Friday, October 30, 2026
Westminster Theological Seminary
2960 Church Road, Glenside, PA
Format
In person; option for virtual attendance to be determined.
Schedule
To be announced.
Program: User Research on Learning Spaces
For the past several years, Library Services at Minnesota State University, Mankato, has conducted user research and accessibility audits to better understand how students experience and use library spaces and services. Informed by universal design for learning principles, this work invites students from a diverse range of communities to share their experiences through interviews and focus groups. Accessibility audits draw on both the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and universal design principles. These ongoing inquiries have provided valuable insights into changing student expectations for library spaces, resources, and services. Jessica Schomberg will discuss lessons learned from this research and how they can inform more accessible and inclusive library practices. The presentation will also consider student preferences for online content and strategies for serving distance-learning students, extending the conversation about accessibility and inclusion beyond the library’s physical spaces.
Jessica Schomberg is the Accessibility and Inclusion Librarian at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she provides reference, instruction, and collection development services in English, Consumer Science, and Health Science. Jessica’s work focuses on creating more accessible and inclusive library spaces, resources, and services and on understanding the diverse ways students engage with academic libraries.