The presentation discusses the library's efforts to engage first year students at Kent State University through various social and educational events. These include "Late Night at the Library", a welcome party for students before classes start with food, entertainment and raffles. Another is the "Stress Free Zone", which provides students a study break with snacks, games and therapy dogs. The library also hosts orientations for incoming students and their families to introduce them to library services in a relaxed setting. The presentation will cover how these multi-faceted outreach efforts have evolved, the planning and support they require, and data on their impact in connecting with students throughout their university career.

1. Engaging first year students: a multi-faceted approach
Jasmine Jefferson, Kent State University, jjeffer1@kent.edu
Vanessa Earp, Kent State University, vearp@kent.edu
This presentation will focus on the library’s effort to engage students in multiple ways during
their first year at Kent State University. By using social events and educational opportunities
the librarians are able to connect with first year students on a variety of levels, helping to
form relationships that last through out the students’ time at the university.
One of our signature events that will be discussed is “Late Night at the Library”. This is a
party thrown for the students the Friday before school starts from 10pm until 2 am with
entertainment, food and raffles. This event allows librarians to get to know students in a
social setting while also allowing students to be introduced to the library in a non-threatening
way. Another event that will be discussed is our “Stress Free Zone”. This event allows
students a much-needed break from studying with snacks, games, and the dogs from our
“Dogs on Campus Pet Therapy Program” run by the university. We will also discuss our
outreach efforts to the incoming freshman class and their families. During summer
orientation we host a social hour for parents where they can also ask about the library, take a
tour, or relax with refreshments while waiting for their students to finish their sessions. This
interaction is a great way to set them at ease about any preconceived notions they may have
about the library.
These events take a tremendous amount of planning, administrative support, and librarian
buy-in. This presentation will focus on how these events have evolved over time and how
they are managed. Data will also be shared that shows how these events impact the students.