Digital Social Science Center: an Information Commons for an Information Commons for

Graduate Social Science StudentsGraduate Social Science Students

Mary GiuntaHead, Access Services & Technical Support, Lehman Library

Jane WinlandDirector, Social Science Libraries

Space 2.0: Small-Scale Library Redesign ProjectsOctober 3, 2008

Dartmouth Biomedical Libraries

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Information Commons at Columbia University Libraries

• University Librarian’s vision - information commons for:– Social Sciences– History & Humanities– Sciences & Engineering

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Planning for the Digital Social Science Center

• Location

• Project plan

• Assessment

• Equipment

• Services & staffing

• Program planning

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Location• East Reading Room over 5000 square feet• Columbia University Information Technology

(CUIT) lab in this space already• Electronic Data Service directly below with a

connecting staircase• Reference offices adjacent• Good lighting

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EDS and CUIT Lab

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Electronic Data Service

• Supports instruction and research that involve numeric and geo-spatial data resources.

• Staff to provide support in the use of data with statistical and GIS applications

• Service staffed by library staff and CUIT staff• High-end computers for processing large

data sets• Equipment supplied and maintained by CUIT

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Electronic Data Service

• Joint venture between Libraries and CUIT

• EDS model for DSSC– Staffing / service – Equipment – Software

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Project Plan

• Program team assembled

• Included various stakeholders– Libraries– CUIT

• Finalize physical, equipment & staffing designs

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Assessment• Student survey

• Focus groups

• Faculty interviews

• Lehman reference staff discussion

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Assessment: what we learned

• More group study space

• Scanning & printing are important

• Presentation practice space

• Quantitative data analysis software

• Bibliographic software

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Assessment: what we learned

• Need to market our services better• Faculty not expecting students to use

very sophisticated technology for assignments

• Students go to peers and faculty for research & technology help before librarians

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Assessment: how we applied results

• Added presentation practice rooms • Added more scanners• Will moved color printer into CUIT / DSSC

space• Decided to place the information / reference

desk in the consultation room• LCD panels with group study tables in DSSC• Developing marketing strategies

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DSSC Objectives

• Flexible workspaces, furnishings, diverse software, and high-end equipment to support collaborative group study and research in the Social Sciences

• Visible and easy access to professional staff who can assist users with research and technical support questions

• Space, equipment, and software to support presentation practice

• Integrate DSSC into the services and equipment now offered by Electronic Data Service and CUIT lab.

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Cost Estimates & Budgets

• Renovation– Construction– Furniture

• Equipment

• Staff

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Floor Plan - Body Lawson Architects

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Renovation

• Moved Government Documents & microfilm collections

• Refurbished space• Converted office space into a consultation

room. Opened it up with a glass wall• Created two presentation practice spaces

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DSSC Furniture

• Herman Miller

• Collaborative Design

• Multiple chairs per desk

• Convenient electrical access

• Convenient network access

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DSSC Equipment

• 22 Collaborative Workspaces - modular, open, accessible, attractive

• Presentation Practice Space - 4-6 people with projection, technology

• 4 Group Study Tables - large displays, laptop support

• Consultation Space - 2 consulting spaces in enclosed office

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DSSC Collaborative Workspaces

• 22 Spatial Data/Numeric Stations– Dell Precision T5400 stations with 30” LCD or dual 24” LCD– ArcInfo/ESRI, Stata, Google Earth Pro, more– Assistive technology (ADA) support

• 5 Scanners– Four 8.5x14” with document feeder– One 11x17” oversized with document feeder– Abby FineReader software

• 4 Video Editing Stations (existing lab locations)– Apple Mac Pro, two 23” Cinema Displays– Final Cut Pro Studio, Logic 8

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Services & Staffing

• Building on EDS model of service– Staff visible– Staff with different expertise available

• Librarians• CUIT staff• Graduate students

• Reassigning and retraining staff

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Consultation Room

• Staffed – Monday-Thursday 11am-6pm– Friday 11am-5pm

• Support staff– Provide basic information assistance– Walkie-talkie to call librarian

• Librarians

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Staff Training

• Refreshers for all staff– Key databases– Key resources

• Shared documentation with supervisor of CUIT lab– Documentation for DSSC– CUIT documentation for lab attendants

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DSSC Program

• Reference Services

• Consultations

• Training & Workshops

• DSSC Webpage

• Marketing Services

• Assessment