We concentrated on developing a solution designed for public libraries. Ultimately, we focused on creating a service which helps libraries plan targeted and informed programming that engages community members, while providing librarians with a better method of assessing how successful an event was. Through extensive user research, we created a service (POP) which utilizes the pop-up structure as a research probe to better gauge how to optimize event planning to create more impactful events and reach a wider audience.

We interviewed librarians from both public and university libraries to get a sense of the primary users and stakeholders. This research revealed a range in the intent behind library programming and how the space itself is used, which can be attributed to the difference between public and university libraries as well as differences in what users aim to get from the library (for example, community programming, checking out books, finding a place to do work, etc.) We found that many library programs were perceived as unsuccessful due to lack of attendance or engagement.

From this key insight, we decided to converge on the libraries’ abilities (or lack thereof) to reflect the interests, needs, and culture of the community around them. We interviewed programming staff at libraries in Evanston and Chicago, as well development staff working on a new public library in Madison, WI, to get an understanding of what goes into planning a library event. We learned how difficult it is to quantify the success of an event, and that the way one measures success is dependent on the intent of the programming and the nature of the community being targeted.

We determined that we would help libraries plan programming which reflects the needs and wants of the users (a varying community defined by geographic region), while collecting live data from the event to help inform future events. This developed into the central idea of pop-up library events: events which occur at public places within the community, targeted to engage people who do not frequent the library. We envisioned these pop-ups as quick, low-commitment events which are easy to engage with.

We conducted a workshop with a group of library staff from the Chicagoland area, as well as local service designers working in industry. The participants were divided into three groups to assure an equal distribution of librarians and designers. Prior to the event, our team brainstormed a list of 29 different pop-up events a library could feasibly run in their community, including: gardening and planting together in communal environment, art studio in abandoned warehouse, pop-up by the park with animals from local shelter and children’s books about animals, a pop-up where passersby register for library cards, and many more.

We presented each group with the pop-up ideas and asked them to place them on a two-dimensional graph with axes for interest and value. We noted the discussion that occurred while placing events on the interest-value map, deliberations which revealed exactly which parts of the event planning process librarians were receptive to receiving assistance with.