academic library outreach: being heard when it matters
DESCRIPTION
Presentation prepared for the 2014 Connecticut Library Association Annual Conference - co-presenters: Jaime Hammond and Renata VickreyTRANSCRIPT
Academic Library Outreach
Being Heard When It Matters
Campus & Community Connections
Get to Know Your Student Government!
Campus Collaborations
The library’s One Book program not only brought a campus and outside community together by promoting literacy, but further resulted in a sandwich making service program for a local emergency shelter. Various student groups prepare sandwiches every month.
Collaboration Benefits
Marketing Opportunities (big & small!)
● Host an event for alumni in collaboration with the Alumni Affairs.
● Cooperate with the Institutional Advancement office on fundraising opportunities.
● Participate in a campus wide events promoting library services.
● Add link to a library on academic departments website
● Provide a space in the library for student organization events.
● Use an entrance board to promote current events.
Stay Connected
A Captive Audience
Go Big!
Lessons from Warby Parker
Timing is everything, Word of mouth advertising rules, Be funny & creative, Give people something to talk about… They went big!
Campus Events & Marketing Tie-Ins
Campus Events & Marketing Tie-Ins
Free Food Isn’t Enough… It Takes Obama!
Sometimes enticing people
with food doesn’t cut it.
Successful library programs
are thoughtfully integrated
into the curriculum & support
student enrollment!
Development & Fundraising (Just Do It!)
Outreach to campus and outside community
Friends of the Library Group
Selecting Board Members:● Include faculty who will help to promote the library.● Include students who will participate in events and advocate for their needs.
related to the library to campus administration (materials, databases, hours, etc.).
● Include donors and people from the community who will bring attention of the library needs to community at large.
Friends of the Library Leaflet
Include history of the library, information about services, and hours.
Uniqueness - draw attention to Special Collections and archives
Support the Burritt Library
Provide information on library services for campus community and community at large. Include information on ways to support library.
Developing a Plan
• Feedback from clientele (surveys, LibQUAL, etc.)
• Ebb and flow of the academic year (timing is essential)
• Alignment with strategic goals of the Library and College/University
• Are there certain segments of our clientele that deserve some extra
attention (for example, parents or students enrolled in new programs)?
A Few Considerations
2013 The Year of Italian Culture in the US
To Everything There is a Season...
End of Term “Stress Busters”
Goal Sample
Strategy or Action Timeline Champion Resources NeededPublish a newsletter for faculty
2x per semester Homer Staff
Sponsor a new faculty reception
Late summer Lisa Staff and money for refreshments
Encourage humanities and social sciences faculty to use Special Collections and Archives by hosting an Archives crawl
National Archives Month (Oct.)
Marge Staff, money for exhibit supplies
Marketing/Outreach Goal 1: [INSERT GOAL STATEMENT HERE]
(Ex. Ensure that faculty are informed of new Library collections and services)
Objectives (Should be measurable!):
1. Increase the number of courses with an assigned embedded librarian
2. Increase the number of faculty library instruction requests
3. Increase use of materials in Special Collections and Archives
4. Increase use of XYZ database by at least 10%
You don’t need to be a graphic designer...
• Follow marketing pros (esp. outside the LIS field) on Twitter.
• Watch what your favorite company does.
Other Sources of Inspiration
Thank you!
Debbie Herman [email protected]
Renata Vickrey [email protected]
Jaime Hammond [email protected]