1. A Cooperative Reference Staffing Effort by Academic Librarians in a Shared Dormitory Research Services Outpost
2. Introduction Molly Beestrum, Columbia College Brian DeHart, DePaul University Katy Hite, Roosevelt University Chicago loop universities collaborating to offer reference services in a collective dormitory
4. Genesis of Off-Site Reference Off-site reference initiated at all campuses with varied successes Columbia College: Ask-a-Librarian Roadshow DePaul University: Writing Center Outpost Roosevelt University: Reference in Student Lounge
5. Collaboration Dorm management not initially receptive upon openingin 2004. In 2010, UCC initiated conversation with Columbia Library. Perfect storm of conversations between librarians at three campuses.
6. Collaboration Proposal Drafted Summer 2010 Submitted/Accepted August 2010 Cross training (Summer 2010) Shared resources Unique/popular resources in each library Authentication for each population
7. Collaboration Site to share duties & information https://sites.google.com/site/researchinformationoutpost/ Used to compose proposal, collaborate & share links
8. The UCC : Location, location, location! Original intent: Dining commons during high traffic dinner hours (6-8pm) In Practice: Unused office
9. The UCC : Location, location, location! Former RA Resource Center (crafts,etc.) Located in high traffic hallway near: Laundry room Computer Lab Fitness Center Multimedia/gaming room Not “walk-in friendly” Spring 2011: Partially Reclaimed by RAs
16. Conclusions Dorm life separate from academic life, despite efforts from Residence Life Mirrors individual campus efforts in terms of challenges, disconnected from students expectations Time investment not worth payoff (about 180 hours of reference librarian presence for only 9 interactions).
17. Alternatives? Reaching out virtually within LMS to reach students. Partnerships with other academic departments (writing center, academic computing) may be better avenue to explore. What else can we do at the UCC? Participate in academic-focused activities Continue to market library services (online and physical) through print and social media
19. Questions? Contact Katy Hite khite@roosevelt.edu Brian DeHartbdehart@depaul.edu Molly Beestrummbeestrum@colum.edu
Editor's Notes
Katy: introduce selves, Katy will give a brief overview
Katy: University Center ChicagoDormitory located in downtown ChicagoHouses over 1700 students from Columbia College (950), DePaul University (250), Roosevelt University (500) and a small population of students from Robert Morris
Each briefly mention our own campus attempts at off-site reference services…
Molly: run-down of how we started working together. UCC reaches out to Columbia College LibrariansPreviously, universities did not have access to dorm (Privately run)New Director of Residence Life wants to highlight academics in dorm/college lifeRelationship already existed between Columbia and Roosevelt, & Columbia and DePaulMixed student population makes collaboration between university libraries logical
Katy:Cross training (Summer 2010)Shared resources (I-Share, similar databases)Unique/popular resources in each libraryCatalog/Account access for each Library (how students authenticate)
Molly: actual office – unused office/store room/craft closet/changing room. Glitter and glue sticks and paper rolls. Ancient PC, no wifi.
Molly: it did have some potential in terms of location so we accepted it. In reality we got questions about the laundry room, borrowing a vacuum cleaner, zoomba class technical difficulties, multimedia WOW competition, and the ever present “tinging” from the air hockey game. RA’s reclaimed for signage preparation and be-glittering.
Corridor sign. Librarian is IN sign.
Brian:What we did to get the word out…Challenges with promotion – anecdote Katy: more about house-calls – underscored disconnect dorm life and academics
The UCC: Advertisement & PromotionFall 2010Meet with a Librarian!No appointment needed
Spring 2011Need Research Help?Meet HERE!New sign, changed days – dropped Thursday for Monday.
Created Google form to track questions
Actual numbers for transactions – 9 (about 180 hours of reference librarian presence for only 9 interactions).
Molly
Molly:LMS: D2L, Blackboard, MoodleWidgets, Links, Sticky Boxes DePaul: Sharing space with Writing Center (library goes to them and they come to library)Columbia: IT Help desk on-site in library Roosevelt: Combined office hours with professor and librarian for English Comp class
