Asking the Right Questions

摘要

"Let's ask people what they want from the library." I've heard this said in a few meetings, and I've seen related questions in surveys from libraries. I'm not so sure that this is the most productive way to think about creating a user-centered library. Let me be clear. I wholeheartedly agree with the motivating sentiment behind this statement because it acknowledges a few important things: 1. Users are important, and it is necessary to think about them. 2. The library should tailor its services to what the community wants and needs. 3. The library does not necessarily know what the people want and it should seek this information.