As we near the end of Fall term 2020, the UO Libraries Knight Library and Branch Libraries buildings are open to the UO community. But if you have visited Knight, you might have noticed that the DREAM Lab’s physical space continues to not be available. Why?
As a space dedicated to supporting collaborative research and education, we have closed the DREAM Lab during this period of social distancing. The DREAM Lab has relatively narrow quarters, and making accommodations with furniture for distancing would limit the seat count to an unacceptably small number and be contrary to the space’s goals. Indeed, the collaborative orientation of the space would likely make it difficult to keep users from interacting. Given safety concerns, inefficiencies, and potential conflicts, we believe the wisest course of action is to keep the DREAM Lab closed until social distancing restrictions can be eased.
However, did you know that data and digital librarian engagements with faculty and students continue and have moved online? Since the Spring 2020 term, Data Services and Digital Scholarship Service continue to offer workshops for UO community members to learn about SQL; R and RStudio; Python; setting up UO’s WordPress infrastructure, adding web-accessible content, and learn the basics of the Divi theme. You can keep up to date with what workshops are offered for Fall 2020 by visiting the UO Libraries Event Calendar.
With the pivot to moving workshops online and the DREAM Lab’s physical space closed for in-person collaborations, the librarians who offer digital and data literacy instruction are running things a little bit differently. Over the Fall 2020 term, you’ll get a look at what’s going on behind the scenes as the digital and data librarians, and specialists offer plan workshops, share their work and learning, how they are working with faculty, and write about data and digital literacy.
We’ll also have blog posts written by our two new Digital Research, Education, and Media Specialists — Anna Lepska (PPPM Non-Profit Management graduate student) and Marilee Zafaripour (Computer Science and Mathematics 2nd year undergraduate). Both are UO students with lots of experience with digital technologies, instruction experience, and web development. Throughout their tenure with Digital Scholarship Services, they will be sharing their experiences to give readers a look behind the DREAM Lab instruction support curtain. If you find yourself attending online workshops, then you will most likely run into them while getting tech help for learning.
Stay tuned for more updates!
