Research and development methods - ethnography study of library employees

Research and development methods

Ethnography of library employees

Done by: Sarah, Luna, Jennifer, Chloe

Background● Topic: work in the library● Location: The New School University

Center 6th Fl Library● Research goals

○ Identify what responsibilities

student employees have and their satisfaction levels

○ Discover interactions between library users and library staff

○ Understand how the library is organized

○ Identify improvements that can be made to the library

MethodologyInterviews

● Interview with student worker Kaara Mary @ Tuesday 1.30pm

● Interview with student worker Ray @ Tuesday 6.30pm

● Interview with a library user @ Tuesday 6.30pm

Fly-on-the-wall observations

● Fly-on-the-wall observation @ Friday 10am (morning)

● Fly-on-the wall observation @ Tuesday 6.30pm (evening)

Group meeting

● Skype @ Wednesday 8.30pm

Findings - Student Workers● Can work at one place for several years● Juggle between school, internships and on-campus

employment● All are part-time● Maximum of 20 hours per week● Hours are flexible from 1hr to 6hr shifts● 3-4 people on duty each day● Work style is systematic and electronic● Not much manual or creative work

Findings - Student Workers● Skills required

○ Organizing books (decimal system)○ Tracking books (Aleph system)○ Computer systems (Mac)○ Printer operation

○ Talking to strangers to enforce library rules

Busy 4 of them all work in the front

Normal 2 people or 3 people work in the front, others sit in the back.

Slow1 or 2 people are sitting in the front. Others organize books in the library or they sit in the office.

Findings - Library Users● Users usually work on their laptops● Users tend to spread out on different tables● Usually work independently, meeting rooms were mostly empty● Users know what they are looking for and go straight to

their desired station (collaboration room, printers, etc.)● Users ask library employees when they have questions or

issues● Not a lot of interaction between users and staff● Students sometimes don’t follow rules (no food & drinks and

no craft projects)

Findings - Library Organization● Open 24 hours on Mondays-Thursdays, 12am-8pm on

Fridays, 10am-8pm on Saturdays, and 1pm-3am on Sundays● Library is most busy on weekdays around lunchtime● Library is most busy during mid-term and finals

periods● Many seats available during non-peak hours● All computers were taken● Quiet environment with bright lighting● Services include book, laptop checkout, printing,

online resource assistance

Reflection● Student workers seem satisfied with their jobs● Training seems to be effective and straightforward● Experience helps to build employees’ communication skills● Flexible schedule helps student workers greatly● School provides a platform for students to work freely● Useful operating hours (24 hrs on most weekdays)● Library is well organized and efficient (technology)● Library is well designed with good use of space● Improvements: more desktops, printers and more individual

tables, more obvious notices on rules

Library Circulation

Appendix

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