Comics are a unique medium and cataloging them consistently is challenging. Our project conducted original research to create cataloging recommendations for comics. We created two online surveys, one for librarians and one for users. We also conducted 25 librarian interviews. After cleaning and analyzing the data, we created a “how to” document. Users are frustrated by inconsistent cataloging and shelving practices. The number of responses our surveys received demonstrates the salience and timeliness of our research. Our project will make a difference by establishing basic standards in cataloging, making comics easier for librarians to catalog and for users to access.

In 2015, Kitsap Regional Library completed a large-scale community assessment of Kitsap County. In this assessment, the library identified diverse community partners and asked them to share aspirations for their communities to help identify how the library might use its position within the county to make them a reality. Though the assessment was generally considered a success, it also revealed the library's lack of connection to the Latinx immigrant communities of Kitsap. This project presents a framework with which to engage these communities and create a more inclusive library.

The Woodmark Group is a not-for-profit organization that links children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada. They provide a platform called the Woodmark Exchange to manage communication and resources with over 2,000 fundraisers across 26 hospitals. Through an iterative user-centered design process, we built features such as email integration, user engagement, search optimization, and a master library to empower fundraisers to do their best work. The new platform enables fundraisers to discover, share, and implement best practices to ensure resources are used effectively and efficiently to lead the development of philanthropy, to improve the health of children everywhere.

Youth Led Libraries began as a partnership with Kitsap Regional Library to strengthen communication between the Kingston location and area youth. In collaboration with branch manager Leigh Ann Winterowd, we built relationships with teens and community partners, conducted micro community listening sessions, and engaged in participatory design work with students from the North Kitsap Boys & Girls Club and Kingston High School. To support the continuing dialogue between Kingston youth, the library, and community partners, we developed an online toolkit which can be accessed at youthledlibraries.org.

When people find recipes online, they bookmark them for later use—but now, through Zest, you can adjust serving sizes, convert unit measurements, and save recipes all in one spot. Just copy and paste the recipe URL into Zest, then customize to your own taste. Don’t make cooking a test, use Zest!

We designed #EscapeStone: a series of interactive puzzles that enabled a team of managers at Starbucks Corporate Headquarters to break down information silos that frequently manifest in professional work teams. The team collaboratively solved problems in the context of an Escape Room - a time sensitive, immersive puzzle game that necessitates teamwork and information sharing. The uniquely structured environment ensured that they worked together to solve the challenges; as a result, team members reflected upon each other's problem solving strengths and communication styles. Through a designed experience, team members collaborated to “escape,” then evaluated their process in order to improve information sharing.

This project came out of a desire for a more cohesive service model to be provided for patrons on the first floor of the Minneapolis Central Library, part of the Hennepin County Library system. This is the main entry point for patrons into the library as well as a triage point for most questions. Patrons can be bounced between a Welcome desk, the Service desk, the Information desk on the this floor alone. HCL has recently adopted the “patron commitments” and the analysis of the data collected during this project has been through the lens of fulfilling these patron commitments.

While Seattle is best known for its grunge and indie music scenes, it has had a rich hip hop history as well. Currently there is no single repository, digital or physical, that is devoted to the collection and preservation of materials related to hip hop in Seattle or the Pacific Northwest. By building a robust collection of Seattle hip hop from the 1970s to current releases, making it publicly accessible in UW’s Suzzallo Library, and creating a LibGuide to promote the collection, we hope to bring more awareness and recognition to the diversity of voices in Seattle’s music scene.

Miscommunication in healthcare teams has been identified by researchers as a serious impediment to patient safety. To address this issue, The University of Washington Medical Center’s WWAMI Institute of Simulation in Healthcare created a program called TeamSTEPPS. Since its inception, the program has done amazing work in improving healthcare communication. Unfortunately, TeamSTEPPS currently has no evaluation tool to quantitatively evaluate healthcare teamwork and communication, which makes ascertaining TeamSTEPPS training effectiveness difficult. For my Capstone, I decided to fill this gap and worked with the TeamSTEPPS clinical director to develop, test and refine a new Teamwork Observation Tool. Through the employment of this tool, TeamSTEPPS will enhance their curriculum, which will lead to better healthcare collaboration and improved patient outcomes throughout the United States.