1. The Role of Outreach in
Academic Libraries
Heidi Card
ULS Librarian and Assistant to the Director on
Research & Special Projects
University of Pittsburgh
hrc5@pitt.edu

2. The Role of Outreach: Creating a
Holistic Learning Community
•
Library at the center: Ensuring the library, staff,
and resources are visible on campus and in the
community

User Groups: Recognizing and interfacing with
all students (commuters, diverse populations,
distance learners, non-credit learners); faculty;
staff; community

Main campus and other regional campuses:
Connecting, collaborating, and advocating

On-campus and off-campus groups: Partnering
with library to create enriching learning
opportunities

3. Outreach for Students
“As . . . students
become more
involved, the library
will become more
significant, more
attractive, and more
relevant to their daily
lives.”
(Karle, 2008, p. 142)

4. Some ideas. . .
Information literacy: sessions/coaching/consultations
“Information Commons”
“Embedded librarian”: classrooms, distance learning
Reference: IM, email, phone, kiosks (HelpHub)
Student newspapers
Library website
Student organizations/government
Provide library space for other learning departments (writing
center, language study)
 Social networking









5. Information Commons

8. Embedded Librarian
 In the classroom
 In distance
learning programs

9. Traveling Reference Desks
Kiosks
Residence
Halls
Office hours
in different
schools/depts.

12. “ . . .emphasizing a
hospitable atmosphere will
diminish any hesitation or
intimidation students may
feel toward frequenting the
library or consulting the
librarians for their
information needs.”
(Karle, 2008, p. 142 )

13. Cafes
If libraries don’t create a place where
students want to be, they have plenty of
alternatives.

14. Comfort:
The Thornburgh Room

16. New 4th Floor Study Room

17. Outreach for Faculty

18. Some ideas:
Reference services
Informal/formal meetings
Collection development collaboration
Individual consultations
Updates via newsletters or email on new
journals/databases
 Classroom information literacy
 Social networking workshops






19. Faculty
Express







Information Literacy
EZ Borrow
Get It (Libraries to Go)
Copyright FAQ
Information Literacy
Tutorials
Classroom Library
Instruction
Request books to be
added to the
collections

20. 
A permanent Open Access archive for the University’s research output,
including ETDs, Preprints, postprints, research data sets, etc.

Provides stable, long-term storage and maintenance the University’s
research output by enhancing dissemination and discovery by the
worldwide research community

All Documents in D-Scholarship@Pitt (http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu) will
be indexed and searchable in:
 D-Scholarship@Pitt
 PITTCat +
 OAI Harvesters and Search Engines (OAIster, Pennsylvania Digital
Library, etc.)
 Google and other Internet search engines

21. Publishing Opportunities
Library has more
opportunities to act
as publisher
ULS has started
many open access
ejournals with
faculty collaboration

23. Pitt-produced Open Access
Online Journals

24. Open Journal Systems Publishing

27. Books on Demand
 enhanced academic
experience for students
 more books available
to patrons
 new forms of revenue
 ability to print digital
collections and perfect
facsimiles of rare books.

28. Community
Outreach
 High school tours
 Arts & crafts fairs
 Lectures/Readings
 Workshops
 Resource sharing
 Book clubs
 Information literacy
assistance

29. “. . . One or two well-conceived and wellexecuted projects a year will demonstrate
the resourcefulness, versatility, and the
value of the library and its staff. It will also
build a stronger sense of community.”
(Karle, 2008, p. 142)

30. Partnership
with Calliope:
The Emerging
Legends
Series

31. Host Events
 Readings
 Performances
 Films
 Lectures

32. Promoting the Library
• Announcements: Newspapers (on-campus and
local)
• Signage on campus
• Facebook, blogs, YouTube, Twitter
• Job fairs
• Local school fairs
• Volunteer fairs
• Events: Gaming/Contests

33. Conclusion: Fostering the
Learning Community
•Collaborate
•Communicate
•Create life-long
learners on campus
and off campus who
will continue to
support and sustain
the library as an
essential component
of the learning
community

34. References
Bodnar, J., Valk, A., and Mathews, B. (2008). Challenging your students: Using a contest to promote the
library. College & Research Libraries News 69(4), p. 212-213.
Galvin, J. (2005). Alternative strategies for promoting information literacy. The Journal of Academic
Librarianship 31(4), p. 352-357.
Karle, E. M. (2008). Invigorating the academic library experience: Creative programming ideas. College &
Research Libraries News 69(3), p. 141-144
Ramsay, K. M. & Kinnie, J. (2006). The Embedded librarian. Library Journal. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6317224.html.
Riehle, CF. & Witt, M. (2009) Librarians in the Hall: Instructional Outreach in Campus Residences.
College & Undergraduate Libraries, 16(2-3). DOI: 10.1080/10691310902958616
Tag, S. G., Buck, S. & Mautino, M. N. (2007). Creating connections: Library instruction across campus.
Research Strategies 20(4), p. 226-241.
Whelan, D. L. (2008). Café Society: Do school libraries need a double shot of espresso? School Library
Journal. Retrieved August 21, 2009 from
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6515244.html

35. 谢谢！
謝謝！