Dr. Shali Zhang,
Dean of Libraries and Professor Auburn University, Alabama U.S.A.
IATUL 2023
43rd IATUL Annual Conference
Zayed University & American University of Sharjah Dubai, UAE, March 13-16, 2023
1
Deliver new services at research
libraries in post-pandemic times
Auburn University in Alabama, U.S.A.
2
New space need leads libraries to change
2
“While many library expansions were still driven by the need for added stack space well into the 21st century, the increasing urgency to develop new learning spaces, incorporating new technologies and
collaborative spaces for students, led libraries to change.”
H. Thomas Hickson Joan K. Lippincott Leonora Crema
• Student Success
• Research Support
• Communication, Engagement and Outreach
• Space
• Organizational Excellence
Auburn University Libraries Strategic Plan
2019-2024
4
Goal 2: Research Support –
Establish designated spaces in the libraries for research services that can foster interdisciplinary research collaborations, offer programs and host events
Auburn University Libraries Strategic Plan
2019-2024
4
• In summer 2019, the Libraries established Research
Support and Partnership Working Group as the Libraries’
collaboration and outreach venue
• In January 2020, the Libraries established Research Support Department to gear the Libraries’ efforts on research
support and services
• The Libraries has continued ongoing engagements with the campus groups, such as Associate Deans for Research
(ADR) group
Ensure organizational alignment
8
Back in 2020 -
We started the space
renovation in
spring 2020
• Learn the best practices from other research libraries
• Select programs/services based on the campus needs
• Take advantage of the pandemic closing time for the project
• Get ready to serve the campus in August 2020 and beyond
Plan, design, and implement the
Innovation & Research Commons (I&RC)
9
The new space provides the targeted support to the campus faculty and students for research and teaching. Currently,
there are seven programs in the new space:
DataSpace Adobe Creative Space MakerSpace AR/VR Space
Technology Lending Audio Studio Digital Wall display
Consider the programs and services
10
• Over 2,000 students and faculty attended in-person and virtual instruction and workshop sessions
• The entire cohort of
students are required to use the software for their digital portfolios in Arts and Arts
History Department since fall 2020
Initial Outcomes – Adobe Creative Space
12
Audio studio –
reservations are often full
Initial Outcomes – Digital Wall
12
Initial Outcomes – Digital Wall
12
In addition to supporting ongoing classroom needs, the technologies in this
space enabled the campus faculty to receive the
internal grants for their ongoing experiments with VR experience in their
teaching activities
Initial Outcomes – VR/AR Space
12
Data Space
o Host in-library Open House event o Display print and digital signage
o Re-make the web site for the new space and make it easier to navigate
o Host workshops on how to use tech lending items
o Send postcards to the campus faculty to encourage them to take advantage of new services
o Provide ongoing tours in the space
o Bring the campus meetings and events to the space o Create videos for using Adobe Creative suite tools
New challenges – promotion of new services
7
• Added an outreach staff in 2021
∙ Recruited one additional staff in 2021 to teach Adobe Creative sessions due to high demands
∙ Hired a staff to support MakerSpace and VR space in 2022
∙ Is hiring a co-sharing position of a grant administrator to lead the Libraries’ internal and external grant applications with another
academic unit.
o
New challenges – staffing needs
7
• Continual evolving and
expanding the services and programs in the space
• Keeping abreast for new needs and available technologies
• Enhancing collaborations with other campus units
Next steps
13
Question ?
https://lib.auburn.edu/irc/
13
