One thought about this: if we used more user focused shelving systems, would it be easier for folks to find things they don’t want to ask for?
This is making the rounds on social media.
Inspiration: Nervous About Asking…
Written by Michael Stephens
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- Elena
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6 thoughts on “Inspiration: Nervous About Asking…”
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We have all gone in search of something sensitive. In finding it, we gain control. We also gain a love and allegiance for the library. I love this.
@Elena That is a most excellent thought!
@michael I think this is so important. Fear of judgement or visibility should never be a barrier to accessing critical information that could change someone’s life.
Unfortunately, I bet the parent groups have a lot to say about this…
@chandler Right… I would hope a group of parents would not push back on something like this…but it could happen.
I like this because I feel like it opens up the existing structure of libraries to new people. I think user-focused innovations like labeling shelf sections clearly and without jargon are great, but they can also be hard to maintain. For example, if you label part of the 800s “poetry” on the shelf, but then you get a huge order of “How to Draw” books in the 700s, that might push the poetry over a bit, and then staff has to remember to relabel the area. I’m sure there are smarter and more innovative ways to do user-centric shelving than things like that, but I also really like the idea in this picture, which gives patrons the tools to navigate both your library & all libraries!
@carlygove Good point! Perhaps some type of movable signage!