Kucha format) which will allow for an open discussion to follow including a critical analysis of the benefits of such approaches as well as the potential problems inherent in facing an “academic public”.
TheAnthroGeek
anthroguy
Felicia Salcido
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October 14, 2009 at 1:07 am
step loudly – Henry Madden Library design flaw | archop
[...] space that it once was. However, the results from the Institute of Public Anthropology’s study of student needs for the library interior showed that students desire “loud areas”. Area that students [...]
December 2, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Whitney Menefee
The addition of this archop post to this anthroguy blog post is great. It deals with the real issues that we are facing as students with our library. When first entering the new Henry Madden Library after its reopening, the clanking of the stairs was a define distraction. So I did something that solved the problem very quickly……I didn’t sit by the stairs anymore and wouldn’t you know, they didn’t distract me anymore. It is true that the library has become a rather noisy environment, but like the post mentions, it is this new environment that many students are looking for. To me the library is somewhere to get work done and to locate resources. This semester, I have found a new home in the library. The second floor quiet area. Yes, it is on the second floor, just down the hall from the noisiest part of the library, the “Starbucks area”. I have noticed this “Starbucks area” has become a major hang out for University High School students as well as those whose are working in groups. I think that it is very important to have this noisy area in the library. It gives the students a very suitable academic work environment, while also providing a great atmosphere to work in collaborative groups. My preference however is the quiet area because when I go to the library I am there to get some serious work done. As the blog says, the library staff constantly monitors this area to make sure it is a quiet area. This is quite convenient because they take care of telling those who cant read the signs which tell them that this is a quiet area, to be quiet. Also like the post says, there are many designated quiet areas in the library and are even individual and group work rooms with door and white boards available for student use.
I think that the Henry Madden Library is an extremely valuable tool for Fresno State Students and Faculty. It accommodates many learning environments and provides the necessary resources to advance our education. As I look around the library while I am typing this post, I see students and staff working, engaged on their computers, socializing, eating, sleeping, reading, and so on. They are comfortable in this library and that is a very important aspect for users of the library.
November 27, 2009 at 10:43 pm
ANA D.
It is great that anthropology is being practiced on college campuses. This will allow information of anthropologist to get to more people in our area. Students majoring in fields besides anthropology may have not heard of anthropological work and anthropologies research. Speaking to the academic public especially student who are non-anthropologists helps these students learn more about their community. They may also become more interested in improving and supporting the central valley. In addition, it is also wonderful that Fresno State has the Institutes of Public Anthropology (IPA). Organizations like the IPA help people reach a better quality of life.
December 13, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Bren
The library is a very important part of any campus. This is where the students will spend time researching and analyzing articles and books for any research paper they may have. Or maybe they use the library to study and do homework. As an example of this, currently in one of my classes I have to complete an Action Research Project. During the process, I have spent a few hours a week in the library. I pull out articles from shelves, articles online and analyze as I read to determine if they are a fit for me and my paper. In order for this to be successful, the library needs to be a relaxing place were what I need is offered to me. It is calming to know that a place like this is offered. Where I can walk in and know that I will find what I need. As I spent time in the library, I noticed that many students go for different reasons. Some to study, complete homework, find articles and others to hand out. We are lucky that in our campus of Fresno State we were given a new library with so many amenities. This really improves the quality of the library and the use that the students will have. As the article stated, a library should offer resources that help non anthropologist to become aware of their surroundings and their lives. Anthropologists at Fresno State University are aiming to improve the lives of those in the central valley. I really like how they are doing this by utilizing the library, and to know that the library at Fresno state is one of them is very exciting. Like, stated before, I use the library on campus. This will help all the students learn a bit more of the field of anthropology. It is great that this is happening.
December 13, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Brenda M
the comment posted previously with the name Bren is for Brenda M…Thank you
December 15, 2009 at 2:42 am
Raul Lopez
The initial sentence grabbed my attention, “ Anthropology is most relevant to the public when it improves the lives of non-anthropologists.” Coming from a person (me) who has never taken an anthropology course, I really enjoyed reading this abstract, in how IPA is improving our campus. No doubt, that the 21st century student has changed from previous generations. With technology and energy boosts at the forefront of students, they have become addicts to these new innovations. Henry Library is not your traditional quiet library. It’s so cool that you are allowed to eat and drink. Whispering is not allowed, it’s okay to talk. In other locations of the library, it is quieter and for students who prefer to study on their own. Coming from a library, full of rules, I find ironic, that they are no rules against talking or eating. The high schooler students hang-out in certain locations, while those who prefer loudness stay near Starbucks. Although, I have not read the IPA’s research paper, I wonder what us different from our previous library users. Personally, I am amazed in how some students can study while blasting their ear-drums with music. I am exited to be part of this new movement. For example, group studying, I find more effective than solo-studying. More often than none, Henry Library is full of group studying; people drinking a jolt of caffeine, while studying for a Calculus exam. For sure, the conceptualization of library is changing. Soon, all books and journals will be found on line. In fact, most of my resources, are found online. I most enjoy the chartroom feature that our library uses. I have used it a few times, and it’s a lifesaver, especially when you don’t live near campus. In all, I think academic library are changing to meet the demands of an ipod-Starbuck generation.
December 17, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Maria A
Yes, there are so many great things about the Madden library. So much technology going on in this time. The library is changing to accommodate the necessities of the students of this era. There is no doubt that there are still more changes to come and that anthropology will show a great effect.
June 12, 2011 at 11:23 am
Library ethnographies | Angela Pashia
[...] Delcore, Hank and Jim Mullooly (2009) Practicing anthropology in the shelves: designing academic libraries via ethnography. The Anthro Guys blog. Retrieved from http://theanthroguys.com/2009/08/05/practicing-anthropology-in-the-shelves-designing-academic-librar…. [...]