Neuroscience
My library recently served as the client for Dr. Lois Boynton's PR Writing class, where her students analyzed the Park Library from a public relations perspective. It was both a humbling and terrific experience, and I got several great bits of advice and some great videos out of the experience. Plus, I got to see some of the work our PR students do - which will help me help future PR students. It was win - win - win.
I'll start with the students' Strengths / Weaknesses / Opportunities / Threats analysis, interspersed with some comments of my own. I'll share the students' suggestions and outcomes in another post.
The weaknesses & threats, as listed in the students' SWOT analysis, include:
- Pr Collaborations With Students: #parklibsavestime
I worked with 2015 PR major, Michelle Park, to promote the Park Library to students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Our goal was to persuade students that talking to me could save them time and help them turn into more efficient searchers....
- Working With Students, Non-traditionally
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- College Students @ The Library
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- Library Tip O' The Month: Ill *rocks*
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- Craigslist @ Your Library?
The conservative librarians' approach to library promotion: if the idea won't reach lots & lots of our potential audience, we don't do it. With the new world, 21st century, Web 2.0, Internets(sic), etc., we need to change this thinking. Instead...
Neuroscience
PR Recommendations for the Park Library
My library recently served as the client for Dr. Lois Boynton's PR Writing class, where her students analyzed the Park Library from a public relations perspective. It was both a humbling and terrific experience, and I got several great bits of advice and some great videos out of the experience. Plus, I got to see some of the work our PR students do - which will help me help future PR students. It was win - win - win.
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| image from Microsoft |
The strengths, as defined by the students, include:
- The library's chat feature (tho' one student had not used it, thinking it would be as slow as email; note to self: promote chat as "Instant Chat").
- The Library's website and all its resources.
- Return books from any library to the Park Library.
- Food & drink allowed in the library.
- Therapy dogs during finals.
- The Library's location within the building where most department classes are held.
- Not enough visuals on our website; library website is difficult to find on department website.
- Longer hours (mentioned by multiple students).
- We don't have a free campus printer (aka CCI printing).
- Funding.
- Students are afraid to ask questions or don't want to ask for help.
- Olivia H. wrote "Easy access to library materials on Park's website could mean fewer students actually using library facilities because of home access."
Olivia adds: "Although Stephanie makes presentations to many classes, students may forget about the resources and information that she shares as the semester goes on." - Too much information on our website and in our "extensive online collection."
- Faculty don't encourage use of library in their classes.
Opportunities & recommendations
- More visuals! (on the website and on the School's digital signage boards).
- More promotion generally -- through flyers and bathroom signage.
- Extended hours.
- Update the website.
- Adding a free campus printer.
- More information about Stephanie (which seems strange to me, but this was mentioned several times, over two semesters).
- Social media contests such as hashtag promotions on Twitter or Instagram.
This statement highlights my aspirations quite nicely: "The goal is not just to get [students] in the door but to also to get them comfortable enough to ask questions while they are there." (emphasis mine)
So ... hearty thanks to Dr. Boynton and her PR Writing students. I hope to implement a few of their ideas this semester; and I will post about them as I do.
- Pr Collaborations With Students: #parklibsavestime
I worked with 2015 PR major, Michelle Park, to promote the Park Library to students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Our goal was to persuade students that talking to me could save them time and help them turn into more efficient searchers....
- Working With Students, Non-traditionally
I've branched out into non-traditional librarian-student interaction, and it's been a great success. This spring, I collaborated with JOMC professor Spencer Barnes and his Infographics students. Dr. Barnes asks the students to create (amazing)...
- College Students @ The Library
A recent ethnographic study assessed how college students use the library for research projects and study needs. The results are worth your time to read if you expect students to do library research: basically, students rarely ask librarians for help....
- Library Tip O' The Month: Ill *rocks*
There's a great library service for UConn community members who want library materials but don't have the time / energy / physical ability to come over to the Homer Babbidge Library The Library's DD/ILL staff (library jargon for: "if we don't...
- Craigslist @ Your Library?
The conservative librarians' approach to library promotion: if the idea won't reach lots & lots of our potential audience, we don't do it. With the new world, 21st century, Web 2.0, Internets(sic), etc., we need to change this thinking. Instead...