Library Outreach Research Articles

Outreach Librarian from Australia

Outreach Librarian from Australia

Creating a Digital Library Outreach Information System—Planning at the University of Illinois

ABSTRACT This project investigates the feasibility of creating a digital library for outreach documents, called an Outreach Information System, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The history of outreach publishing, with emphasis on recent changes and challenges to libraries, is presented. There were a number of desired outcomes for this project. A testbed of digital documents that could be used to test a search and retrieval interface would be created. Methods of markup for electronic documents currently under production would be explored. Conversion of paper documents into electronic form, with an attempt to predict the feasibility of a large-scale conversion project, would also be explored. Archival needs of a digital library for outreach would be assessed. Metadata creation, with special emphasis on outreach documents, is discussed. Search and retrieval needs for the system are discussed. Existing and needed partnerships for further expansion of the Outreach Information System are discussed.

From the Library Plaza to the Golden Dome

Creative, effective use of a committee can accomplish much toward increasing library outreach to the various constituents served. This article will address the outreach activities of the Georgia State University (GSU) Pullen Library's Communications and Public Relations Committee (C&PR), a library standing committee that has developed into a major contributor for Pullen Library public relations. The communities served by the library's C&PR are defined as GSU students, faculty and staff, and the wider metropolitan community of Atlanta, especially Georgia legislators and university and library donors. C&PR has responsibility for a variety of projects and events that serve these communities, such as Leadership Appreciation Night (the event for Georgia Legislators), Faculty Authors Exhibits, and displays for students and staff, such as Freshmen Week and Staff Information Day. This paper will also address the changing role of the committee as needs for public relations activities change in the university and

A clinical librarian can support clinical governance

Tests the feasibility of an outreach clinical librarian service in an acute hospital setting, providing quality filtered research evidence at the point of clinical need. The design was based on a six‐month pilot with professional librarians attending clinical meetings responding to information needs raised there by providing appraised summaries of the published evidence, with full text and bibliographic material as appropriate. The main outcomes were usage statistics and clinicians’ evaluation via a 23‐question questionnaire completed each month seeking overall views of the service. Practical issues regarding the provision of the service were tested. Concludes that an outreach information service in the clinical setting can meet the clinical governance agenda of the Trust by supporting evidence‐based practice, teaching and learning and continuing professional development. Earlier models of service are adapted to make the service cost‐effective.

Utilization of library outreach services by dental school alumni, 1988–1998

The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry Library outreach service includes the Dental Reference Service, or DRS; Loansome Doc service, Career Opportunity Center, or COC; and the Instructional Resources Library, or IRL. The author reviewed usage of services for 1988-1998 to analyze use by alumni and nonalumni and to determine possible trends. The author reviewed the UMKC School of Dentistry Library outreach service database from 1988-1998 to determine the total number of contacts for all services, numbers of contacts for each service, overall number of items sent and the number of dental health professionals contacting the services. The author found that the COC received 55 percent of contacts for the years 1988-1998, while the DRS received 26 percent of the total contacts and the IRL service received 19 percent. The DRS had the highest usage by alumni (80 percent); Loansome Doc service accounted for 11 percent of the DRS contacts. Total number of items sent in response to all requests was 34,325, of which 22,647 (66 percent) were to alumni. Alumni usage of all outreach services was consistent, ranging from 54 to 63 percent of the total. It appears that UMKC School of Dentistry alumni are active information-seekers. Several questions, however, remain, indicating that additional research should be done in the area of dental informatics. Information-seeking behaviors are an important part of the active clinical practice and may become more important as evidenced-based dentistry becomes more prevalent.

Grants: interdepartmental collaboration to teach grantsmanship skills

This article discusses a practical means of combining library outreach efforts with user education techniques. The Office of Research Services and the Reference Department of Jackson Library, both of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, collaborated to purchase information resources and to provide grants workshops. Through conversations, print and electronic resources were identified with an emphasis on eliminating duplication of effort and cost containment. Collaboration between the two separate academic units allowed the sharing of responsibilities for planning, advertising and conducting the workshop. This article exemplifies the importance of building on an established collaborative effort.

Providing Library Outreach to Student Athletes

Summary Student athletes' schedules can be very tightly structured around classes, homework, study, practice, and athletic events. As a result, they do not have the same freedom with their schedules as the average student. A library outreach program was developed at Valdosta State University to target the Department of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, and specifically the student athletes. The goals of this program are: (1) to provide the Department faculty and staff with a library contact or liaison, (2) to help student athletes learn to use the Library more effectively under pressure, thus relieving some of the stress they face with their demanding schedules, and (3) to make the library a less intimidating, more welcoming environment. The Library's outreach program is incorporated into the Department's NCAA CHAMPS (Challenging Athletes' Minds for Personal Success) program and includes tailored library instruction sessions. CHAMPS, as designed by the NCAA, does not currently include a library skills component.1 Library outreach may be defined as any activity or program such as tailored library instruction that is created “to meet the information needs of an unserved or inadequately served target group.”2 Outreach activities often focus on a specific user population such as high school students, off-campus students, international students, non-traditional students, and even faculty, and are often a method of promoting the use of the library.3 Providing outreach to student athletes is not well documented, however, there are a handful of universities with some type of outreach program to student athletes in place.4

