Responding to Rapid Change in Libraries: A User Experience Approach

Even before the pandemic, libraries regularly adapted to serve the needs of their communities. Bignoli (library director, Olin Coll. of Engineering) and Stara (Massachusetts Board of Lib. Commissioners) offer advice to help library leaders and their teams nimbly adapt to change and evolve along with their users. An introductory section titled “Passion” underscores the importance of focusing on the library’s users in all areas of planning and covers basic user experience concepts. The remainder of the volume is divided into sections titled “Patience” and “Fortitude,” in honor of the New York Public Library’s iconic lion statues. “Patience” covers areas in which library leaders can expect to navigate change, including hiring practices, technology, and space use and design. “Fortitude” concludes with tips for tackling problems of varying sizes, documentation and record keeping, and potential areas of concern for libraries.