Márquez and Downey selected for first Future of Libraries Fellowship

For Immediate Release
Tue, 05/02/2017

Contact:

Miguel Figueroa

Director

Center for the Future of Libraries

American Library Association

mfigueroa@ala.org

Joe J. Márquez, Web Services Librarian for Reed College Library, and Annie Downey, Associate College Librarian and Director of Research Services for Reed College Library, have been selected for the Future of Libraries Fellowship administered by the ALA's Center for the Future of Libraries.

Márquez and Downey will use support from the Fellowship to expand their library service design heuristics, which have grown out from their 2015 article “Service Design: An Introduction to a Holistic Assessment Methodology of Library Services” in Weave: Journal of Library User Experience. With a focus on library service design and usability, the heuristics can help professionals across library environments address emerging technologies and services as well as improve traditional library programs, services, and collections. 

Joe J. Márquez is Web Services Librarian for Reed College in Portland, Oregon. He has previously held positions at Sonoma State University Library and the Seattle City Clerk’s Office. Márquez received his MLIS from the University of Washington and an MBA from Portland State University. His research and consulting has focused on the assessment of usability and design for library spaces and services. He has published numerous books and articles on library service design and user experience.

Annie Downey is Associate College Librarian and Director of Research Services for Reed College in Portland, Oregon. She has previously held positions at the University of North Texas Libraries. Downey received both her MLS and a PhD in Higher Education from the University of North Texas. Her numerous presentations and publications have focused on library instruction, service design, and user experience.

The Future of Libraries Fellowship provides an individual or group with a stipend of $10,000 to advance new ideas and perspectives for the future of libraries through the creation of a public product – report, white paper, video, resource, tool – that will help library professionals envision the future of library collections, partnerships, services, spaces, or technologies.

The first call for applications received over 50 completed responses, including numerous applications from international participants. Special thanks to the members of the Center for the Future of Libraries Advisory Group for their review of proposals. The Center for the Future of Libraries plans to make additional fellowships available in the years ahead. 

The Center for the Future of Libraries works to identify emerging trends relevant to libraries and the communities they serve, promote futuring and innovation techniques to help librarians and library professionals shape their future, and build connections with experts and innovative thinkers to help libraries address emerging issues. The Center is modeled on the successful American Alliance of Museums' Center for the Future of Museums and was made possible by a planning grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services [RE-00-13-0096-13].