2017 Charleston Library Conference

Following the success of our 2016 ‘Lively Lunch’ session on communicating the library’s value to faculty and students, we will expand the discussion and present innovative ways libraries are communicating their value to key decision makers such as library administrators and management. Building off the results of T&F library focus groups, surveys, and interviews, this session introduces a thought-provoking and shifted perspective on a library’s worth. We will dive beyond simply marketing new book titles or databases and explore both the quantitative and qualitative forms of usage. Ultimately, we will uncover the varying priorities that librarians and administrators have in determining and conveying value.

Our librarians are eager to share their personal experiences on creatively leveraging their current resources in order to keep their libraries relevant in the face of an everchanging landscape. Highlights of this session will include inviting alumni to library events, providing students with exclusive after-hours library access, involving adjunct faculty in collection management, and using library catalogues to track more than just books.

A shared opinion of the panel is that understanding the value of the entire educational experience is of great importance to potential students as well as funders. Libraries are not only a collection of resources and research support but, in many cases, the heart and face of an institution focused on students, faculty, and their wider goals. Therefore, it’s pertinent to expand discussions on how librarians can turn their data into an impactful story that showcases the true value and relevance of the library and its offerings, positioning it to administration as a vital addition to the educational experience.