Getting the community involved can be a tricky undertaking for an academic library. Following a successful collaboration in 2013 with a local public library on its Big Read programming, this university library decided to form a team, take a leap of faith, and apply for their own Big Read grant from the NEA. Every aspect of the process, from writing the grant to planning the events, was new for the librarians on the committee, but the results were greater than anyone could have hoped: sold out events, rave reviews from participants and local media, participation from residents of two large cities, and best of all, sustainable partnerships with local organizations for future campus and library programming.

1. BIG READ, Big Benefits
Creating Sustainable Partnerships Across Communities
Paige Mano, Librarian & Social Media Coordinator
Melissa Olson, Digital Initiatives Librarian
Anne Rasmussen, Continuing Resources & Copyright Librarian
Heather Spencer, Access Services Technology Coordinator

2. Let’s Chat!
What is your role in the
library?

3. Let’s Chat!
Tell Us:
What programing does your academic
library offer to the campus and wider
community? Is it successful?
Why or why not?

5. Agenda
● Background
● Partnerships - Campus & Community
● Marketing & Outreach
● Events, Results & Future Plans
● Let’s share!

6. “Living at risk is jumping off
the cliff and building your
wings on the way down."
Ray Bradbury

8. University Outreach

9. A Culture of Change

11. Books, Libraries, & Community Outreach? No-brainer!

14. Planting the Seeds

15. Jumping Off the Cliff
(and building our wings on the way down)

16. Partnerships
Campus! Community!

17. “I get by with a little help from my friends.”
Lennon & McCartney
© Sony/ATV Tunes LLC

18. Campus Partnerships

19. Hello!
Would you like
to help us?

20. Creative Services / Campus Print Shop

21. Thinking outside the box - on campus
● University Relations
● Continuing Education
and Community
Engagement
● Safety & Risk
Management
● Art Galleries
● ALL (Adventures in
Lifelong Learning)
● Friends of the UW-
Parkside Library

22. Connected via the Big Read:
Social Sciences
Chemistry
English
Psychology Sociology/Anthropology
Philosophy
Political Science
Food Service/Catering
Continuing Education and
Community Engagement
Chancellor and Provost’s Office
Safety & Risk Management
Art
History
Economics
UWP Foreign Films Series
Dram
a
Club
Art Galleries
Facilities Management
Creative Services
Student Center/Student Activities
University Relations & Advancement
Dean of Students
Business Services
Scholarship Office

23. Food and
freebies!

24. Community Partnerships
Q. Which of these entities makes the most
sense to partner with for the Big Read?
A.
A local Fire Department The local Women’s Club
Breweries A Bike shop
Diners A bakery
Correctional facilities Cartooning festival
A Credit Union Nature Sanctuary/Arboretum

25. All of
them!

26. Get local!

27. Public Libraries
Racine Public LibraryKenosha Public Library

28. ● Kenosha Unified
Schools
Public Schools
● Racine Unified
Schools

29. Partner with other local Colleges & Universities!

30. Coming Soon?
2015

31. Marketing
Print Materials
Social Media
Public Relations
Web Presence
Promotional
Items
Display
MaterialsMarketing
Events

32. Brochure (almost 5,000 distributed)

33. Harbor Market •
Party on the Pavement • Fall Fest

34. Posters

35. Table Tents and Ads

36. Window Displays

37. Window Displays

38. T-shirts and Banners

39. Video Monitor Teasers

40. Web Presence
• 1,459 unique
page views from
outside IP
addresses
• Average time
spent over 3
minutes
• Over 250 unique
page views from
Parkside IP
addresses

41. Social Media

42. Email Blasts

43. Marketing: Public Relations
• WRJN Radio Talk Show
• WGTD Radio Talk Show
• Press Releases
• Kenosha Community
Media

44. Promotional Items
Dog Bandanas
Magnets
Temporary
Tattoos Matches

45. Partner Event
Bradford High School Connection

46. Marketing

47. Events

49. Image courtesy of Annabella Pope www.annabellapope.com

50. Herding Cats
Image courtesy of Tina Phillips www.freedigitalphotos.net

51. Be Present!!

52. Organization

53. Image courtesy of Matthew Newberg
http://4evern3rdy.deviantart.com/

54. Kudos

55. Events
● •Kickoff Event with Keynote by Sam Weller
● •Films
● •Book Discussions
● •Gallery Openings
● •Radio Play
● •Bonfire
● •Banned Books Bingo
● •Fire Safety Workshop
● •Fahrenheit 451 Extravaganza

59. Drama Club
Dramatic Readings at Bonfire

60. Fire Extinguisher and Life
Safety Training

61. RG Productions
Fahrenheit 451 Radio Play Edition

62. Book Discussion at UW-Parkside

63. Book Discussion at Public Craft Brewing Company

64. Book Discussion at Public Craft Brewing Company

68. The Numbers
● Total Events - 58
● Keynote Attendance – over 300
● Area High School and Middle School Students reached –
320
● Businesses Participation in $4.51 Specials - 20
● Book Discussions – 13 both public and private
● Average attendance for Book Discussion - 21
● Total Program Attendance – 3700
● Books Distributed - 2750

69. Publicity

70. Publicity

71. Feedback

72. Feedback

73. Feedback

75. Questions? Comments?
Let us know what you
think!

76. Thank You!!
paige.mano@uwp.edu
melissa.olson@uwp.edu
anne.rasmussen@uwp.edu
heather.spencer@uwp.edu
facebook.com/uwparkside.library
@UWP_Library
neabigread.org