Columbia’s Multidisciplinary Digital Centers:

Columbia’s Multidisciplinary Digital Centers:

Mary GiuntaColumbia University Libraries

ASERL Annual MeetingNovember 19, 2008

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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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Why Three Digital Centers?• CU Libraries organization• Library expertise• Space• Existing services, such as

– Electronic Data Service– Electronic Text Service

• More fully incorporate reference / research services

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Lehman Social Sciences Library

• Collection supports:– Anthropology, political science, sociology,

international and public affairs, environmental policy, journalism, political geography

• US Government documents• Map collection• Electronic Data Service

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Lehman Social Sciences Library

• Renovation – planning begun in 2006

• Summer 2007 two rooms renovated– Quiet study w/ laptops– Group Study

• Summer 2008 – Digital Social Science Center

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Quiet Study

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Group Study Space

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Digital Social Sciences Center• Lehman Social Sciences Library• Expand from existing services:

– Electronic Data Service– Lehman reference service

• Support advanced research in the social sciences

• Serve graduate students, upper level undergraduates and faculty

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Electronic Data Service• Joint venture between the Libraries and

Columbia University Information Technology (CUIT)

• Established in 1992• EDS model for DSSC

– Staffing / service – Equipment – Software

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Electronic Data Service• Supports instruction and research that involve

numeric and geo-spatial data resources.• Staff provide support in the use of data with

statistical and GIS applications• Service staffed by Libraries and CUIT• High-end computers for processing large data

sets• Equipment supplied and maintained by CUIT

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Location• East Reading Room over 5000 square

feet• CUIT lab in this space already• Electronic Data Service directly below

with a connecting staircase• Reference offices adjacent• Good lighting

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CUIT Lab

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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• Students go to peers and faculty for

research & technology help before librarians

• Faculty not expecting students to use very sophisticated technology for assignments

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Assessment: how we applied results

• Added presentation practice rooms • Added more scanners• 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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Funding

• Renovation– Construction– Furniture

• Equipment

• Staff

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Renovation

• Moved to offsite storage– Government

documents – Microfilm collection

• Refurbished space

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DSSC

• 22 Spatial/Numeric Data Stations

• 4 Scanners• 4 Video Editing

Stations (CUIT lab)

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DSSC

• Collaborative Design• Multiple chairs per

desk• Convenient

electrical access• Convenient network

access

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Group Study Tables

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Presentation Practice Rooms

• Created two rooms

• Equipped one to start

• Student feedback

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Consultation Room

• Converted office space into a consultation room

• Opened up with a glass wall

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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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Services & Staffing

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

• Librarians• CUIT staff• Library support staff• Graduate students

• Reassigning and retraining staff

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DSSC / EDS / CUIT lab

• DSSC, EDS and the CUIT lab seamless service

• EDS will continue to be the starting place for in depth assistance for numeric and geo-spatial data use

• Experienced users can move into DSSC• EDS will also serve as our sandbox for testing

new technology and applications• As new technology becomes integrated into

our services will move into DSSC

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DSSC Program

• Reference /Research Services

• Consultations

• Training & Workshops

• DSSC Webpage

• Marketing Services

• Ongoing assessment

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Digital Humanities Center (DHC)

• Butler Library• Expand from existing services:

– Electronic Text Service– Butler Media Center

• Support advanced research in history & humanities

• Serve graduate students, upper level undergraduates and faculty

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DHC• Primary support for digital formats:

– Text– Still image– Moving image– Sound

• Secondary support for:– Numeric & spatial data

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DHC• Closer integration of content and technology• Single service point for DHC technical

support and H&H reference service• Coordinate with subject librarians from Music,

Area Studies, RBML, Avery & Starr East Asian

• Collaboration with CCNMTL and CDRS• Writing Center consultants

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DHC Planning

• Assessment

• Detailed estimate of equipment costs

• Series of talks to highlight types of work users of DHC might expect to do

• Discussions with Film Division

• Identify & implement elements that can currently be introduced at the ETS

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Digital Science Center

• New interdisciplinary science building under construction.

• Opening Fall 2010

• Will include a consolidated science library with the Digital Science Center

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Consolidated Science Library

• Consolidating collections & services for:– Biology– Chemistry– Physics & Astronomy– Psychology

• Small paper collection will remain onsite– Classics in the fields– Greatly reduced print reference collections from 4 libraries– Select core journals (current)

• Everything else to be moved to offsite storage

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Digital Science Center• Central service point for science research• More interdisciplinary approach• Closer integration of content and technology • Need to better promote electronic resources• Develop instruction program

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Commonalities

• Combining reference services with support for various technologies and applications

• Bringing specialists together to a combined service point.

• Target users: – graduate students and upper level undergraduates– Groups or individuals requiring assistance from

subject & technology specialists

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Ongoing• Coordinating group to plan more fully

integrated services across the three digital centers.

• Strengthen individual components by having a common outlook.

• Flexibility among – services: various roles / expertise– space configurations

• Shared idea of service