reach out and touch: innovation to connect with non-traditional library users at community colleges
DESCRIPTION
Reach out and Touch: Innovation to Connect with Non-Traditional Library Users at Community Colleges Retha Hall, Central Piedmont Community College With the proliferation of media options and information, more than ever, libraries are competing with various technological advances in efforts to maintain their visibility and relevance. To address this issue, the CPCC Library conceived and implemented “Librarians on the Go”, an innovative outreach project using technology to expand reference services and to connect with “non-traditional” library users on the Central Campus. In this session, participants will learn how the idea was conceptualized, implemented and the challenges associated with providing services at a community college. Other innovative ideas and experiences on improving and expanding services will also be shared. Through this presentation and discussion attendees will be inspired to think of innovative ways to help extend the scope of library services while creating a presence beyond the bricks and mortar. Retha Hall is responsible for outreach and marketing, reference and instruction at CPCC’s Hagemeyer Learning Resource CenterTRANSCRIPT
Reach Out and Touch:Reach Out and Touch:Innovation to Connect with
Nontraditional Library Users at Community Colleges
Retha HallCentral Piedmont Community College
June 3, 2009
CPCC At a CPCC At a Glance…Glance…
Largest of 58 NC Community Colleges- 61,000+ students
Curriculum: 15,539, Basic skills:6,605
Headcount by Age:◦ <21 years ….10,334◦ 21-30 years….20,875*◦ 31-40 years….13,735◦ 41-50 years…..9,938◦ >51 years…….6,85●51% minority●6 Campuses/7 libraries●33 staff; 15 professional
What is Outreach?What is Outreach?out·reach n. (out-rēch') The act or process of reaching out. Extent or length of reach: the vast outreach of technology;
the outreach of a forest fire from mountains to suburbs. A systematic attempt to provide services beyond
conventional limits, as to particular segments of a community: an educational outreach to illiterate adults.
outreach. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.classic.reference.com/browse/outreach
Why Outreach is Why Outreach is NecessaryNecessary
Gives library a visible presence & value
Connect with users/supporters Showcase services/resourcesFunding/partnership opportunitiesCan help fulfill and identify unmet
needsSurvival! Staying relevant!
Innovation at work….Implementation- venturing where no librarian has
gone before… Bojangles’!FundingBenefitsChallengesEvaluation
CPCC’sCPCC’s“Librarians on the Go” “Librarians on the Go”
Reference Outreach ProjectReference Outreach Project
Venturing where no librarian has gone before”… Bojangles’!
We’ll come to you: reaching out to meet needs of students in non-traditional (& traditional programs)
Taking advantage of wireless technology
Extension of reference
Innovation….Innovation….
Target AudienceTarget AudienceNontraditional1st GenerationTransientLow GPA/RemedialContinuing Education, Re-entry26 years and olderWorks full timeParentsTraditional18-25 yrsTransfer students
Benefits…Benefits…Reach out and connect with students who
are uncomfortable coming to the library or unaware.Nontraditional and nonthreatening locationConvenienceMarketing opportunity Dispel stereotypes
Funding…Funding…Innovation Grant Proposal
The Process of Getting Approved
Good News!
Where’s the $$$
Expenditures
Expected OutcomesExpected OutcomesIncreased visibility & value of library
services and resources.Increased traffic to actual library.Immediate information needs are
metHeighten awareness of wireless
accessPerceptions of library and librarians
changed.
How Did We How Did We Market?Market?
Location
E-marketing
Publicity
Word-of- Mouth
Librarians at Central Librarians at Central CampusCampus
are reaching out! are reaching out! Have you heard? Something different is happening at Bojangles’ on Central Campus! On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays of each week from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., librarians armed with their laptops can be found at Bojangles’ answering questions and assisting students with research.
This outreach initiative is aimed toward connecting with students, staff and faculty who are not typical library users. In addition, this expansion in service will help increase awareness of library services and to encourage library use.
Take a break and check us out! Please let your students know about this additional service aswell. More outreach activities are underway, so stay tuned.
The Communicator November 8, 2007 (weekly employee e-publication)
““Librarians on the Librarians on the Go”Go”
Challenges…Challenges…Staffing
Funding
Location
Multiple projects
Effectiveness
Evaluation…Evaluation…Footprints: Stats
Comments/Feedback Received
Librarian Assessment
Other Initiatives…Other Initiatives…Drop in workshops
Programming
Campus/Community Partnerships
Your Charge…Your Charge…“Whatever your situation, it's important to remember to reach out. It's one thing to just sit in your information center and wait for people to come and ask questions. But it's quite another to go out and offer information to those who have not asked for it. That's the heart of being proactive. That's the trick of serving people who didn't even know how much they needed you. And it can be the key to staying in business in this everything's-on-the-Internet-and-I-can-find-it-myself world.”
So what are you waiting for? Don't just sit there—reach out and educate someone.”
Miller, Kathy. At Arm’s Length. Retrieved May 26, 2009 from http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/olos/moreoutreach/additionallibrary.cfm
““Librarians on the Go” Librarians on the Go” TeamTeam
Questions & AnswersQuestions & Answers
Thank you for attendingThank you for attending thisthis presentation! presentation!
Please feel free to contact me:704.330.6113