Matters of scale: small-scale intensive outreach to graduate students

Abstract

As an alternative to large-scale outreach events, three public services librarians created a series of small-scale outreach events aimed at educating graduate students about library services and increasing positive perceptions of the library. The librarians ran five events with a 2:1 student-to-librarian ratio, and one event with a 13:1 student-to-librarian ratio. Using pre- and post-event surveys, the librarians evaluated student knowledge and perceptions of library services. Events of both sizes indicated that graduate students valued the outreach events and perceived increased comfort with the library following the events. However, the events with 2:1 ratios resulted in higher perceived comfort levels and more interest in scheduling follow-up appointments with librarians than the 13:1 ratio event. The researchers of this case study conclude that small-scale events have positive benefits for graduate students and that outreach assessment can be used to justify the increased time and cost commitments that are necessary for small-scale outreach events.