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Further thoughts about putting the user at the center

Eleanor Mitchell (Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA)
Sarah Barbara Watstein (Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA)

Reference Services Review

ISSN: 0090-7324

Article publication date: 20 February 2007

793

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to articulate questions about one of the critical challenges facing librarians at all levels and in all types of libraries today – putting the user at the center.

Design/methodology/approach

Reflects on users and how libraries can better serve them.

Findings

Proposes three steps that are fundamental to putting the user at the center: asking core questions; discovering new tools and new ways of thinking about users and their behaviors; and contributing to the development of processes and criteria that can help librarians make decisions about new services or technologies that go where users want to go.

Originality/value

Underscores the value of putting the user at the center, while at the same time exploring the complexity of implementation.

Keywords

Citation

Mitchell, E. and Barbara Watstein, S. (2007), "Further thoughts about putting the user at the center", Reference Services Review, Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 5-7. https://doi.org/10.1108/00907320710729328

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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