User's Needs

I completely agree with Rupali’s Lessons for libraries from the Brown reading post. Our first concern is basically to answer the questions. Many libraries do not spend much time understanding the user’s needs.

I liked how Brown mention “we have answers” or “solutions” – it seems we spend
too much time answering and too little time understanding what a user needs –
lesson learnt in last semesters reference class seems especially relevant – the
libraries need to ensure that the reference interview is an integral part of the
interaction with the patrons.

Last semester in reference class, we answered users questions as part of the IPL project with little information about the user’s specific needs. As Rupli mentioned the reference interview needs to be a part of the interaction with the user. Therefore, I think libraries need to spend more time training staff, interviewing and understanding the user’s needs, before giving an answer with taking into consideration the overwhelming amount of information.

As Tina mentions in Information Overkill:

Brown's "Limits to Information" can be considered a lesson to libraries that we
need to take care that patrons are not feeling overwhelmed with the abundance of
information and media formats available.

It is the libraries’ duty to simplify the process of information retrieval by answering the users needs according to their level of understanding.