2017 Charleston Library Conference

In this age of rapidly changing user behaviors and the increasing competition for user engagement with new technologies popping up both inside and outside of the library, this session aims to spark new conversations on how libraries are adapting knowledge discovery approaches to support their campuses and keep the library’s resources and services relevant. Our expert panelists represent a diverse range of different perspectives, moderated by Michelle Valiani of Yewno. Jim O’Donnell (University Librarian at Arizona State University and former Georgetown provost) contributes his innovative outlook and experiences across campus leadership. Michael Levine-Clark (Dean and Director at University of Denver Libraries) brings his own unique experiences from DU, as well as the results of the Library Consulting Network's most recent study across 15 different types/fields of end users at 10 different institutions. Lisa Hinchliffe (Professor/Coordinator for Information Literacy Services and Instruction at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and past ACRL President) shares her first-hand experiences working with and coordinating user services.

The panel will discuss the wide range of user types and needs across higher education, as well as current and planned initiatives and approaches for knowledge discovery and user engagement that go beyond traditional platforms and methods - and is designed in a way to invite the audience to participate with their own questions and ideas also. We hope this panel will catalyze important conversations needed to push innovative thinking in critical questions for libraries. How do we let students know about the wealth of resources and collections available? How do we overcome challenges to getting faculty and researchers to engage in new tools and service offerings? Where are students and researchers finding their ideas and how can the library help provide more support?