Topic:Organizing Library Events
Facilitator: Alycia Sellie
Topic Overview:
- Marketing
- Outreach
- Getting people to attend events
Things that have worked well:
- Thinking about community you serve
- How do you package services?
- How do you deliver it so as to ensure that patrons come back?
Types of events:
- Orientations—targeting groups
- Why can’t we have public library type author night?
Using multicolored cards to prompt participation:
- Hand out at start
- Practical pedagogy for library instructors
Allowing students to “own” the library space:
- Using the library as an event venue
- Student liaisons—student influence on content
- Input on policies—plugged into campus life
- Successful marketing—friends of the library
- Organized an event around musical theater
Workshops targeting faculty and staff:
- Free social networking
- Timing and scheduling can be an issue
- Marketing
Partner networking events with other departments:
- Writing Center
- Academic Support Center
- Finding people on campus who are looking for workshops to be done
- Keeping in touch with various groups on campus
- Making sure lines of communication are open
- Getting credits to students
- Exploiting “snob appeal”: RSVP—invitation only—creating cachet for event
Try everything—collaborate with everyone.