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Introduction The University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s Berkman Library space is outdated. Budget constraints and tiny square footage leave little room for error. A needs assessment using user experience (UX) research methods was conducted from 2022 to 2023 to inform strategic decisions on updating and reorganizing furnishings to better support library patrons and their needs.   Methods Data was collected via an electronic survey, “guerilla” interviews, observations of library patrons, and a physical survey of communal spaces in the building. Resulting qualitative data were compiled and examined for common themes. Low fidelity mockups of furnishings and space arrangements were prototyped and presented to patrons for feedback.    Results  Quiet was one of the most valued attributes of the library space and showed itself to be a unique quality of the library when compared to communal spaces within the hospital. Survey and interview responses consistently cited soft, comfortable furnishings as desirable additions. Observed behaviours support the continued need for desks with a deep surface area to accommodate multiple devices used in tandem. Flexible use of computer hardware, better access to power outlets, and adjustable lighting were identified as additional gaps.    Discussion Methods showcase light-weight space assessment strategies that are of particular interest to solo librarians or small library teams working in a hospital environment. Results identify library qualities that address institutional gaps and provide insight into the motivators, needs, and behaviours of hospital staff. Centering patron behaviours and preferences in the project’s methodology provides data to support decision-making for near term upgrades and long-term library policy. 

To my knowledge, this is the only book on library programming that specifically addresses event planning in a health sciences library context. Having not had the pleasure of reading these other books, it would be unfair to compare them; however it's probably safe to assume that not all of the examples or cases provided would be relevant to our discipline, as compared to those included in Gillum and Williams' book. The first section of the book was helpful for me to rethink and re-organize my own practices, and I found myself inspired by a number of the case studies provided in the second section, despite differences in our target demographics and settings. Since reading this book Tve already made some changes to how I send out communications in order to present more cohesive branding, and I plan on incorporating aspects of some of the case studies presented into my own outreach moving forward.

The book is structured around the PIECES framework, with chapters on the following topics: introduction to systematic reviews; finding, evaluating and applying reviews in various disciplines; the reference interview; team dynamics and data management; database searching; grey literature searching; case studies of review questions and searches conducted to address them; study selection and critical appraisal; data extraction; writing; systematic review services; and librarianship and systematic reviews. [...]the chapter on systematic review services addresses multiple aspects of the systematic review service: librarian competencies, types of service models, and different libraries’ approaches to service provision (presented through case studies). When recommending a tool, they highlight very important thoughts to keep in mind when sitting down with researchers in those initial reference interviews, including type of synthesis, desired software features, licensing considerations, and user training and technical support.

Bent covers a lot of territory in this book, starting with an overview of the book’s purpose (Section 1) and contents (Section 2), theories and models around researcher career stages, the research cycle, and information literacy (Section 3), and moving quickly into more applied chapters dedicated to the library’s role in organizational structures (Section 4), its use of space and place (Section 5), staff roles (Section 6), collections (Section 7), interventions by phase of the research lifecycle (Section 8), teaching approaches (Section 9), and workshop ideas (Section 10). In addition to the practical tips, and to the book’s approach to catering to various research groups, the provision of further reading material for every section of the book is another benefit, and enables readers to discover additional material as their interests or needs require. While Bent does tend to prioritize the practical over published research, providing only a few key references for each subsection, this book is not intended to be an exhaustive resource of library and information science research, and is explicit in its design and purpose: to provide librarians and library staff with a wide range of ideas for how to help and connect with their researchers.

Mauldin also provides some case studies and examples of successful visualizations created by other librarians/libraries, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to use a number of the different tools and applications. [...]the monograph wraps up with some final tips, tricks, and trends in the field of infographics and data visualization. The author also details a number of excellent online data sources that can be used to identify statistics and other information points to help fill the infographic.