2013 Charleston Conference

How can you get students at a small community college to really become invested in the library?  Give them responsibility!  We set up a small student focus group, gave them a budget, and let them decide what to buy.  The goal was to try to get a grasp on what students are really interested in, to instill a sense of ownership of the library in the students, and to create word-of-mouth buzz. 

In this session, we will discuss how to get funding, set up a group, and recruit students.  We'll also talk about concerns and issues that may arise when implementing such a group.

This session showcases a project in which I repurposed via a computer program a monthly new titles report into lists targeted for individual liaison areas.  The lists promoted the richness of the library’s collection, engaged the faculty in selecting and classification, and brought attention to the work of Collection and Technical Services at Marymount.  I will demonstrate the enduring value of bibliographic metadata, LC Classification, and the catalog in the current E-Resources landscape, with the intention of stimulating discussion of other ways of re-using bibliographic metadata to promote the collection and the library.

This session will introduce methods of engaging students in their library in order to market library services, to spread awareness of library resources, and to create a rapport between librarians and students. Formal surveys and informal observations of students have revealed that many, especially freshmen, are unaware of the services and resources offered by the library. Through special events, appreciation days, and casual seminars and workshops, the Daniel Library is not only increasing awareness of what the library offers, but also is striving to reach those students that may otherwise be uncomfortable seeking assistance. Specific examples of events and their impact will be discussed as well as simple ideas for engaging all types of students.