Towards a user-centered library design : the case of Daystar University, Kenya

Abstract

The 21st-century teaching and learning environment calls for a library that can meet library users' evolving and varied needs. This is at the core of user experience (UX) design, whereby the user is at the center. Studies and experiences from several best practices have shown that for any library UX design project to have an impact, it has to be preceded by a deep understanding of what the user truly values and requires the user's involvement in the process. Between October 2022 and July 2023, Daystar University executed several redesign activities of its Main Campus Library, including the provision of more comfortable and flexible furniture, reorganized library spaces to cater to varied user needs, and provision of sufficient laptop and phone charging points, among others. The aim of these changes has been to make the library a space where users can have delightful and meaningful experiences. It is worth noting that this is not the end of the planned changes, as more are underway. This study will trace the redesign, including how the specifics of the process were arrived at, and highlight the changes that came with the redesign. Further, the study will seek feedback from the users on the redesign and their insights and preferences on future design. To obtain feedback and insights in an enriching way, a mixed methods approach will be used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The target of the study will be undergraduate students since they are the major users of the Main Campus Library. The study findings are expected to inform towards providing physical and digital user-centered spaces, services, and products.