Marion Mühlburger reported a lovely example how the medical library at Bergen university used the methodology we are all familiar with from our EBM literature searches, which also shows where our professional approach may hit difficulties. When an overhaul of their facilities was required (in the usual context of print journals disappearing and leaving space vacant), the library team decided to give the needs of those who actually use that library space, a prime rôle in the planning.

Evidence was created in the form of a student survey and other user involvement the findings of which informed the planning for the re-purposing of the existing space. However, a major obstacle in the process turned out to be that the hierarchy which had to approve the decisions, did not always agree with the evidence gathered from the actual users. This resulted in a six-months delay between planning and implementation.

Oliver Obst’s advice in the discussion was best not to involve those in power before the library had shored up strong support from its clients…