Marketing library database services to end users Peer-to-Peer Outreach using the Student Ambassador Program (SAm) Presented by: Brie Betz, Stephanie Willen Brown, Deb Barberi Date: Friday, June 6, 3:15-4:15 pm

Agenda Publisher’s Perspective What’s a SAm? Usage analysis Librarian Perspective How will I ever convince my colleagues? Administering the SAm SAm Perspective Wow! I’m hired! Now what? How to be successful

Publisher’s Perspective

What’s a SAm?

Usage analysis

Librarian Perspective

How will I ever convince my colleagues?

Administering the SAm

SAm Perspective

Wow! I’m hired! Now what?

How to be successful

Publisher Perspective Brie Betz, Account Development Manager Elsevier

What’s a Student Ambassador (SAm)?

Some successful SAm Programs University of Connecticut University of Ottawa University of Toronto New Jersey Institute of Technology University of South Alabama University of Windsor University of Western Ontario University of Pittsburgh University of North Dakota Stevens Institute of Technology James Madison University

University of Connecticut

University of Ottawa

University of Toronto

New Jersey Institute of Technology

University of South Alabama

University of Windsor

University of Western Ontario

University of Pittsburgh

University of North Dakota

Stevens Institute of Technology

James Madison University

What is the outcome? Significant difference in usage. Elsevier conducted a study on the impact of the SAm program on each account’s number of users, depicted in the graph. The results showed a substantial increase in Scopus usage over a short period of time. The results are based on the total number of searches at six participating institutes over a six month period. The first month shows usage prior to the beginning of the SAm Program. (Number of Searches )

SAm SAm SAm SAm

Total Searches 2006 = 16,548 Total Searches 2007 = 45,651 Annual Scopus searches increased 275%!

Feedback about SAm Programs “ The University of Toronto Library entered into the Scopus Ambassador Programme (SAm) with trepidation - how could we allow a publisher to promote the use of their product on our campus? However, we were very aware of the fact that we spend literally millions of dollars on providing access to e-resources for our users and we know that many of them are oblivious to what is available to them. Our library does not market to our users. That is not our tradition.” “ It's the synergy and the team spirit and the leg work that the SAms [Student Ambassadors] provide to get us into the classroom or the office or places that we have no time to venture out to. They help open little doors for us so to speak because they have the time…” Haymwantee Singh Reference Librarian New Jersey Institute of Technology Warren Holder Electronic Resources Co-ordinator University of Toronto Libraries

Librarian Perspective Stephanie Willen Brown, Electronic Resources Librarian University of Connecticut Libraries

Administering the SAm Deciding to participate Long discussion with UConn colleagues Controversial … Modified program focus Citation searching through Scopus AND Web of Science

Deciding to participate

Long discussion with UConn colleagues

Controversial …

Modified program focus

Citation searching

through

Scopus AND

Web of Science

Working with SAms Job duties Hiring Training SAms Their time paid by Elsevier, my time by UConn Lots of training Test run presentation for library staff before formal sessions began SAms’ work: Training: 4-5 weeks Teaching: 1 session per week for 6-7 weeks

Job duties

Hiring

Training SAms

Their time paid by Elsevier, my time by UConn

Lots of training

Test run presentation for library staff before formal sessions began

SAms’ work:

Training: 4-5 weeks

Teaching: 1 session per week for 6-7 weeks

SAms Working with Peers Incentives for attendees Lunch-n-learn $10 gift cards Sticky notes, pens, t-shirts Evaluations Overwhelmingly positive And: Too basic ↔ Too advanced

Incentives for attendees

Lunch-n-learn

$10 gift cards

Sticky notes, pens, t-shirts

Evaluations

Overwhelmingly positive

And: Too basic ↔ Too advanced

How Much Time Did it Take? Like supervising students, it varied, but averaged 2-3 hours per week for: Hiring & training While sessions were running Initial time, relatively high-level Ongoing time, fairly clerical

Like supervising students, it varied, but averaged 2-3 hours per week for:

Hiring & training

While sessions were running

Initial time, relatively high-level

Ongoing time, fairly clerical

How Did We Do? Classes taught 44 classes in 14 months with almost 500 attendees Usage increased for both Scopus & Web of Science Overwhelmingly positive feedback Informative, excellent, helpful, wonderful “ I recommend for all incoming grad. students” “ looks good. Previously I only used Google Scholar”

