Librarian Style Note Taking with Examples

Librarian style note taking refers to a method of taking notes that aims to capture information in an organized and retrievable way, similar to how a librarian would catalog information. Some key aspects of librarian-style note-taking include:

• Using headings and subheadings to organize topics and subtopics in a hierarchical structure. This allows related content to be grouped together.
• Including metadata like titles, authors, dates, and sources for any information referenced. This aids in citation and fact-checking.
• Writing concise summaries and bullet points rather than long sentences. This distills content down to key facts.
• Employing notation methods like numbered lists, highlighting, underlining, asterisks, etc. to call attention to important points.
• Indexing and numbering pages to create a table of contents and allow for quick lookup of notes.
• Cross-referencing related notes by page number to connect concepts from different sections.
• Supplementing written notes with visuals like charts, graphs, diagrams, and illustrations to aid memory.
• Storing notes organized by topic in a reference system for easy retrieval later. This could be file folders, notebooks, index cards, or apps.

The librarian style values thoroughness, accuracy, organization and efficiency. The goal is to capture information in a standardized way that makes the notes as accessible and functional as possible for referencing in the future.

Here's an example of how a middle school student could take librarian-style notes on the topic of Stanford University's design thinking process:

Stanford Design Thinking

Overview

• Design thinking is a problem-solving framework developed at Stanford.
• It uses creative and analytical approaches to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions.

The 5-Step Design Thinking Process

Empathize

• Observe and interview users to understand their needs.
• Immersion - immerse yourself in the users' environment. Go where they are.
• Take notes on user behaviors, pain points, and emotions.
• Develop empathy and insights into why users act in certain ways.

Define

• Analyze notes from the empathy stage to define the core problems users face.
• Restate problems as questions beginning with "How might we...?"
• Prioritize which problem to tackle first.

Ideate

• Brainstorm solutions to the problem statement.
• Encourage wild ideas and defer judgement.
• Build on others' ideas.
• Use techniques like brainwriting and worst possible idea.
• Generate a wide range of creative solutions.

Prototype

• Translate ideas into inexpensive prototypes to start testing.
• Make simplified versions such as role playing, storyboards, physical models, etc.
• Determine what solutions to prototype based on factors like feasibility, cost, time, and user impact.

Test

• Gather user feedback on prototypes through demonstration, observation, and interview.
• Identify which prototype elements work and don't work.
• Refine prototypes and solutions based on insights gained.
• Repeat testing and refinement until satisfied with solution.

So in summary, the design thinking process involves empathizing with users, clearly defining problems, ideating solutions, prototyping, and testing with end users. This human-centric methodology helps create innovative products, services, and experiences.

Here is a 985 word article providing an overview of Stanford's design thinking process with multiple examples: Stanford Design Thinking: A Creative Problem-Solving Process Design thinking is a human-centered, creative problem solving methodology pioneered at Stanford University. It provides a solution-based approach for tackling ill-defined or unknown problems. Design thinking utilizes divergent thinking to ideate many possible solutions before converging on the optimal resolution. This innovative process eschews traditional linear thought in favor of a cyclical, iterative approach. The Stanford design thinking model consists of five key stages: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. Empathize Stage The initial step focuses on understanding users and stakeholders through observation and engagement. Design thinkers immerse themselves in subjects’ experiences to identify needs and gain insights from different perspectives. Data collection methods include ethnographic research, interviews, surveys, and studying behaviors and environments. The goal is to feel what users think and experience to frame problems from their vantage points. For example, an office furniture company might shadow office workers to note how they interact with current designs. These observations would uncover pain points to address. Define Stage Next, collected data is synthesized to pinpoint core problems to solve. Insights are translated into meaningful problem statements beginning with “How might we...” to create opportunities for solutions. If office workers were frustrated by distracting noise, the problem statement might be “How might we create private spaces within open offices?” Defining the right problem is essential for creating value through design thinking. Ideate Stage During this phase, designers generate numerous ideas without judging initial concepts. Building on others’ ideas is encouraged to harness the synergy of the design team. Brainstorming sessions utilize creative techniques like worst possible idea, mixing disparate concepts, and imagining no constraints. The aim is to diverge before converging on solutions. For office privacy, concepts could include movable walls, elevated cubicles, or private conference rooms. Prototype Stage The most promising solutions are translated from abstract ideas into inexpensive and scaled down prototypes. This represents preliminary concepts visually through storyboards, role playing, simple apps, rough product models, etc. Prototypes allow users to experience and interact with solutions for meaningful feedback. Movable walls could be simulated with tape outlines and curtains on office floors. Test Stage Prototypes are then shared with users to identify issues and areas for improvement. Observing interactions, gathering feedback, and examining environments helps design thinkers refine concepts. The process repeats as testing reveals new insights to inspire additional ideation and prototyping. Testing cycles persist until solutions effectively satisfy user needs. Adjustable walls may have issues around storage when not in use that require rethinking the design. Benefits The design thinking methodology yields many benefits: - Promotes user-focused solutions based on empathy and insight - Encourages experimentation and creativity through rapid prototyping - Fosters collaboration by valuing diverse perspectives in brainstorming - Provides frameworks to apply creative processes to business challenges - Yields innovative solutions not bounded by standard practices - Facilitates cost-efficient development of concepts through iterative testing Examples Successful design thinking case studies span many industries: - GE applied design methodologies to healthcare, using ethnography and observation to develop more senior-friendly hospital equipment like walkers. - Bank of America created digital centers where specialists support remote video banking with tablets to provide personal assistance in underserved neighborhoods. - SAP built attractive web design prototyping templates that facilitate user testing with interactive clickable models representing software in development. - Samsung investigated family routines through in-home visits to uncover needs and design products like refrigerators with adjustable shelving and built-in whiteboards. - IBM transformed their culture through design thinking, resulting in new strategies like their Enterprise Design Thinking program to spread methodologies internally. Design thinking provides frameworks for human-centered innovation that can elevate experiences for users and organizations across sectors. Stanford's approach to creative problem solving continues to evolve and scale its impact across the world.

Here is a comparison of the three types of note-takers - architects, gardeners, and librarians:

Architects:

- Take very structured and organized notes, like drawing up blueprints.

- Tend to outline and categorize information in a logical format.

- Focus on the big picture concepts and how details fit within.

- May use tools like mind maps, charts, and diagrams.

- Benefit is very tidy and easy to review notes. Drawback is can miss nuances.

Gardeners: 

- Take free-flowing, unstructured notes that spiral outward.

- Record information as it comes to them without much filtering or organization. 

- Get down details, tangents, questions - whatever captures their interest.

- Benefit is they collect a wide breadth. Drawback is notes can be chaotic.

Librarians:

- Seek to carefully catalog and index information as they take notes.

- Focus on concise summaries and clear highlights of key ideas/terms.

- Index and organize notes for easy lookup later.

- Benefit is can quickly reference back. Drawback is don't get the context.

In summary, architects are structured, gardeners are free-flowing, and librarians seek to catalog and condense information in their notes. The style depends on personal preference and learning/studying needs. A combination approach is often most effective.