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Libraries are often misunderstood places. For example, the idea of a communication and collaboration hub comes to mind when I think of my local public library. But that is not a correct representation of my library. Yes, they do not shush anyone anymore, but neither do they provide video conferencing services, maker spaces, or circulating audiovisual equipment. So, then my brain jumps to a traditional quiet library where researchers attempt to find long-buried secrets through the library archives. But, c’mon, this is no Indiana Jones movie where roguish heroes are carted off to fight Nazis after clearing the dust from some old records. My library is neither a hub of cutting-edge services gathered into one place nor is it an outdated meeting area for the intellectually elite. It is something different.
Academic libraries face some of the same perception problems which public libraries do, albeit on a different scale. For example, the Eugene P. Watson Memorial Library on the Northwestern State University of Louisiana campus offers one-on-one research counseling, WebEx seminars/classes for distance education students, and even hosts various parties throughout the calendar year on, and in, library property. Yet anyone who would look at the Watson Memorial Library building would likely see a traditional quiet library being supervised by a bun-and-sweater wearing librarian because it has not had a facelift since it was initially built in the mid-20th century. I think we can all agree that faults in reputation management lie with those whose reputation is being discussed. Therefore, I blame the library for the poor self-image it portrays to casual passersby because it could be doing more.
Other academic libraries collaborate with local and state governments, high schools, and multiple on-campus departments to provide genuinely exceptional programs or services while building the library’s reputation (and consequentially its share of endowment funds). If the Watson Library provided offered high school students a glimpse of campus life through summer Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) certifications (like Louisiana State University [LSU] does), then it would bolster community relations and provide an opportunity to tie students to the university while teaching meta literacy skills.
The Watson Library could also strengthen relationships with their core user base by offering ways to pad their portfolio or meet experience requirements for graduation while working on their undergraduate degree. If the Watson Library were to offer after-school tutoring services to local and long-distance high school students, primarily by leveraging qualified tutors in education-seeking degree programs, then both the student and instructor would create a bond that traversed geography, which in turn would boost the reputation of the campus throughout the state and nation. And teaching literacy and homework skills to students before they enter the higher education area inherently promote the interests of the campus over those of a single unit (i.e., the library). It will be challenging to measure the effectiveness of any program until participants have time to digest and reflect on their experience. One thing is understood: campus libraries are constantly evolving, so maybe it is time to evolve the library’s reputation also.
Libraries are often misunderstood places. For example, the idea of a communication and collaboration hub comes to mind when I think of my local public library. But that is not a correct representation of my library. Yes, they do not shush anyone anymore, but neither do they provide video conferencing services, maker spaces, or circulating audiovisual equipment. So, then my brain jumps to a traditional quiet library where researchers attempt to find long-buried secrets through the library archives. But, c’mon, this is no Indiana Jones movie where roguish heroes are carted off to fight Nazis after clearing the dust from some old records. My library is neither a hub of cutting-edge services gathered into one place nor is it an outdated meeting area for the intellectually elite. It is something different.
Academic libraries face some of the same perception problems which public libraries do, albeit on a different scale. For example, the Eugene P. Watson Memorial Library on the Northwestern State University of Louisiana campus offers one-on-one research counseling, WebEx seminars/classes for distance education students, and even hosts various parties throughout the calendar year on, and in, library property. Yet anyone who would look at the Watson Memorial Library building would likely see a traditional quiet library being supervised by a bun-and-sweater wearing librarian because it has not had a facelift since it was initially built in the mid-20th century. I think we can all agree that faults in reputation management lie with those whose reputation is being discussed. Therefore, I blame the library for the poor self-image it portrays to casual passersby because it could be doing more.
Other academic libraries collaborate with local and state governments, high schools, and multiple on-campus departments to provide genuinely exceptional programs or services while building the library’s reputation (and consequentially its share of endowment funds). If the Watson Library provided offered high school students a glimpse of campus life through summer Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) certifications (like Louisiana State University [LSU] does), then it would bolster community relations and provide an opportunity to tie students to the university while teaching meta literacy skills.
The Watson Library could also strengthen relationships with their core user base by offering ways to pad their portfolio or meet experience requirements for graduation while working on their undergraduate degree. If the Watson Library were to offer after-school tutoring services to local and long-distance high school students, primarily by leveraging qualified tutors in education-seeking degree programs, then both the student and instructor would create a bond that traversed geography, which in turn would boost the reputation of the campus throughout the state and nation. And teaching literacy and homework skills to students before they enter the higher education area inherently promote the interests of the campus over those of a single unit (i.e., the library). It will be challenging to measure the effectiveness of any program until participants have time to digest and reflect on their experience. One thing is understood: campus libraries are constantly evolving, so maybe it is time to evolve the library’s reputation also.
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