[OPLINLIST] Design is a skill

[SWON Info]

*Design is a skill. You get better at it by practicing, and Design 
Thinking for Libraries <http://designthinkingforlibraries.com> is a 
great way to practice*. You might recognize Design Thinking as the topic 
of the upcoming ALA 2015 PLA Preconference in San Francisco. You don't 
have to travel that far to learn about Design Thinking.

A key part of Design Thinking is asking questions. What problem do you 
want to solve? You try to write out your challenge as a series of 
questions: /How might we...?/ You find inspiration by talking to the 
people you are designing for, asking questions about your challenge but 
also about themselves.

*Questions create the possibility of a collaboration* between the person 
asking and the person answering, but first you have to tell people why 
you're asking. Explaining the context of the question allows them to 
think with you.

For example, explain to a teenager that your library wants to teach 
teens how to use emerging technology like 3D printers. That's a great 
way to open a conversation. How might teens use that kind of technology? 
How could it relate to that teen's hobbies or interests? What knowledge 
would help teens become more interested in tech?

*Conversations like these get easier with practice, and the payoff can 
be substantial.* Not only do you walk away with specific ideas, but 
you're building relationships with patrons who have a stake in the 
challenges you're trying to solve. And it starts with a little practice.

  * Nathan Swartzendruber, SWON Technology Educator

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    Design Thinking at SWON's Membership Meeting

SWON's spring meetings have been focused on innovation for the last 
several years, and we're following that theme with a session on Design 
Thinking for Libraries. Speaking with us will be Cindy Tripp 
<http://www.cindytripp.com/aboutCindyTripp.html>, who has taught Design 
Thinking at the University of Cincinnati Lindner School for Business, as 
well as other venues.

Together, we'll learn about the process steps of Design Thinking, and 
we'll put them into practice with hands-on activities. Join us for this 
great session, enjoy lunch with your colleagues, and learn about SWON's 
plans for the year at our brief but important membership meeting. It's 
open to everyone! We hope you'll join us May 26th 
<http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=599239&group=>.

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    Coming up on the calendar
    <http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_list.asp>

  * *Technical Services (Special Interest Group) Meeting
    <http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=575099&group=>*
    April 21, 2015, Union Institute & University
  * *What's New in Young Adult Literature, 2015 Update
    <http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=625328&group=>*
    April 21, 2015 - Online
  * *6 Essential Skills for One-on-One Tech Instruction
    <http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=599159&group=>*
    April 23, 2015 - Online
  * *Take 5, Take 4!
    <http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=515065&group=>*
    April 24, 2015 - Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County,
    Main Branch
  * *MS Publisher Projects
    <http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=593517&group=>*
    April 28, 2015 - Boone County Public Library, Main Branch

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