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Outreach Group

Outreach Group Minutes
November 23, 2012
10:00-11:30 am

Present :  Nancy Collins (Chair), Laurie Strome, Sarah Brown, Patrick Miller, Jamie Reilly, Alex Dyck

Regrets: Marian Davies,  Eva Dodsworth, Esther Millar, Sara Perkins, Eljos Samara

  1. Events

    South Campus Hall (SCH) –

    • Retail Services extended an invitation to all service departments on campus to hold information booths in SCH to promote their services to students.
    • Laurie coordinated the Library’s participation for two time-slots. She reported that this event was very different from other campus events. It was more about just letting students know that the Library exists and that we’re friendly.
    • Students loved the buttons (the old ones were distributed).
    • Laurie recorded the questions and comments she received from students (extended hours, noise in DC, etc.). She also brought a laptop and used it a couple of times to show students how to find their books, etc.
    • Laurie felt that this was a good opportunity and would be something the Library should continue to participate in in future terms.

    Library Day –

    • Library Day was held on October 31.
    • With only a few Outreach members remaining from last year, it was a bit challenging to coordinate, but everything turned out well.
    • This was the first year that Library Day was held across locations. We received very positive feedback from the WLRC and Musagetes.
    • Library Day also generated a lot of traffic for the Geospatial Centre for its official public opening.
    • The timing coinciding with Halloween made the event a lot of fun. One committee member remarked “it allowed us to play… we played and the students played.” Many staff and students were dressed up.
    • Feedback for next year:
      • More cider
      • Longer hours. Let’s make it a true “Library Day” and extend the hours from 10-12 to more like 10-2.
      • Tighter coordination. Staffing should be staggered across the hours. Give advance notice to co-op students who may need to find relief from the IT/ information desks.
      • Have a sign that explains what Library Day is at each location.

  2. Buttons campaign.
    • The buttons campaign will continue for the winter term, to provide students returning from co-op an opportunity to collect the student-designed buttons.
    • The group decided to stagger distribution again this term, offering 1 design every other week. (Note: We ended up staggering distribution to offer 1 design every week, since there wouldn’t be enough weeks in the term to offer 1 design every other week.)
    • Laurie reported that Sarah Martin will no longer be able to manage the buttons production, as she has moved to a new position at the Davis Centre Library. Laurie agreed to oversee the buttons production at the Dana Porter Library and to coordinate with Sarah’s replacement the production of the buttons by casual staff.
    • Nancy will buy a tote box for the button machine/materials and give all of the button-making equipment to Laurie.

  3. Membership
    Nancy reported that Marian Davies will be leaving the Outreach Committee. Outreach will look for another member to replace her in the winter term.

  4. New initiatives. 
    • Book tree. The group agreed to try building a book tree in the Dana Porter Library this year. This tree will replace the usual tree and will be built primarily with the National Union Catalog volumes. Patrick will be the “master architect” and will research building strategies. Laurie will coordinate volunteers to help build the tree. The set-up date will be Monday, December 3.
    • Living library. The group discussed the possibility of holding a “living library” event in the future. This is something that KPL, University of Guelph Library, and London Public Library have done. Some “human book” ideas discussed include: Feridun, a high-profile physicist, someone suffering from mental health issues, someone with M.S., an ex-prisoner, a prostitute, a drug addict, etc. The timing for this event is uncertain, as the Library will be organizing another large event (TUG Conference) in the near future. We will revisit this possibility in future meetings.
  1. Incentives. 
    • The group agreed that Outreach requires some new incentives to offer as gifts, door prizes, and for volunteers. Incentive ideas discussed include: mugs, water bottles, pens, pencils, pens with highlighters, lanyards, keychains, little flashlights, t-shirts, nice cloth book bags (students can buy for $2), USB keys, notebooks.
    • Nancy will seek approval from LibExec to purchase some new incentives.

 

Outreach Group


June 12, 2013