Presentation slides are available on the Schedule page, under each presentation description.
​Thank you for attending MD Tech Connect 2018!
December 6, 2018

What is MD Tech Connect?

More than ever technology is becoming integral to our libraries – from the experiences we provide for customers to the tools we use to serve them.  This fourth MD Tech Connect event is designed to continue the work of the past three years in building a library technology community in Maryland that is more inclusive than in the past – recognizing that our tech efforts touch ALL library staff, not just IT staff. The intended audience is “IT staff”, “technologists” and “technology enthusiasts" from all types of libraries. The event is designed to bridge these various library technology worlds to be inclusive of all library staff.

The Connected Library User Experience

Corporate brands intentionally design positive, holistic user experiences. How can libraries be just as intentional in our design and delivery? How do we leverage technology and staff in this effort? Explore technologies and strategies to create a connected customer experience!

Keynote Address

Matthew Reidsma, Web Services Librarian
​Grand Valley State University
​Allendale, Michigan

More than Usable: Library Services for Humans
​

When thinking about user experience, we should be interested in more than just products, services, and websites. But our toolkit looks remarkably like the toolkit product designers use: design for tasks, hope emotions will follow. But experience is big, and emotions aren't just the outputs from using something. We're going to need more than science to explain experience--we'll need philosophy, literature, poetry, and more. 
​
In this talk, Reidsma explores how phenomenology (the branch of philosophy that deals with experience), and metaphor can help us design better experiences for our library users by putting people and experiences first. 
This project is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act Administered by the Maryland State Library.