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Don, I think you didn’t understand that my concern was for the students, especially the graduate students, technical staff, instructors, alumni, independent thinkers, and ordinary citizens more than professional researchers, although even they might find a creative information laboratory a rich and healthy place to work with perhaps a more open, interdisciplinary approach than their own departmental or institutional workplace. Also why shouldn’t the staff of the library have a life that involves them in the design to improve their services and make them more useful, rewarding, and sought after? Librarians may need to partake more widely of how their information is or can be used. University library services that reach out to other learning environments and institutions would probably broaden their opportunities as well. Cutting edge services are more interesting for everyone. Old history isn’t the only thing libraries might offer. They can be pleasant places full of very bright people doing creative things that help other people do more. Or so I still believe, Chuck > On Dec 3, 2017, at 6:25 PM, Don Norman <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Um. > > Chuck > > Nice answer to the wrong question. That strikes me as research on information retrieval. The Library is NOT a research organization: this is NOT what libraries do. > > Yes, researchers use libraries, but that is different. (Actually, I almost never use the physical library: I access journals through the internet, often only going to my university library via the internet because that way journals are free: the library has paid the access fee. For this, they don't need that big massive building. > > What you describe is the kind of research that Google, Microsoft, and others are already doing. Libraries do not have the funding nor the proper people for this. And it is not in their mandate. > > What you are describing is research that takes place in schools of Information and in departments of computer science. > > -- > So my question remains: What is the role of a library, with its expensive buildings and facilities, and its large collection of bo0oks, in today's University. > > --- > You may all disapprove of this statement, but nonetheless it is true: > > Most University scientists do not use libraries. They keep up to date through journals, conferences, and personal correspondence and mailing lists. > > What is the role of the library for them? Note that this has been true for the past many decades. In my entire scientific career of six decades, I think I have used University Libraries perhaps 5 times. (Does that mean I am not a scholar?) > > Scientists, on the whole, do not care about the old history of the field: they care about today's cutting-edge work. For this, they do not use the library -- ask your librarian how many physicists or engineers come to visit. > > Don > > > > On Sun, Dec 3, 2017 at 3:11 PM, CHARLES BURNETTE <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: > Don and colleagues, > > Here are some thoughts responding to Don’s request. > > What is needed is an approach to the organization of information in libraries that allows anyone to describe a subject, problematic situation, need or concern of interest to them, and then have a systematic, and easily learned way to access relevant information and to develop their thoughts and understandings regarding it. The subject, situation, or object of thought should be determined by the thinker, their personal background and knowledge should be allowed to subjectively and adaptively influence interpretations, intentions, and goals, individually or in collaboration with others. Subsequent development adaptation and analysis should remain linked to original queries. In other words, libraries should use Design Thinking to develop ways to access and use information that are more user oriented and responsive to their needs. > > Research to develop this approach should be open to users and engage them in determining ways that are most helpful to and effective for them. The library should become a laboratory for discovering how to adapt itself to evolving ways for applying information and information technology of various kinds. Design Thinking should be a key building block in this effort. > > A Theory of Design Thinking is the source of these thoughts and has been used extensively in basic education, teaching. and research, including the design of systems to support designing. Four resources might be useful: the website idesignthinking.com <http://idesignthinking.com/> for education. Papers on > An Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Design Education and Research, A Role Oriented Approach to Problem Solving, and The Advanced Driver Interface Design and Assessment Project, all available at independent.academia.edu/charlesburnette <http://independent.academia.edu/charlesburnette> > > Good luck Don! > > Chuck ----------------------------------------------------------------- PhD-Design mailing list <[log in to unmask]> Discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design Subscribe or Unsubscribe at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/phd-design -----------------------------------------------------------------