The “Open House,” an Effective Library Public Relations and Instruction Tool

Summary This article presents the Open House as a viable public relations and instruction technique to introduce incoming students to basic library facilities and services in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. An overriding goal of the Open House is to empower participating students with the self-sufficiency skills that will allow them to smoothly navigate the library on their own. Includes a comprehensive blueprint for detailing successes, innovations, and pitfalls. Outlines the specific steps to take regarding fundraising and donation solicitation. Ultimately, an Open House event can strengthen a library's outreach potential; an important-yet often neglected-facet of academic librarianship.

Academic Library Outreach Through Faculty Partnerships and Web-Based Research Aids

Summary Electronic library services and myriad online resources are shifting the roles and workloads of academic reference librarians. Reallocation of staffing through a differentiated reference desk service model provides time to author curriculum-centered online research guides and tutorials, bibliographies, and webliographies. The expanding electronic information environment also opens new opportunities for teaching partnerships with university faculty. This article showcases a librarian's collaborative work with a history professor, noting student benefits/reactions and implications for future collaboration.

Outside the Exhibit Case

Summary In planning for a major traveling exhibit in UCLA's undergraduate library outreach was a priority. Programming and publicity targeted segments of the campus and community both as participants and as attendees. This collaboration came to fruition in an exciting array of programs that brought many people into the library and demonstrated the strengths of collections, resources and services to new audiences. UCLA's College Library, the undergraduate library that recently returned to its historic and award-winning Powell Library Building, was a site for the ALA-Smithsonian traveling exhibition, “A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the United States Constitution.” The Programs and Exhibits Committee of the Library surrounded the display of this material with several months' worth of diverse community and campus programming. Events involved staff, faculty, students, local K-12 teachers, members of the Los Angeles Japanese American Community, writers, film makers, even a movie star (this IS Los Angeles)! In addition to highlighting the strengths of UCLA's Library collections through traditional means, a variety of media and multimedia programs and events supplemented the exhibit.

A New Twist to the Electronic Distribution List

ABSTRACT Electronic distribution lists and newsgroups have been widely used by scholars and librarians for years to find specific information, keep up on current events, and communicate back and forth within a specific discipline. This specialized medium also offers a unique opportunity for library outreach. This article describes efforts to increase the communication between the English Department at Texas A&M University and the library by the use of a listserv initiated by the library and moderated by the librarian liaison.

Improving Library Relations with the Faculty and University Administrators: The Role of the Faculty Outreach Librarian

An academic library’s most powerful constituents are faculty and administrators. In an attempt to satisfy the needs of individual departments and faculty members, many libraries employ subject specialists. To the degree that a subject specialist is proactive, or the department is heavily dependent on the library’s services, those needs will be met. However, few libraries have developed systematic programs to reach all faculty members or to begin targeting university administrators as a special user group. The rationale for doing so is twofold: to educate them on the growing role of information technology in research and teaching, and to enhance their support for new electronic resources. At George Washington University, the position of faculty outreach librarian was created to fill such a need. This article discusses how that position evolved, the projects initiated, and the outcomes that have led to revised marketing strategies.

ALA's OLOS: Reaching Out to Library Outreach Programs

ALA's OLOS: Reaching Out to Library Outreach Programs

An Educational Program in the Medical Uses of Computers for Rural Physicians

The Medical College of Ohio and three rural hospitals co-sponsored three educational programs in the medical applications of computers for rural physicians in Northwest Ohio. The College's Outreach Librarian played a major role in the programs. These programs were significant and possibly unique because of the comprehensiveness of the material presented and their focus on training rural physicians. Topics covered in the programs included: basic computer skills; online catalogs; online databases; CD-ROMs; the World Wide Web; and e-mail.

Selecting Keywords: Helping Others Find Your Article

Keywords or indexing words help the intended audience of your article both directly and indirectly. Directly, they help the reader identify the topics covered. Indirectly, they help indexers identify the subject headings used in journal indexes and databases. This article reviews the indexing process, provides a step-by-step way of identifying keywords for your article, and identifies some common pitfalls to avoid.

Spanish Speaking Users and Their Communities

Originally presented to a conference on curriculum reform for library science faculties, this article reflects on how public librarians can assist new Spanish speaking users. Based on various career involvements with Latino communities, the author covers aspects of library outreach, initial user contact, introduction to and tour of the public library; points to a gap between traditional library service and non-users and offers suggestions that will encourage return visits by new users.

