1. Un-camouflaging the Library: An Outreach Continuum
Leila June Rod-Welch, Outreach Services Librarian
Barbara E. Weeg, Collection Strategist Librarian
Un-camouflaging the Library: An Outreach Continuum
Leila June Rod-Welch, Outreach Services Librarian
Barbara E. Weeg, Collection Strategist Librarian
Rod Library
University of Northern Iowa
ALA-EBSS Research Forum
June 24, 2017
ALA - EBSS Research Forum
June 24, 2017

2. Introduction Outreach Initiatives Outreach Services Librarian
Underserved - Military Science Department/ROTC
Conference
Website
Course catalog
Introduction
Library initiative to provide more formalized outreach to underserved departments/groups
Active library instruction program
Initiated formal outreach program to expand contacts and to build the library research skills of students through outreach to student organizations; also other university members such as incoming staff and faculty
Outreach Services Librarian – new position
Role of assessment
Through formalized systematic assessment at each step we gained information to build the next level of outreach
The research methods we used were simple and straightforward
This method can be applied to designing outreach to other underserved groups
One group we identified as being underserved group was the Department of Military Science/ROTC; although some of the students received library instruction in their major classes
Background about Military Science Department/ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)
The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) was created through the National Defense Act of 1916
College-based program providing leadership and military training to prepare young adults to become officers in the United States military
Some ROTC students are military veterans—have previous military experience
Army ROTC has 275 host programs and 1,100 partnerships at colleges and universities across the United States. Over 30,000 ROTC cadets
At our university, which is a state university, military training dates back to Officially, in 2001 UNI became an ROTC partner university
At UNI, 12 military science/ROTC classes are offered
Leadership development, military operation, and ethical decision making as well as fitness and survival skills
Learned about the Military Science department, faculty, staff, and students
Conference -- the outreach services librarian and the collection strategist librarian attended a state-wide military and veterans’ conference
Website
Course catalog

3. Phase 1: Department Head
Interview of Military Science Department Head
Face-to-face meeting
Phase 1: Department Head
Outreach Services Librarian initiated idea of library outreach to military science department and students
Department head receptive
Interviewed the department head
after conference to follow up and confirm mutual interest in library outreach
Scheduled a meeting: interview about faculty, staff, students’ library needs
Face-to-face meeting
Assessment--
Department head’s information and perceptions
Staff and faculty needs
Students’ needs
Number of students in the program
Majors
Military Science classes being taught
How can we help them and their students?
Faculty were the key stakeholders; if the faculty were not supportive of library and its services, they would not be supportive of their students learning about the library

4. Phase 2: Faculty and Staff
Pre-presentation Survey: 9 questions
Library Pictorial Presentation
Post-presentation Survey: 4 questions
Phase 2: Faculty and Staff
Presentation to ROTC faculty and staff (departmental meeting)
Assessment –
Pre-presentation Survey: 9 questions that asked the faculty and staff to identify
How best to reach out to military science students
Where in the military science program library instruction would be timely and relevant
Whether library orientation and library instruction should be mandatory for the students
Also questions about library use and perceptions
Pictorial PowerPoint (20 minutes): All the library services and information resources
Assessment--
Post-presentation Survey: 4 questions
Assessing the quality of the presentation
Whether this presentation would be helpful for their students
The survey ended with an open-ended question for them to supply any comments

5. Phase 3: Students Guided Library Tour Assessment of Learning
Student comments during tour
Research consultations
Department head feedback
Phase 3: Students
Guided Library Tour for Military Science/ROTC students
Tour began in library instruction room
Outreach Service Librarian demonstrated how to access:
Library website
Online integrated library system
Links to library services such as research consultations, chat, …
Physical tour of all the 4 floors
Assessment--
Student comments during tour
Research consultations
Feedback from the department head based on students self-report of prior library knowledge and experiences

6. Conclusion
Three-phase assessment of library interest and knowledge among members of a university military science department led to a sustainable, progressive program of library outreach
Expanded into course-integrated library instruction for “Leadership in a Complex World”
Three-phase assessment of library interest and knowledge among members of a university military science department led to a sustainable, progressive program of library outreach
Expanded into course-integrated library instruction for “Leadership in a Complex World”
Mission Command and the Company Grade Officer (MIL SCI 3119)
Students study military leadership that occurred during Vietnam War
Also battle analysis
Vietnam War LibGuide supporting the course developed by Collection Strategist Librarian --