Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (20)
Viewers also liked
Viewers also liked (20)
Similar to Shotgun Session
Similar to Shotgun Session (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Shotgun Session
- 1. Simple, fun student engagement activities can positively impact students’ library experiences. Elaine M. Robbins, MLIS Daniel Library, The Citadel elaine.robbins@citadel.edu
- 4. Facts about The Citadel 2000 cadets, military college, 18 majors, 8 faculty librarians, 300K volumes, 85K e-books, 150+ databases
- 5. Our Idea Reach out to students Create a welcoming environment
- 6. Engagement and Involvement Sometimes it’s as simple as breaking the ice
- 7. Candy Counting Contests Never underestimate the power of candy
- 8. Reading Contests Want to know what your students are reading? Ask them.
- 9. Doggy Day Dual outcomes: stress relief and ice-breaking
- 10. Doggy Day Juxtaposes the stresses of military college life with cuddly animals.
- 11. Veterans Day Breakfast Reaching out to these students in the library
- 12. CGC/EUGS Appreciation These groups often feel overlooked on campus
- 14. Feedback
- 15. Results Positive attitudes from library staff Fun Getting to know students
- 16. The library has become the “student union” in a way
- 17. Why so successful? Minimum effort and money Maximum results
- 18. All students and student groups are different
- 19. When to start planning
- 20. How can we continue to improve? Consistent communication; Regular promotions; Follow-through
- 21. Don’t burn yourself out, and don’t be sensitive Students sometimes can be demanding or unappreciative. Roll with it.
Editor's Notes
- Washington State University Libraries:Very basically, library anxiety is a fear of both the library space, which can be seen as overwhelming and confusing, and of the process of using the library to find materials.Common signs and symptoms:Fear and uneasiness with the physical space of the library, often related to how big the library is.Fear of approaching a librarian or library worker to ask for help.Fear that you are alone in not knowing how to use the library.Feeling paralyzed when trying to start library research.
- beginning with Constance Mellon’s (1986) library anxiety study that revealed 75-85% of the 6000 students surveyed would describe their library experience as being fear-based.Librarians must carefully consider the methods we use today to interact with students.
- The Citadel, the Military College of South CarolinaCharleston, SC undergraduate student body of about 2000 cadets, all of whom reside on campus in military-style barracks. 18 undergraduate major programs, student/faculty ratio is 13:1, average undergraduate class size is 21. Daniel Library has 8 full-time faculty librarians and 16 staff members. 300,000 print volumes, 85,000+ electronic books, 150+ subscription databases. 1000 graduate students200 veteran students150 EUGS students
- How can we make the library as stress-free as possible???Positive placeWelcoming environment Getting to know studentsTaking the bite out of the library experience – this should aid in student’s comfort level and in turn should help them in their academic life.
- Student development researcher Kuh suggested, “you become integrated through involvement and engagement, by devoting effort to things that promote positive outcomes. You don’t get integrated academically or socially unless you do something.” As a library, and as a component of the institutional mission to cultivate student success, we have an obligation to uphold a policy of engagement and involvement with students to enhance their academic experience and to assist in their development.
- Every Halloween and Valentine’s DayCheap, generates discussions, ice-breaker, somewhat kitschy which students seem to love
- Random winner gets a coffee shop gift certificate Again, creates the ice-breaking conversationLets students know we care about their well-being as well as their academic development
- Local pet rescue and adoption organizations donate animal time for the students – “best library day ever”
- There were tears of joy and some sadness when students talked about having lost a pet right before they came to school. Some students haven’t seen their pets since they left for college, and students are not allowed to have animals on campus.
- Veterans get to see that we are here to “serve” themThis message resonates with them.We get to know them on a personal level, more than just a uniform.
- Grad Students and EUGS students want to be treated like adults and have demanding schedules. A casual evening drop in gets their attention.
- Advertise over Facebook Multiple emailsWord of mouthFlyers Teasing the event before it comes to generate buzz (Doggy Day especially) – This is highly effective in the corps of cadets (if you can get the students on your side)
- “The events are a great way to decompress. The library is a great place to study and relax”; “Very welcoming atmosphere. Easy to study”; “They are very helpful in accomplishing your goals “The library is a safe haven for knobs, thank you”; “You guys are great”
- A survey of 116 freshmen stated that they felt more welcome in the library (60%) and more comfortable asking librarians (also 60%) when thinking about the library events and their impact. The remainder indicated they felt no change or already felt comfortable.
- We have capitalized on this by hosting these events. Students are already coming here for coffee, socialization.
- We’re not expecting anything from them….. That’s unusual for college students, and especially Citadel students (cadets)
- What are the various student groups needs? – CGC/EUGS, Veterans, Cadets – then creating events that will appeal to each of these groupsEUGS/CGC – pizza, social time, getting to know the librarians out of uniformVeterans – us serving them, being recognized for their service and their uniqueness on campusCadets – the rigors of being away from home and pets, the stress of first year(s) of college, exams upcoming
- A semester out, or about 4-6 months so various departments such as the CGC or Veterans Office can get it on their calendar and you can avoid conflicts. Once you have hosted one or two, they will be like rolling off a log as far as the preparation goes.
- Different students and groups of students communicate in different ways, so make sure you do all the ways frequently and consistently Email, posting on FB, good old fashioned flyers
- Some students complained that we don’t have puppies. Some are mad that we won’t let them eat the candy. Some are mad at the times of the events. You can’t please everyone, and sometimes students’ expectations grow each year. But, in the end, it’s worth it.