Getting information to health workers

After independence in 1980 the library of the Medical School at the University of situated in Harare the capital was designated as the national focal point for health sciences information services. The library had not promoted its availability to health professionals throughout the country. A new post of outreach librarian was established. A 1984 survey bore out the basic impression of an unmet need for systemic provision of information. Questionnaires were sent to 79 doctors and 20 clinical officers (advanced clinical nurses) working in 10 general and 20 district hospitals; and to doctors in 34 mission hospitals. 63 doctors and 10 clinical officers from 51 hospitals answered (74%). Of the 73 respondents 82% did not use the medical library. Ignorance of its availability as well as distance were the main reasons given. Academic staff at the medical school in a separate also conducted in 1984 rated the library highly for its resources and services. Most respondents had said that they needed books and journals at their hospitals. Ministry officials drew up 2 screened lists for core collections--1 of 40 textbooks and reference works for hospitals the other of 13 basic manuals for rural and other health centers. These are now being distributed by aid and development programs. A national medical newsletter/digest could fulfill needs. Medical practitioners agreed that such a digest could be helpful. A selection of references with abstracts when available from US MEDLINE would also be helpful. A digest is now being produced in association with the Ministry of Health and its Health Manpower Development Division. The digest was named Current Health Information Zimbabwe (CHIZ). CHIZ contains selective dissemination of information (MEDLINE searches) contents pages Ministry of Health news and medical library news. 6 quarterly issues have been published so far. 1200 copies of CHIZ are distributed each quarter.

Library Services to Handicapped People and the Role of the Advisory Committee

Title IVB of the Library Services and Construction Act of 1966 stimulated the growth of library services to people with handicaps in Ohio, as in other states. The IVB Advisory Council was instrumental in setting the direction of service for more than a decade, and encouraged the involvement of public libraries in promoting the braille and talking book service, state and regional workshops for librarians, a state consultant for library services to the handicapped, improvement of services at the two regional libraries to the blind and physically handicapped, and model projects funded by L.S.C.A. The successor to the IVB Advisory Council, and Advisory Committee for Library Outreach Services, continues to advise the State Library Board and State Library staff and Ohio's experience can serve as a model to other states as they implement TITLE IVB.

OUTREACH: A SELECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY

THE MOST problematic aspect of compiling this bibliography was defining the areas of librarianship covered by the term outreach. This leads one to ask whether it should be necessary to draw a line between traditional library service and outreach activities. The answer to this is already becoming apparent. Activities which were previously defined by the terms of “outreach” or “extension” are now accepted as an essential element of the library service. If the public library service is to fulfil the function which its name implies this is a trend which must continue.

Poverty, Prejudice, and the Public Library

Previous articleNext article No AccessPoverty, Prejudice, and the Public LibraryEwald B. NyquistEwald B. Nyquist Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Library Quarterly Volume 38, Number 1Jan., 1968Proceedings of the Thirty-Second Annual Conference of the Graduate Library School, July 31-August 2, 1967: The Public Library in the Urban Setting Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/619621 Views: 11Total views on this site Citations: 6Citations are reported from Crossref Copyright 1968 The University of ChicagoPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Jeff Wheeler “How Much Is Not Enough?”: Public Library Outreach to “Disadvantaged” Communities in the War on Poverty, The Library Quarterly 91, no.22 (Apr 2021): 190–208.https://doi.org/10.1086/713043Paul T. Jaeger and Karen Kettnich Libraries and Librarians Onscreen and in Library Quarterly Decade by Decade, Part 1, Or, Once Upon a Time . . . in Hollywood and in LQ, The Library Quarterly 90, no.33 (Jun 2020): 249–263.https://doi.org/10.1086/708956Jeffrey Meyer Poverty and Public Library Usage in Iowa, Public Library Quarterly 37, no.11 (May 2017): 53–60.https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2017.1312193Paul T. Jaeger, Ursula Gorham, Natalie Greene Taylor, and Karen Kettnich Aftermath of the 2016 US Presidential Election for Libraries: Axioms, Foxes, and the Urgencies of Now, The Library Quarterly 87, no.33 (Jun 2017): 189–194.https://doi.org/10.1086/692296Natalie Greene Taylor, Paul T. Jaeger, Abigail J. McDermott, Christie M. Kodama, John Carlo Bertot Public Libraries in the New Economy: Twenty-First-Century Skills, the Internet, and Community Needs, Public Library Quarterly 31, no.33 (Jul 2012): 191–219.https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2012.707106Kathryn Sigler, Paul T. Jaeger, John Carlo Bertot, Abigail J. McDermott, Elizabeth J. DeCoster, Lesley A. Langa The Role of Public Libraries, the Internet, and Economic Uncertainty, (Mar 2015): 19–35.https://doi.org/10.1108/S0065-2830(2011)0000034005