Columbia University Libraries is building three Information Commons facilities, focusing on the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Called "Digital Centers," these facilities will provide support for research and learning in the sciences and humanities in high-end, collaborative, technology-rich environments. The Digital Social Science Center was completed in January 2009, the Digital Science Center was completed in January 2011, and the Digital Humanities Center is slated for completion in Fall 2011. This project briefing will provide an overview of the Digital Center effort, including the assessment, planning, implementation and iterative approach in building the centers, along with lessons learned to date

Cartolano, Robert T.

Columbia University Academic Commons

Discipline-Based  Digital Centers at Columbia: Assessing Needs and Outcomes Robert Cartolano, Director Library Information Technology Office April, 2011 2 Digital Centers – Goal  “Columbia University Libraries, in collaboration with CUIT, will create three Information Commons facilities, focusing on the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences, and located in Butler, Lehman, and the new Sciences Library, respectively.  These spaces, equipped with high-end equipment and specialized software, will support collaborative work.”   - Columbia University Libraries Strategic Plan 2006-2009 Background •  Three Digital Centers •  Discipline–specific –  Social Sciences in 2008 –  Science in 2010 –  Humanities in 2011 •  Based within Library organization 3 Background •  Bring people, technology, information resources together •  When possible, build upon success •  Build assessment into planning process •  Foster culture of ongoing assessment and continuous improvement 4 Which One First? •  Science –  2010 completion date for new building –  Multi-year planning process  •  Humanities –  Butler renovations completed in 2010 –  Early concerns about strategy, cost •  Social Sciences –  Existing services in place –  Staff and program readiness 5 Lehman Social Sciences Library •  International Affairs Building built in 1971 •  330,000 volumes •  Ample space 6 Social Science Division in 2007 7 Electronic Data Service Computer lab Laptop-friendly reading room Group study room Social Science Division Staff •  Reference librarians •  Data librarian •  2 GIS/Map librarians •  IT analyst support •  Technology support 8 Build Upon Success of Electronic Data Service Planning •  Planning team consisted of: –  Library Staff –  IT Staff –  Assessment Coordinator –  Leadership –  Executive Stakeholders •  Agreement to use assessment, data gathering to drive decisions 9 Assessment Coordinator •  Jennifer Rutner •  Neutral researcher •  Designed and implemented surveys •  Organized and conducted focus groups •  Participated in interviews •  Reported results and recommendations •  Created executive summaries and presentation summaries 10 Social Science Audience •  Current Audience –  Undergraduates –  Graduate students –  Faculty •  Target Audience –  Graduate students in SIPA, Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology –  Undergraduates in graduate-level courses 11 Social Sciences Assessment •  Online survey – 125 responses •  Two focus group sessions •  Multiple faculty interviews •  Staff discussions •  Observation data •  Technology use data 12 What Did We Learn? •  Focus group - where are librarians? –  Build open glass consultation office •  Group study tables –  LCD displays not needed at every table •  Podcast recording - insufficient interest •  Private rooms for presentation practice •  Numeric/GIS Apps – more stations •  More scanners, better printing 13 14 Digital Social Science Center •  Flexible workspaces, diverse software, high-end equipment to support collaborative study and research in the Social Sciences •  Visible and easy access to professional staff who can assist users with research and technical questions •  Presentation practice spaces •  Integrated with services and technology offered by the Electronic Data Service and computer lab. 15 DSSC Details •  22 Collaborative Workspaces -  modular, open, accessible, attractive –  Dell Precision stations with 30” LCD or dual 24” LCD –  Numeric/GIS Software, scanners, printers, 3D Mouse •  Presentation Practice Space - 4-6 people with projection, e-podium •  4 Group Study Tables - large displays, laptop support for 4-6 people •  Consultation Space - 2 consulting spaces in enclosed office 16 DSSC Furniture •  Herman Miller •  Collaborative design •  Multiple chairs per desk •  Convenient electrical access •  Convenient network access 17 DSSC Software •  Social Sciences focus •  Advanced Spatial Data GIS and mapping applications including ESRI ArcGIS, ArcView, Google Earth Pro and others •  Numerical Analysis applications including Stata, SPSS, SAS, Matlab, Mathematica •  Windows XP, file transfer, utilities •  Unified login - Kerberos/LDAP Collaborative Workstations 18 Presentation Practice Room 19 Consultation Office 20 Bloomberg Station 21 22 DSSC Networking •  Gigabit wired networking throughout  •  Advanced Wireless throughout - 802.11b/g/n •  Each desk has wired laptop support •  USB, FireWire and BlueTooth support 23 EDS, Lab Integration Unified Software Unified Login/Authz Unified Support 24 One Built… Two To Go •  Digital Social Science Center –  Completed in January 2009 •  Digital Science Center –  Assessment – December 2009 –  Completed in January 2011 •  Digital Humanities –  Assessment – March 2009 –  Opens in 2011 25 Digital Center Project Approach •  Assess – survey, focus groups, interviews •  Plan – service, staffing, tech, financial •  Design – services, technology, outreach •  Build – equipment, software, resources •  Open – training, marketing, shakeout •  Iterate – assess, design, revise, etc. 26 Science & Engineering Audience •  Current Audience –  Undergraduates –  Graduate students –  Faculty •  Target Audience –  Graduate students in Science and Engineering –  Undergraduates in Science and Engineering 27 Science Assessment •  October 2009 survey – 611 responses •  Multiple focus group sessions •  Multiple faculty interviews •  Academic IT staff interviews •  Staff discussions •  Observation data •  Technology use data 28 DSC Assessment Outcomes •  Strong interest in Matlab, Mathematica, scanners, Photoshop, ChemDraw  •  Interest in: –  Numerical analysis –  Spatial data –  Imaging, visualization •  Less perceived need for group study •  Less need for presentation practice 29 DSC Assessment Outcomes 30 DSC Assessment Outcomes 31 32 Digital Science Center –  Opened January 2011 –  53 Digital Center workstations –  Specialized software, peripherals –  Collaborative spaces –  Consultation offices –  Service desk –  Staff area Credit: Aline Locascio 33 Digital Center Approach Advanced Workstation Technology Specialized Software Discipline-Specific Support Electronic Resources Collaborative Spaces 34 DSC Technology 3-D Apps = 3-D Mouse Advanced Dell Windows, Apple Mac Workstations,  24” and 30” Displays Scanners 52” LCD Displays,   Large 70” Digital Sign Printers DSC Workspaces 35 •  43 Dell Precision workstations •  10 Mac Pros Scanners & Peripherals 36 •  8 Fujitsu duplex, doc feeder scanners •  28 3D Connexion Explorer Mice •  4 HP Printers DSC Networking & Power •  Gigabit Wired Network –  GigE to all DSC workstations –  Wired GigE network to every seat •  Wireless Networking –  802.11n – fastest available –  High density installation to support peak use •  Electrical Power –  Power available on all individual carrels –  Tables configured with power on all floors 37 DSC Presentation •  2 “Multi–function” rooms –  52” LCD Display –  Moveable furniture with laptop support •  70” Digital Sign –  Main level, visible from lobby and campus –  Designed for lobby and outdoor spaces 38 DSC Software Selection •  DSSC feedback •  DSC Survey responses •  Library and IT staff input •  Departmental meetings with IT staff •  Faculty meetings •  Priority list updated on wiki •  Course and research use given priority 39 40 50+ DSC Applications 41 3-D Visualization, Mapping, Design Other Applications •  Document Prep, Bibliographic –  LaTex with MathTex, RevTex (Physics) –  Microsoft Office –  EndNote –  Papers (Mac only) •  Mac-based Media Apps –  Logic Studio –  Final Cut Pro Studio –  iLife, iWork 42 Systems Administration •  Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit Enterprise –  Unified login (UNI) –  Universal base image using Symantec Altiris –  Tiered application packaging –  Automated system deployment –  Symantec Altiris central management console •  Macintosh Snow Leopard –  UNI Login –  Automated deployment and management 43 12 Group Study Tables 44 Support •  Service Desk •  Librarian Office •  Emerging Technologist Office 45 DSC Entrance 46 47 48 Assessment Infrastructure •  Sassafras KeyServer –  Application launches –  Concurrent use – licensing support –  Usage totals by area •  Gate count – Lenel card swipe •  Printing system statistics 49 DSC Usage – March 2011 •  2,494 distinct users •  89 applications used •  Over 1,000 scanner uses •  Top Five Licensed Apps –  Microsoft Office –  Adobe CS5 –  MATLAB –  ArcGIS –  ChemBioDraw Ultra 50 Two Built… Next is DHC •  Planning Team –  History and Humanities (H&H) Librarians –  IT staff –  Assessment Coordinator –  Executive, management stakeholders •  Assessment completed in March 2009 •  DHC Completion Date: Summer 2011 51 H&H Division in 2009 52 Electronic Text Service Computer lab Laptop-friendly  reading rooms Humanities Target Audience •  Undergraduate History and Humanities Majors •  Graduate Students H&H •  Butler Library Users •  Electronic Text Service Users 53 H & H Assessment •  Survey – 940 responses –  185 undergrad, 403 grad, 263 PhD •  Focus group sessions •  Faculty interviews •  Academic IT staff interviews •  Staff discussions •  Observation data •  Technology use data 54 What Did We Learn? •  High priority given to Library as a place of study •  No clear trend regarding collaborative space with technology •  Increase hours for specialty services •  No demand for group viewing rooms 55 What Did We Learn? •  Top technologies to support coursework and research –  Scanning text and images –  Research notes management –  Bibliographic software –  Design – web, desktop publishing –  Image editing 56 Digital Humanities Center •  Electronic Text Service is now part of DHC •  First phase to be completed by Fall 2011 •  Software selection underway •  Finalizing equipment configuration •  New H&H Director starts in summer 2011 57 Digital Center Planning •  Digital Center Steering Group –  Library Directors, IT Director •  Digital Science Center Working Group –  Librarians, IT staff –  Unified approach for Digital Centers to leverage common needs –  Enlist assessment coordinator as needed 58 2009 LibQual+ Survey •  Campus-wide survey on service quality •  Individual library received separate packet and guidelines for action •  Library as Place very important •  Need for more group study space 59 Follow-up Survey, Observations •  DSSC survey completed in Fall 2010 –  High satisfaction for workstations –  Improved awareness of consultation services –  Printer concerns –  Lighting, room “brightness” •  Observation Study in Fall 2010 –  Large reading tables 2-3 people average –  We have enough LCD displays 60 Assessment Summary •  2,674 students and faculty took surveys over the past four years •  Assessment completed for three digital centers •  User survey for DSSC completed •  Proven value in planning, development and ongoing improvements. 61 Resources •  http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/dssc •  http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/dsc •  https://www1.columbia.edu/sec/cu/libraries/bts/assessment/ •  http://library.columbia.edu 62 

Discipline-based Digital Centers at Columbia: Assessing Needs and Outcomes

https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D8Q24730/download

Discipline-based Digital Centers at Columbia: Assessing Needs and Outcomes

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Columbia University Academic Commons