iSchool Capstone

So You Want to Print a Narwhal: Participatory Design of Children’s Library Programming

Project tags:

digital youth & youth services

equity & inclusion

information behavior & user research

Project poster

We used participatory design (PD) as a way to fully incorporate the voice of children in the development of children’s library programming. Using KidsTeam-UW as a model, we worked for ten weeks with a group of eight 6-9 year-old children, focusing on a different aspect of 3D printing each week. Data in the form of session notes, photos, and video recordings were analyzed to determine important elements and best practices for a printing program, as well as guidelines for librarians to incorporate the practice of PD in their own program development.

Project participants:

Hitomi Bloom

MLIS

Kelly Chandler

MLIS

Alice Erickson

MLIS

Cynthia Graff

MLIS

Brianne Hawes

MLIS