flinders university's fridays at the library series in the context of the university's...
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Flinders University’s
Fridays at the Library series
in the context of the University’s
Community Engagement program:
A case study
Gillian Dooley
Lauren Gobbett
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Flinders University Strategic Plan 2012-2016
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Community Engagement
• Fridays at the Library – ‘cultural, artistic and
topical events’
• Part of the Library’s contribution to the
University’s engagement activities
• Expense in cash and kind borne by library
(with some sponsorship)
• Contribution to triple bottom
line – socio-cultural impact
• Increase visibility of library
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Library events in the University context
• Academic libraries are ideal gathering places
for social and community events
• Library event series can:
– enhance university and library’s reputation
– open enduring communication lines
between academics and community
– provide an accessible and welcoming face
for the library
– generate good will
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Fridays at the Library
• Started October 2000
• 6-9 events per year
• Usually held in Central Library,
Bedford
Park
Campus
• 100+ events
• 1-2 events each year in city or
other location
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Fridays at the Library
• Varied program:
– Single speakers
– Panel discussions
– Historical film screenings
– Larger events with a performance element
– Topics from across Flinders’ teaching and
research areas
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Fridays at the Library
• Run by Library staff (not Friends group)
• Promoted to the public as well as staff
and students
• Informal and welcoming
• Free admission
• No bookings
• Refreshments
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Partnerships
• Flinders University faculties, schools and
departments
• South Australian organisations, e.g.
– History SA (Maritime, Motor, Migration Museums)
– Friends of the State Library of SA
– History Council of SA
– Don Dunstan Foundation
• National organisations
– Australian Book Review
– National Library of Australia
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Research projectWe set out to test our belief that the Fridays at
the Library series:
• encourages informed discussion in the community of
topical and often controversial subjects,
• fosters exchange and networking between
researchers, particularly those based at Flinders, and
the community,
• provides an accessible and welcoming
interface between the university and the
surrounding community, and
• is distinctive and unusual in the context
of Australian university libraries
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Census of University Libraries
– 10 Libraries answered ‘yes’
– 7 of these were organised by
‘Friends’ organisations
– 2 were focused specifically on use
and promotion of library resources
– 1 was mostly exhibitions and
associated launches
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Query to ANZ libraries:
‘Does your library organise and present
events open to the public?’
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Survey of FatL audience
Three broad categories:• Questions about awareness and
attendance
• Questions about preferences for venue,
event types and topics, attitudes and
opinions about the program
• Demographic information, including
connection with the university
Survey approved by Flinders University Social and
Behavioural Research Ethics Committee
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Participation in survey
• Survey was made available
electronically, in print, by mail, by email.
• Estimated potential pool of respondents
approximately 600
• 112 completed surveys received
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Publicity and attendance
• Direct mail and email more effective for the
survey group than social media
• 65% attend more than once per year
• 42% have been attending for >6 years
• 99% influenced by topic
• 97% influenced by speaker
• Timing influenced 92%
• Venue influenced 76%
• Refreshments influenced 44%
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Comments
• ‘Flinders Uni is good for us as we live nearby and attending is
easy. The city location requires a deal of arranging, plus parking
issues.’
• ‘Even if fascinated by the speaker and topic, I find the city venue
impractical for me.’
• ‘Work full time in the city: not able to go to the central library [on
Bedford Park campus].’
• ‘The venue influence is negative! Flinders is a long way away’.
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Subject and format• History, Arts, Literature of greatest interest
• Current affairs and science also of interest
• Health had highest neutral/uninterested scores (38%)
• Single speakers are most popular (84%)
• History at the Movies next (74%)
• Musical-literary events next (70%)
• Launches highest neutral score (42%)
• Substantial minority neutral in each category - ‘It
depends on the topic – all could be interesting.’
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What do you like about FatL?• ‘The opportunity to receive information and views
from informed sources. This information is
delivered at the level of the intelligent layperson.
Networking over light refreshments is enjoyable.’
• ‘The opportunity to be brought up to date with
advances in learning and current affairs. The
opportunity in sharing the various researchers’
data.’
• ‘The sharing afterwards over a drink of opinions
and thoughts with others of a wide range of
backgrounds.’
• ‘The range of activities and the pleasant
atmosphere in the room.’
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What do you like …
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How could we improve?
• improving publicity
• changing the timing and the
venue, although the respondents
were split between wanting to
have all the events at Bedford
Park and wanting to have them all
in the city.
• improving technical aspects such
as amplification and sight-lines.
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How could we improve ...
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Words to describe FatL
Ranked top to bottom (agree + strongly agree)
• Informed (100%)
• Stimulating (90%)
• Topical (79%)
• Good for socialising (69%)
• Good for networking (45%)
• Controversial (23%)
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Most important aspectsRanked top to bottom (important + very important)• Provides an opportunity to hear interesting speakers on a variety of subjects
(100%)
• Encourages informed discussion of topical and often controversial subjects
(86%)
• Raises the profile of the University in the community (84%)
• Introduces the Library’s collections and services to the broader community
(84%)
• Provides an accessible and welcoming interface between the university and the
community (80%)
• Provides an opportunity to meet and socialise with people with similar interests
(77%)
• Fosters networking an exchange of information between academics and the
community (68%)
• Provides an opportunity for alumni and retired staff to maintain contact with the
University (66%)
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Comments• ‘I appreciate the opportunity to get “unbiased” factual
information about “controversial” topics which are
often “clouded” by populist media reporting’,
• ‘I have an opportunity to hear live music from
professional musicians and other experts in different
fields. I enjoy meeting people who share their dream.’
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Connection with Flinders
• 28% ‘visitors’
• 22% former students
• 21% former staff
• 16% current staff
• 9% current students
• 9% ‘other’ – e.g. ‘previous professional
connections’, ‘live close by’, ‘children went to
Flinders’
• 8% University of the Third Age
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Demographics
• 52% over 65
• 31% 55 - 64
• <4% under 35
• 60% female
• 40% male
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Postcodes and socio-economic index
• 107 respondents
distributed over 47
postcodes
• Grouped around city
and Flinders Bedford
Park campus
• Median ABS SEIFA
ranking 76 percentile
• Wide range – from 12 to
98 percentiles
• 47% in top 20
• 17% below 40
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Limitations of research
• Limited data regarding non-attendance
• Participant bias towards series
• Staff involved in research also strongly
identified with series
• Changes of personnel in survey team
over life of research project
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Benefits of FatL for Library
• Partnerships with other organisations raise
profile of Library
• Collaborations with other parts of the
University and individual staff and students
confirm value of Library
• Goodwill generated in community leading to
donations and participation
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• Promotes library’s
collections and services
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Benefits of FatL for University
• Raises profile of our staff, services, activities
and research
• Promotes knowledge exchange between
university and community
• Promotes interdisciplinary
communication
• Provides space for alumni
and retired staff to stay
connected
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Benefits of FatL for Community
• Promotes informed discussion of topical
and controversial topics
• Welcoming atmosphere promotes social
inclusion
• Encourages community use of
university facilities and resources
• Provides intellectual stimulation in non-
threatening environment
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Thank you