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 practical 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

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