A New Team, A New Vision: One Library's Adventures in Outreach

Abstract

What can a medium-sized academic library accomplish in terms of campus outreach?  Quite a lot, as it turns out!  The David L. Rice Library at the University of Southern Indiana focuses its outreach activities in three major areas:  events and promotions held during the academic year, such as Banned Books Week and Blind Date With A Book; dedicated spaces within the library, such as the Info Wall and displays; and partnerships between the library and other departments on campus.  With our outreach activities, we hope to reach more students and potential patrons; to make contact with them in ways that are meaningful;  to help individuals and campus groups feel more comfortable with the library and its staff; and to promote reading as well as increase literacy.  This article will detail the library’s outreach activities; the creation of a committee to support publicity, outreach, and marketing; the outreach process; new approaches to reaching the library’s community; and ideas for forming partnerships with other on-campus entities.