Classes taught

44 classes in 14 months with almost 500 attendees

Usage increased for both Scopus & Web of Science

Overwhelmingly positive feedback

Informative, excellent, helpful, wonderful

“ I recommend for all incoming grad. students”

“ looks good. Previously I only used Google Scholar”

Would I Do it Again? Probably Restructure to relieve some of the repetitive work? Hire a GSLIS student to do more administrative work & training? Hire an enthusiastic, marketing-minded science grad student (again) What would I do differently? Set seminar dates earlier Promote to international students at start of semester Continue email promotion!!

Probably

Restructure to relieve some of the repetitive work?

Hire a GSLIS student to do more administrative work & training?

Hire an enthusiastic, marketing-minded science grad student (again)

What would I do differently?

Set seminar dates earlier

Promote to international students at start of semester

Continue email promotion!!

Advertisements

Most Effective?

SAm Perspective Deb Barberi, Student Ambassador

SAm Positions Available… Getting the Job Job Posting Applications Interview Congratulations – you’re a SAm!

Job Posting

Applications

Interview

Congratulations – you’re a SAm!

Role of the SAm Promote Citation Searching databases Design and present training sessions Communicate feedback Incorporate what we learned

Promote Citation Searching databases

Design and present training sessions

Communicate feedback

Incorporate what we learned

Getting Started Planning, meetings, presentations… Meet with UCONN Librarians SAm Training and Orientation Marketing Plans/Training Schedules Scopus and Web of Science Training Draft PowerPoint Presentation Presentation to Library Staff

Planning, meetings, presentations…

Meet with UCONN Librarians

SAm Training and Orientation

Marketing Plans/Training Schedules

Scopus and Web of Science Training

Draft PowerPoint Presentation

Presentation to Library Staff

Training Preparations Stephanie handled scheduling Emailed Class List Training Kit was always stocked… Classrooms

Stephanie handled scheduling

Emailed Class List

Training Kit was always stocked…

Classrooms

Citation Searching - Agenda Introductions Citation searching Online Demonstration Scopus and Web of Science Hands-On Session Wrap Up Evaluations, Gift Certificates and Raffle!

Introductions

Citation searching

Online Demonstration

Scopus and Web of Science

Hands-On Session

Wrap Up

Evaluations, Gift Certificates and Raffle!

“ Genealogy” of citations FUTURE PAST Ref 3 1998 Ref 6 2006 Ref 4 1999 Ref 1 1997 Ref 2 1998 Ref 5 2001 Ref 1 1995 Ref 3 1976 Ref 2 1991 Original Article: “Enhanced zooplankton abundance in the lee of an isolated reef in the south Coral Sea” J Plankton Research, 1997.

Why Do a Citation Search? Follow the path of information, theory, or concept through time Do a more comprehensive literature review Identify highly-cited articles Find author publications

Follow the path of information, theory, or concept through time

Do a more comprehensive

literature review

Identify highly-cited articles

Find author publications

How to Access Scopus or Web of Science On Campus: direct URL Off Campus: sign in to library using VPN From UCONN Library home page http:// www.lib.uconn.edu Select “All Databases” Select General (top left) Choose “Citation Searching” from Subtopics list on right

On Campus: direct URL

Off Campus: sign in to library using VPN

From UCONN Library home page

http:// www.lib.uconn.edu

Select “All Databases”

Select General (top left)

Choose “Citation Searching” from Subtopics list on right

About the students Most were international students Broad range of searching experience Little to no library experience Attended to learn to search or to improve searching skills Few understood what citation searching was before attending class

Most were international students

Broad range of searching experience

Little to no library experience

Attended to learn to search or to improve searching skills

Few understood what citation searching was before attending class

Why were we successful? Support of Library Staff Effective marketing Flexible agenda Team teaching Welcomed questions Real-Life Hands-On Exercises Prizes and gift certificates Had Fun!

Support of Library Staff

Effective marketing

Flexible agenda

Team teaching

Welcomed questions

Real-Life Hands-On Exercises

Prizes and gift certificates

Had Fun!

2007-2008 SAms Thanks! Questions?