How can the library experience be better?
Jaekook Han
Description
“School libraries exist throughout the world as learning environments that provide space (physical and digital), access to resources, and access to activities and services to encourage and support student, teacher, and community learning.”
– IFLA School Library Guidelines, 2015
The Elmer Holmes Bobst Library is the main library at New York University, the core place where research takes place. Students and faculty visit the Bobst Library for their study and to interact with library functions as listed by the IFLA guidelines.
When I visited Bobst Library last semester, I had an unpleasant experience, where I spent a long time wandering around the library trying to find the right room and right bookshelf. There was no clear physical or digital way-finding indicator. This experience made me wonder if there are ways to help students and faculty navigate the library more efficiently. This marks the beginning of the project, Bobst.
Bobst focuses on the core function of the library, which is searching and finding a book.
The app shows you where to go and where to check, you can also keep and manage a record of the books you want. Furthermore, you can check the seat availability in the library to study. The original website asks users to open a new page to find book information, while the app’s intuitive user interface design reduces the steps it takes to find a book.