Improving Community Outreach in Academic Libraries: Examining Outreach Methods and Opinion at The university of Oklahoma Christina Morel

Introduction Academic libraries are integral locations for research and innovative ideas – they can be an important staple within a community – providing a place to gather, research, and learn information literacy skills. There are many outlets to promote community outreach at libraries such a makerspaces, social media, exhibits, embedded librarianship, or social events. However, which outreach methods are the most effective in promoting the academic library to the public? How can university libraries be more inviting and collaborative spaces for the public where information literacy and research can be found? How supportive is the local community of their academic library?

Support from Literature (1) McCulley (1988) states that "although often thought of as the domain of public libraries, providing access and services to the general public has long been an important, and sometimes controversial, issue for academic libraries" (9). Creating “outreach to the community, public libraries, and local schools allows academic libraries to develop partnerships and collaborative programs” (Carter and Seaman 2011, 164). Carter and Seaman (2011) note in their piece that “…if libraries plan to compete with the explosion of alternate information outlets in the twenty-first century, outreach…” will need to be more structured with more serious mission statements and budgets (170).

Support from Literature (2) ACRL [Association of College and Research Libraries] (2011) has standards for libraries in higher education, which has performance indicators such as "the library communicates with the campus community to highlight its value in the educational mission…" and "libraries engage the campus and broader community…” Schneider (2008) states that libraries that do participate in outreach programs usually “…deal with children or youth, local business interests, or local health services; many partner with programs already on campus” (210).

Support from Literature (3) Sarjeant-Jenkins and Walker (2014) state that there are three important "elements for establishing and maintaining successful partnerships between academic and public libraries, and they are "commitment,…shared vision,…and satisfy[ing] a need" (11-12). It is important that academic libraries provide some kind of service due to the fact that “…to avoid doing so would breach the purpose of the university’s civic responsibility” (Schneider 2001, 123). The “partnerships between public and academic libraries can lead to expanded services and collections for library clients, they provide opportunities for libraries to provide the more and better…” (Sarjeant-Jenkins and Walker 2014, 12). Inviting in public patrons such as high school students are also “…a good recruitment tool” (McCulley 1988, 10).

Research Topic Basic research study focused on academic community outreach and public opinion Focus: The University of Oklahoma public/ surrounding community members To survey the opinions and satisfaction of OU Bizzell Library’s public community members in regards to social events, learning areas, exhibits, technology, access, policies, and customer service To assess the effectiveness of Bizzell’s outreach methods To understand how we can make the Bizzell Library more inviting and collaborative for the public

Research Questions How or to what extent do social events and learning areas affect the feelings of the public in regard to the university as a welcoming community space? Is the public more likely to attend social events or explore learning areas if they had no cost to attend rather than if they did cost money to attend? How or to what extent are the public open to supporting and attending the creation of more community outreach activities at the university?

Dependent Variable: Opinions of the University Public Community Variables The variables within this study are the opinions of the university public community and social events, learning areas, exhibits, technology, access, policies, and customer service. These variables will be measured through an online questionnaire on Survey Monkey. Results will be reviewed and sorted through Excel software. Independent Variables: Social Events, Learning Areas, Exhibits, Technology, Access, Policies, and Customer Service Dependent Variable: Opinions of the University Public Community

Data Collection Methods HOW? Data will be collected through an online questionnaire on SurveyMonkey. The OU library will be contacted to see which public users are registered for library cards. If this information may be obtained, emails will be sent to members of the surrounding community from that list. If this list is unable to be accessed, or if there is a need for a larger amount of people to contact (under 50-100 email addresses), then a post card will be sent to each person in the immediate area (within 5 – 10 mins) with a web address on it to access the online survey. Contact information (phone number and email) will be listed on the post card if the community member decides they would rather fill out a paper survey. Addresses will be obtained from Google Maps. Postcards will be addressed to “Current Resident.”

Data Collection Methods (2) When? May 2017 – July 2017/Beginning of August 2017 Who? Random Sampling of university public living in neighborhoods 5 -10 minutes surrounding OU (The University of Oklahoma) Human Subjects Procedures: The soliciting email will have a cover letter and there will be a notification before a user takes the survey that will include an unsigned consent form. This form will ask if the user agrees to take the survey. The email will notify the individual that their survey responses will be anonymous. They are allowed to decline to participate. They will also be notified of information pertaining to the purpose of the study, procedures and length of participation, risks and benefits of study, compensation information, how the information will be stored and who will have access, and contact/question information. Other Pertinent Data Collection Information: Once all emails are obtained, they will be reminded once a month to take the survey if they have not already taken the survey. Results will be monitored and entered in Excel for review.

Data Analysis Methods Different levels of measurement, including nominal and ordinal Descriptive Statistics Random Sample Survey Pie Charts and Bar Charts will Compare Information Responses and Percentages Compared on Excel Mix of Quantitative and Qualitative Data

Data Analysis (Continued) Qualitative software will be used for answers from survey that include scale answers (i.e., “choose between 1 to 5, with 1 being worst and 5 being best…”). Excel will be used to monitor and organize this data. SurveyMonkey will be used to gather this data. Themes and Expectations: We will be looking at which independent variables have the most positive and negative responses. However, we will also be looking at topics that are of neutral interest to users. We expect to have a better understanding of what the public cares about, what they would like to see more of, and how we can improve the library for the public overall. Data displays: Pie charts and Bar Charts

Expected Outcomes This study will benefit the university, the public, students, faculty and staff through the new knowledge and outreach methods that will be analyzed. It will be useful in planning future events, choosing new technology, creating social media posts/marketing, when editing policies for students and the public, and when assisting with collaborative ideas towards the mission of the university. This study might also be useful in the future regarding partnerships with local businesses or in creating more programs for public use. Further research can be implemented with public focus groups, further data analysis of programs and services, or more online surveys. These will assist in getting a better idea of the public’s opinion on outreach and services that Bizzell offers.

References (ACRL) Association of College and Research Libraries. 2011. “Standards for Libraries in Higher Education.”Accessed April 3, 2017. http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/standardslibraries. Carter, Toni M. and Priscilla Seaman. 2011. “The Management and Support of Outreach in Academic Libraries.” Reference and User Services Quarterly 51(2): 73-81. Accessed April 5, 2017. http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.lib.ou.edu/ehost/ dfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=7f663664-1b7f-4d7f-9fa9 c58b56fffdf4%40sessionmgr4009&vid=4&hid=4201. McCulley, Lucretia. 1988. "Public Use of Academic Libraries in Virginia." Virginia Librarian 34(2): 9-12. Accessed March 30, 2017. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b318/28e198014ced1d aa12e9dce05fa50ad773eb.pdf.

References (2) Sarjeant-Jenkins, Rachel and Keith Walker. 2014. "Working Together: Joint-Use Canadian Academic and Public Libraries." Collaborative Librarianship 6(1): 5-19. Accessed April 4, 2017. http://digitalcommons.du.edu/collaborativelibrarianshi p/vol6/iss1/2. Schneider, Tina. 2008. “Why, How and Who? Academic Libraries and Their Involvement in the Community.” The Reference Librarian 39(82): 199-213. doi: 10.1300/J120v39n82_13. Schneider, Tina M. 2001. “The Regional Campus Library and Service to the Public.” Journal of Academic Librarianship 27(2): 122-27. Accessed April 6, 2017. http://libraries.ou.edu/access.aspx?url=http://search.eb scohost.com/login.aspx?direct=tru e&db=eric&AN=EJ631248&site=ehost-live.