
Creating a Mini UX Library
With a quick Google search, you can find dozens of articles listing the “5 Best UX Books” or “10 Mind-Blowing User Experience Books in 2017.” The number of UX books recommended for “Every Designer to Read” is overwhelming AND expensive, especially for someone just starting out.
Sitting at home researching which book to buy next, it occurred to me that my co-workers probably had at least one of the books I was looking for. I thought, “If I want to read their books, maybe they want to read my books.” The next day at work, I asked my team if anyone would be willing to contribute to my idea, everyone was excited. That’s how our mini UX Library was born.
The Process

- Gather together a few other UX designers.
- Find a common place to keep some books.
- Ask each person to share any relevant books they have at home.
UX Libraries can be created by students and professionals alike. Some people might feel nervous about sharing their books. It is probably a good idea for each person to label their book somehow. I made personalized Book Plates for my books with a geometric design.
The Rules
- Don’t write on, highlight or dog ear books.
- Share new books, return books when you are done.
- Start conversations about things you learn.
- Recommend interesting chapters or sections to your team.
The Result

As I worked on documenting and improving the UX process of my team, these books were incredibly helpful. At first, it seemed like I was going to be the only person using them, but as time went on, I saw people wondering over to flip through the pages when their projects were slow.
At my work, the books aren’t used everyday or even every week, but they certainly get more use than they would sitting at home, and to me, that’s worth it.
By the way, if you are looking for a good reading list, check this out: https://medium.com/interactive-mind/the-only-ux-reading-list-ever-d420edb3f4ff
