Elliot Felix
Founder and CEO
brightspot strategy
Julia Maddox
Director, iZone
University of Rochester
Mary Ann Mavrinac
Vice Provost and Dean, Libraries
University of Rochester
iZone is a collaborative hub of innovation for students to explore ideas and solve problems for social, cultural, community and economic benefit. iZone is a 21st century expression of early libraries where ideas were explored and knowledge created amidst a vibrant community and space, infused with expertise, technology and scholarly resources. This interactive presentation will describe the genesis of iZone in response to student demand, the user research that underpins iZone and provided the case for support, and the iterative process of program and service development that utilizes a student peer-led and collaborative model to deliver mission-critical activities. The presenters will share the mutual benefit of siting iZone in a research library, and how this is equipping library staff with greater comfort with risk-taking and ambiguity.
